Plastering Lines!

electronurd

New Member
Hi all,

I'm a DIY'er and yes I know I probably should have hired a plasterer... but i've fallen on tough times so i'm here for a bit of help please. My dad was a plasterer but has passed so I can't ask him.

Last week I plastered my fireplace. I didn't plaster the whole thing, I only plastered half of it as we opened up our fireplace.

I placed a bonding coat onto bare brick first and then skimmed on top of the bonding coat. I spent what felt like what a long time trying to smooth out the finish the best I could. Felt ages.... the girlfriend came home and said "wow not bad considering you are not a plasterer".... but I knew something wasn't right and waited for it to dry...

Now that it has dried there are quite a few lines in the plaster and I am wondering how to remove them please (see pictures)

Any help to correct this would be much appreciated.
 

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Hmm that's not good, like at all, but I'm sure you know that. Erm, I'd probably recommend giving it a mist coat of paint (watered down paint) then buying a bag of easi fill, filling it all and then sanding the hell out of it. You could get a plasterer to skim it for around £100 I'd say if you got a few quotes and took the lowest, but up to you
 
ok thanks. How would i not get the lines though if I plastered again? is there a timing to this sort of thing?
Well firstly you're probably using a very cheap trowel, secondly you've probably tried to get it far to smooth to soon, it's not meant to look perfect for around 2.5-3 hours after you start. Get it on the wall, trowel over to make it reasonable then leave it until it's firmed up slightly, quick trowel over and then mix up a second coat and do the same again. That might will take you to about 2 hours, then leave it to firm up, spray a small amount of water on it and trowel again. Then wait a little while and dry trowel over it. There's some decent videos on YouTube to show you the basics
 
Well firstly you're probably using a very cheap trowel, secondly you've probably tried to get it far to smooth to soon, it's not meant to look perfect for around 2.5-3 hours after you start. Get it on the wall, trowel over to make it reasonable then leave it until it's firmed up slightly, quick trowel over and then mix up a second coat and do the same again. That might will take you to about 2 hours, then leave it to firm up, spray a small amount of water on it and trowel again. Then wait a little while and dry trowel over it. There's some decent videos on YouTube to show you the basics
Thanks for that. If I use easifill over the top of this will I find it hard for it to blend into the excisting wall? or is there a trick to that. Also how think should I apply the easifill? like very thin?
 
Thanks for that. If I use easifill over the top of this will I find it hard for it to blend into the excisting wall? or is there a trick to that. Also how think should I apply the easifill? like very thin?
Use sandpaper first, give it a right good rub down and get it as flat as possible. Mix up your easy fill then fill all the holes. Run your fingers over it and anything you can feel fill with the filler. Rub down again and repeat till your happy.
 
Hi all,

I'm a DIY'er and yes I know I probably should have hired a plasterer... but i've fallen on tough times so i'm here for a bit of help please. My dad was a plasterer but has passed so I can't ask him.

Last week I plastered my fireplace. I didn't plaster the whole thing, I only plastered half of it as we opened up our fireplace.

I placed a bonding coat onto bare brick first and then skimmed on top of the bonding coat. I spent what felt like what a long time trying to smooth out the finish the best I could. Felt ages.... the girlfriend came home and said "wow not bad considering you are not a plasterer".... but I knew something wasn't right and waited for it to dry...

Now that it has dried there are quite a few lines in the plaster and I am wondering how to remove them please (see pictures)

Any help to correct this would be much appreciated.
Take the knock and get a plasterer to skim it. Won’t be a massive wedge of money. More hassle fixing it
 
Hi all,

I'm a DIY'er and yes I know I probably should have hired a plasterer... but i've fallen on tough times so i'm here for a bit of help please. My dad was a plasterer but has passed so I can't ask him.

Last week I plastered my fireplace. I didn't plaster the whole thing, I only plastered half of it as we opened up our fireplace.

I placed a bonding coat onto bare brick first and then skimmed on top of the bonding coat. I spent what felt like what a long time trying to smooth out the finish the best I could. Felt ages.... the girlfriend came home and said "wow not bad considering you are not a plasterer".... but I knew something wasn't right and waited for it to dry...

Now that it has dried there are quite a few lines in the plaster and I am wondering how to remove them please (see pictures)

Any help to correct this would be much appreciated.
So that didn't turn turn out like you hoped.

Better luck next time

Plastering not so easy after all, eh?

32582
 
Get a professional in to sort it ideally. If not sand all the ridges/lines out etc and as said easi fill to there is no more holes.
Why do DIY groups assume and encourage ppl to have a go at plastering though? (not aimed at poster, it's a general wondering)
They wouldn't recommend trussing a roof, or wiring or plumbing the house as a novice why do the assume our trade is fair game for the have a go hero's.
 
Personally I would get a plasterer to 're _skim it rather than spend hours filling and rubbing down . As choppa said won't cost the earth that
 
I didn't expect it to be... it is a DIY'er sub-forum however and people can have a go. But thank you for your positive feedback, advice and support [insert sarcastic tone].
Honestly just get a plasterer all that rubbing down F*****g dust everywhere for days ...get somebody in and they should make it look easy
 
Hi all,

I'm a DIY'er and yes I know I probably should have hired a plasterer... but i've fallen on tough times so i'm here for a bit of help please. My dad was a plasterer but has passed so I can't ask him.

Last week I plastered my fireplace. I didn't plaster the whole thing, I only plastered half of it as we opened up our fireplace.

I placed a bonding coat onto bare brick first and then skimmed on top of the bonding coat. I spent what felt like what a long time trying to smooth out the finish the best I could. Felt ages.... the girlfriend came home and said "wow not bad considering you are not a plasterer".... but I knew something wasn't right and waited for it to dry...

Now that it has dried there are quite a few lines in the plaster and I am wondering how to remove them please (see pictures)

Any help to correct this would be much appreciated.
It will settle
 
I would just sand it and get filler on it and keep going till you are happy.

Its not thend of the world and modern day fillers are great
 
I would just sand it and get filler on it and keep going till you are happy.

Its not thend of the world and modern day fillers are great
Hi yeah thats the plan thanks. I have sanded it down and to be honest it's not bad at all but still going to use a filler on it, the sanding took no time at all. I've also purchased a new trowel as the one I was using was a very cheap one. I bought a tyzack trowel on someones recommendation. It has a few scratches though on the trowel face... is that normal?
 
Hi yeah thats the plan thanks. I have sanded it down and to be honest it's not bad at all but still going to use a filler on it, the sanding took no time at all. I've also purchased a new trowel as the one I was using was a very cheap one. I bought a tyzack trowel on someones recommendation. It has a few scratches though on the trowel face... is that normal?
You want a mediflex mate awesome trowel . Can get you one at a good price as well
 
You want a mediflex mate awesome trowel . Can get you one at a good price as well
Damn it's a bit late... i just got this one and paid the same price as a mediflex too... but i'm not a plasterer so i'll stick with this one and see how I get on. Thanks for the recommendation though
 
Damn it's a bit late... i just got this one and paid the same price as a mediflex too... but i'm not a plasterer so i'll stick with this one and see how I get on. Thanks for the recommendation though

I just use a bnq trowel.

Don't listen to this lot.
 
Hi yeah thats the plan thanks. I have sanded it down and to be honest it's not bad at all but still going to use a filler on it, the sanding took no time at all. I've also purchased a new trowel as the one I was using was a very cheap one. I bought a tyzack trowel on someones recommendation. It has a few scratches though on the trowel face... is that normal?
 
how did you get on?
I'm only reviving this thread to tell Danny It went really well thanks... sanded it down filled it light sand again and looked spot on.

However...... I recently had someone round to give me a quote for fitting a log burner and he said "is that bonding and plaster on the inset on the fireplace???"... i went "yes".... he said "that'll come off in 6 months... best thing to do is hack it off and render the inset"....

My heart sank! hacked it all off and rendered it!
 
I'm only reviving this thread to tell Danny It went really well thanks... sanded it down filled it light sand again and looked spot on.

However...... I recently had someone round to give me a quote for fitting a log burner and he said "is that bonding and plaster on the inset on the fireplace???"... i went "yes".... he said "that'll come off in 6 months... best thing to do is hack it off and render the inset"....

My heart sank! hacked it all off and rendered it!
At least your sorted for money now then , can never understand not future proofing , usually money related , good luck with your project
 
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