Sponge Float plastering in 2026

[Danny]

Now its 2026 and @algeeman mentioned to me about sponge float skimming....

So, who is using a sponge for skimming?

I tried it many years ago and was not impressed but roll on to 2 knackered shoulders and a small cupboard I need to skim I am tempted to give it ago (as opposed to tape and jointing)

Most say its a better finish @BritishGypsum and @TheApprentice say it weakens the surface....

 

[dustydave]

If using a sponge speeds things up I'd rather take longer and plaster homes correctly Danny. My customers pay me for my time so I earn more.just saying.

 

[Danny]

If using a sponge speeds things up I'd rather take longer and plaster homes correctly Danny. My customers pay me for my time so I earn more.just saying.

yep I appreciate that

the forum is probably over 20 years old and it use to be a hot topic... just curious if it has now become the norm?

 

[bobski]

yep I appreciate that

the forum is probably over 20 years old and it use to be a hot topic... just curious if it has now become the norm?

No

Not norm.

You 'can' use it - if needs be.

If it's only a small cupboard, initially knock up enough for the whole area (+ 10%) mix it quite stodgy, bang the joints on. Then cream the mix down and apply it around 3ish mm. (Tiny bit heavier/thicker than usual 1st coating).

I would hardly ever do this, only if I absolutely have to, or pull in that last wall/section you couldn't get in the earlier hit.

You can get a bang on finish - 100%

But to depend on a sponge float day in and day out I think is ridiculous.

 

[paulf]

Missed the 2010's obsession with sponge floating well timed skim, yes there may be times you want to keep the coat live, by all means use a sponge float. I'd take a Pepsi challenge between my one carbon steel and a multi trowel spatula float finish.
To me it was a solution to a problem that didn't exist, thing's like spatulas etc are handy on larger area's but they're an aid not an integral part of the process. I guess it became a thing because sparks ,plumbers and joiners are rocking about with their laser this and their wireless that.
I remember when I went to college in 1983, plastering was a craft trade, that was the language used. My tradesman Jimmy was 64 in 1983, so he would have started his time in the 1930's, no doubt his tradesman served his time in the 1900's.

 

[Sitemonkey]

I can't see the point in it myself skimming a simple enough process as it is tbh

 

[Ritch]

Now its 2026 and @algeeman mentioned to me about sponge float skimming....

So, who is using a sponge for skimming?

I tried it many years ago and was not impressed but roll on to 2 knackered shoulders and a small cupboard I need to skim I am tempted to give it ago (as opposed to tape and jointing)

Most say its a better finish @BritishGypsum and @TheApprentice say it weakens the surface....

Been using a sponge for the last year wish I knew about/trusted it 24 years ago, my body and joints wouldn’t be so knackered out now, and it’s a miles better flatter finish then just using a trowel, no brainier for me

 

[essexandy]

I've mentioned this before; I have had a carpet float in my armoury for over thirty years.
It doesn't get used very often, but when things aren't behaving as they should it can give a better finish, in a shorter time.
I'd also add that with the absolute shite plaster that BG have been churning out for a good while now, they are in no position to tell anyone how best to get an acceptable finish on it. Utter wankers!

 

[Danny]

I've mentioned this before; I have had a carpet float in my armoury for over thirty years.
It doesn't get used very often, but when things aren't behaving as they should it can give a better finish, in a shorter time.
I'd also add that with the absolute shite plaster that BG have been churning out for a good while now, they are in no position to tell anyone how best to get an acceptable finish on it. Utter wankers!

I have to say I think its the only trade where you can safely blame the material....

 

[essexandy]

I have to say I think its the only trade where you can safely blame the material....

We've had material from five different suppliers now mate, it's all feeking awful.
I honestly think that BG have completely lost the plot with the quality (lack of) of both their plasterboard and finish plaster (Multifinish).

 

[Steve Brown]

I've mentioned this before; I have had a carpet float in my armoury for over thirty years.
It doesn't get used very often, but when things aren't behaving as they should it can give a better finish, in a shorter time.
I'd also add that with the absolute shite plaster that BG have been churning out for a good while now, they are in no position to tell anyone how best to get an acceptable finish on it. Utter wankers!

I've mentioned this before; I have had a carpet float in my armoury for over thirty years.
It doesn't get used very often, but when things aren't behaving as they should it can give a better finish, in a shorter time.
I'd also add that with the absolute shite plaster that BG have been churning out for a good while now, they are in no position to tell anyone how best to get an acceptable finish on it. Utter wankers!

Not enough info Andy, more specific - type; shag, loop, pile... material; wool, nylon, polyester... brand; X mimister or a budget brand?

 

[Danny]

I am going to give it a go? Got this little cupboard in my office.... Well it was going to be a bathroom but now a cupboard.

If it looks crap at the end I will be sanding and filling anyway.

 

[paulf]

Not enough info Andy, more specific - type; shag, loop, pile... material; wool, nylon, polyester... brand; X mimister or a budget brand?

If it's from Andys private collection it'll be something like this.

 

[essexandy]

Not enough info Andy, more specific - type; shag, loop, pile... material; wool, nylon, polyester... brand; X mimister or a budget brand?

It is really good quality and was bloody expensive. It's from an offcut from our dining room in our previous house and has been on that float since 1988.

 

[Danny]

I don't have any carpet so anybody recommend a sponge float?

 

[essexandy]

I don't have any carpet so anybody recommend a sponge float?

Sponge floats are shite compared with a carpet float.
Get yourself a bit of carpet mate.
I'll take a picture of the type I've got tomorrow.

 

[Monkey Boy]

Get yourself a bit of carpet mate.

 

[bobski]

I don't have any carpet so anybody recommend a sponge float?

I use refina and the orange medium faithfull ones.


But I'm going to grab the new Ox one next, they look ok.
(I think they're way better than their original ones that were white sponges - wore out so quick.)

 

[McBentLegs]

I held off sponging for the last 20 years but finally cracked, started using one a few months ago, by far the best finish you'll get, consistent every time, actually made me enjoy skimming again some what!

Plaster quality has gone down hill over the years as we've all spoken on about on here.. how many times have we said we've skimmed walls, the gears gone off lovely, using no water at all in the trowelling up process only to return a week later and it's dried out looking complete dog s**t!

Other times we've finished walls, having to use loads of water and returned a week later and they look bang on, as if we didn't use any water at all in the trowelling up process! Other times it's chewy, chewing gum, teary b*ll***s etc/ etc/

For quite a long time now I've dreaded going in to jobs a few days later only to be disappointed with the finish, obviously they paint up ok but until then it genuinely sometimes looks like whoever did the plastering had no idea what they were doing.

Sponge floating makes the trowelling up process much more enjoyable, you can see the difference in the finish as you are doing it and you know every time it'll dry out nice and even, so it's a win for me! I know there are some heroes on here that have a god complex with regards to their plastering so I await there snidey remarks but that's just my honest opinion about sponging



I

 

[Topspread16]

I held off sponging for the last 20 years but finally cracked, started using one a few months ago, by far the best finish you'll get, consistent every time, actually made me enjoy skimming again some what!

Plaster quality has gone down hill over the years as we've all spoken on about on here.. how many times have we said we've skimmed walls, the gears gone off lovely, using no water at all in the trowelling up process only to return a week later and it's dried out looking complete dog s**t!

Other times we've finished walls, having to use loads of water and returned a week later and they look bang on, as if we didn't use any water at all in the trowelling up process! Other times it's chewy, chewing gum, teary b*ll***s etc/ etc/

For quite a long time now I've dreaded going in to jobs a few days later only to be disappointed with the finish, obviously they paint up ok but until then it genuinely sometimes looks like whoever did the plastering had no idea what they were doing.

Sponge floating makes the trowelling up process much more enjoyable, you can see the difference in the finish as you are doing it and you know every time it'll dry out nice and even, so it's a win for me! I know there are some heroes on here that have a god complex with regards to their plastering so I await there snidey remarks but that's just my honest opinion about sponging



I

From PFT seems softer then the refina. I’ve only done it on problematic walls that you can’t get a flat trowel on. They’re good for that but I’d be keen to see the full process of it, I always use 2 coat with a fresh mix. I’ll try anything, I’m that bored of skimming

 

[McBentLegs]

View attachment 83584
From PFT seems softer then the refina. I’ve only done it on problematic walls that you can’t get a flat trowel on. They’re good for that but I’d be keen to see the full process of it, I always use 2 coat with a fresh mix. I’ll try anything, I’m that bored of skimming

I always do two coats, two separate mixes even with sponge float.

For me I follow the same process as standard, but on the second coat, after it's been flattened a couple of times, just as it has firmed up I tidy up the edges and sponge the whole wall, usually with a spray of water then immediately trowel it flat again, then just follow the standard process until the wall is finished, normally a dry trowel followed by a wet then maybe a final dry trowel just at the end.

Obviously it's not something you can explain exactly as we all have our own timings and process, just play with the timing a little, don't get on the wall too early as it defeats the object of the sponge.

I have a large refina one and a smaller one, found the large hard work especially on ceilings.

Honestly been a game changer for me, wish I had got on it years ago.

 

[Danny]

My problm is I don't have the pain threshold to put it on at the moment.

Might be a proper chancer and roll it on as well

 

[bobski]

My problm is I don't have the pain threshold to put it on at the moment.

Might be a proper chancer and roll it on as well

f**k**g hell Danny.

Wow

 

[essexandy]

My problm is I don't have the pain threshold to put it on at the moment.

Might be a proper chancer and roll it on as well

If you're that f**k*d just get someone in you daft c**t.

 

[essexandy]

So this is my carpet float.
I find it's way less harsh than any sponge float I've tried.
It sounds like my process is different to most. I put on and lay in as per usual, which is really neat and tidy and no heavy lines. I then allow it to pick up a fair bit before passing the float over a wall or two and then passing a trowel over it. It rarely needs more than one more trowel after that, but I'm not interested in putting a shine on the walls if I can avoid it.

 

[McBentLegs]

I quite like the idea of the carpet float, the sponge can definitely scratch it a bit, you can never clean all the grit out of it either, I don't imagine you have the same problem with a carpet.

 

[essexandy]

I quite like the idea of the carpet float, the sponge can definitely scratch it a bit, you can never clean all the grit out of it either, I don't imagine you have the same problem with a carpet.

The carpet gets a quick wash in water with a churn brush, literally seconds. I found sponge floats difficult to keep clean, one of the reasons I prefer the carpet float.

 

[Ritch]

I've mentioned this before; I have had a carpet float in my armoury for over thirty years.
It doesn't get used very often, but when things aren't behaving as they should it can give a better finish, in a shorter time.
I'd also add that with the absolute shite plaster that BG have been churning out for a good while now, they are in no position to tell anyone how best to get an acceptable finish on it. Utter wankers!

Thistle is terrible nowadays, compared to when I first started and back then board or multi was lovely to use, the sponge makes bad batches of thistle easy to finish. we’ve nailed a system, I would never trowel a wall the old traditional way ever again, and I’m not saying the old way is wrong its totally fine a1 finish but I can get a better finish with the sponge and with way less effort

 

[Topspread16]

I always do two coats, two separate mixes even with sponge float.

For me I follow the same process as standard, but on the second coat, after it's been flattened a couple of times, just as it has firmed up I tidy up the edges and sponge the whole wall, usually with a spray of water then immediately trowel it flat again, then just follow the standard process until the wall is finished, normally a dry trowel followed by a wet then maybe a final dry trowel just at the end.

Obviously it's not something you can explain exactly as we all have our own timings and process, just play with the timing a little, don't get on the wall too early as it defeats the object of the sponge.

I have a large refina one and a smaller one, found the large hard work especially on ceilings.

Honestly been a game changer for me, wish I had got on it years ago.

That’s how I’ve done it, I do find the set takes longer though.

 

[Topspread16]

So this is my carpet float.
I find it's way less harsh than any sponge float I've tried.
It sounds like my process is different to most. I put on and lay in as per usual, which is really neat and tidy and no heavy lines. I then allow it to pick up a fair bit before passing the float over a wall or two and then passing a trowel over it. It rarely needs more than one more trowel after that, but I'm not interested in putting a shine on the walls if I can avoid it. View attachment 83586View attachment 83587View attachment 83588

Do you not find you have to over trowel the s**t bg are churning out though. Stays wet for ages and the faintest lines in it if you don’t keep on it.

 

[Rossi46]

I barely use a trowel after laying on, no water at all, don’t even touch the flat brush any more. That alone makes it’s a stronger set. Finishes lovely every single time.
It’s the only way I can keep up with full houses on my own now.

 

[essexandy]

I barely use a trowel after laying on, no water at all, don’t even touch the flat brush any more. That alone makes it’s a stronger set. Finishes lovely every single time.
It’s the only way I can keep up with full houses on my own now.

Are you doing it all the way with a spat?

 

[essexandy]

Do you not find you have to over trowel the s**t bg are churning out though. Stays wet for ages and the faintest lines in it if you don’t keep on it.

Up until not that long ago we were getting most of our work finished with just two trowels.
That's not a flatten and two trowels, just the two. Now, never less than three and occasionally four! Pisses me right off.
As for the poxy stuff shrinking!
Any thickness anywhere, down a bead or a frame and the shite shrinks back loads. It's got to the stage where we're three coating down a lot of the beads.
I honestly don't think the product is fit for purpose anymore.

 

[Smudger1]

 

[essexandy]

View attachment 83602View attachment 83603

Mate you're just lucky that @BigBruvOfEnglandUK doesn't look at anything to do with plastering, he'd have slaughtered you for putting "103%" where it should be 103°.