Plastering

Prepared by
Md. Ibrahim Mostazid
Lecturer
Dept. of Civil Engineering, HSTU.

Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology

University
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Plastering

8.1 Introduction
Plastering is the process of covering rough surfaces of
walls, columns, ceilings and other building components
with thin coat of plastic mortars to form a smooth
durable surface.
The coating of plastic material is termed as plaster.
Plastering on external exposed surface is known as
rendering.
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8.2 Objects of plastering

Plastering is done for the following purposes-
a. To protect the external surfaces against
penetration of rain, water and other
atmospheric agencies.
b. To give smooth surface in which dust dirt can’t
lodge.
c. To give decorative effect.
d. To protect surface against vermin.
e. To conceal interior materials or defective
workmanship.
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8.3 Requirements of good plaster

Followings are the requirements of good plaster-
1) It should adhere to the background and should
remain adhered during all variations in seasons
and other atmospheric conditions.
2) It should be hard and durable.
3) It should possess good workability.
4) It should be possible to apply it during all
weather conditions.
5) It should be cheap.
6) It should effectively check penetration of
moisture.
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8.4 Types of mortars for plastering

Selection of type of mortar for plastering depends upon
the following factors:
1. Availability of binding materials.
2. Durability requirements.
3. Finishing requirements.
4. Atmospheric conditions and variations in weather.
5. Location of surface.
Following types of mortars are commonly used for
plastering:
i. Lime mortar
ii. Cement mortar
iii. Lime cement mortar
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8.5 Plastering tools

Gauging trowel: Gauging trowel is used for taking mortar
from the mortar pan, dashing it against the wall and then
spreading and pressing it. The end of this trowel blade may be
either pointed or bull nosed.
Float: Float is used for applying and spreading mortar on the
surface. It is made of either metal or wood. Metal float made
of thin tempered steel is known as laying trowel. The laying
trowel is used for laying the plaster material and for trowel
ling so as to get desired finish. The wooden float commonly
known as skimming float is used for the finishing coat of
plaster.
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Floating rule: It is used for checking the level of

plastered surface between successive screeds.
Miscellaneous tools: These include plumb bob, sprit
level, set square, straight edges, brushes etc.
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8.6 Method of plastering

Preparation of surface for plastering
The surface of the background should be prepared as
follows –
a. All the projections extending more than 13 mm from the
general face of the masonry should be knocked off so as
to maintain thinner plaster layer.
b. All the joints in the masonry should be raked for a depth
of about 20mm. Raked joints should be properly cleaned
from all loose dust and mortar.
c. Oily, greasy and efflorescence spots should be removed
either by brushing, scrapping or both.
d. If the wall to be plastered is very old, the surface of wall
should be made rough by scrapping it with some tool.
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e. After carrying out all the above mentioned processes, the

prepared surface should be thoroughly washed with water
and wet before plastering is started.
f. In order to maintain uniform thickness of plaster, the
screeds are formed on the prepared wall before plastering.
Patches of plaster 150 mm x 150 mm are first of all
applied at an interval of about 2 m both horizontally and
vertically. The two dots lying in a vertical plan are
plumbed by means of plumb bob. After fixing dots,
vertical strips of mortar are formed between dots. These
strips are known as screeds. These are used for
maintaining even thickness of plaster.
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8.7 Lime plaster

Lime plaster is applied either in three coats or in two coats.
Before applying plaster, the background is prepared as
desired above.
8.7.1 Three coat plaster
In a three coat plaster, the first coat is known as rendering
coat, second coat is known as floating coat and third coat is
known as setting coat or finishing coat.
Application of rendering coat: The mortar is forcibly
applied with masons trowel and pressed well into joints and
over the surface. The thickness should be such as to cover all
inequalities of the surface. This is allowed to slightly harden
and then scratched criss cross with the trowel. The surface
is left to set at least for 7 days.
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Application of floating coat: The rendering coat is cleaned

off from all dirt, dust and other loose mortar droppings. It is
lightly wetted. Patches 15 cm x 15 cm are applied at suitable
spacing to act as gauges. The mortar is then thrown with
masons trowel spread and rubbed to the required plain
surface with wooden float.
Application of finishing: In case of lime sand mortar the
finishing coat is applied immediately after the floating coat.
Finishing coat consists of cream of lime (4:1), applied with
steel trowel and rubbed and finished smooth. The rubbing is
continued till it is quite dry. It is left for 1 day and then curing
is done for at least 7 days.
In lime surki mortar finishing coat is applied 7 days after the
floating coat is applied, after cleaning the surface. The
finishing coat is rubbed hard and finished smooth.
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8.7.2 Two coat plaster

In this case the rendering coat is a combination of the
rendering, floating coats of three coat plaster and is done
under one continuous operation. The finishing is then
applied in a manner similar to the three coat plaster.
8.8 Cement plaster and cement lime plaster
Cement plaster is applied either in two coats or in three
coats, the former being more common. For interior work,
single coat plaster is sometime provided.
8.8.1 Two coat plaster
a. The background is prepared by racking the joint to a
depth of 20mm, cleaning the surface and well
watering it.
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b. If the surface to be plastered is very uneven, a preliminary

coat is applied to fill up the hollows, before the first coat.
c. The first coat or rendering coat of plaster is then applied.
The cement mortar is applied on the surface between the
successive screeds to maintain exact thickness and the
surface is properly finished.
d. Before the rendering coat is hardened, it is suitably worked
to provide mechanical key for the final or finishing coat. The
rendering coat is kept wet at least 2 days and then allowed
to dry completely.
e. Before applying final or finishing coat, the rendering coat is
damped evenly. The final coat is applied with wooden floats
to a true even surface and finished with steel trowels. This
coat should be started from top towards bottom and
completed in one operation to eliminate joints.
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8.8.2 Three coat plaster

The process for applying three coat plaster is similar to the
two coat plaster except that an intermediate coat known as
floating coat is applied. The purpose of this coat is to bring
the plaster to an even surface. The rendering coat is rough.
Floating coat is applied 4to 7days after first coat. Finishing
coat is applied about 6hours after the application of floating
coat.

8.8.3 Single coat plaster

This is used only in inferior quality work. It is applied
similar to two coat plasters except the rendering coat. It is
finished of immediately after it is sufficiently hardened.
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8.9 Types of plaster finishes

a) Smooth cast finish: In this finish work, smooth,
leveled surface is obtained. The mortar for the finish may
be made of cement and fine sand in the ratio of 1:3.
Mortar is applied with the help of wooden float.
b) Sand faced finish: This is obtained by plastering in
two coats. First coat is applied in 1:4 cement sand mortar
for 12 mm thickness. It is provided with zig zag lines.
After curing for 7 days, the second coat is applied in the
thickness of 8 mm mortar for second coat is prepared
from cement sand ratio 1:1. The surface of final coat is
finished by rubbing clean and fine sand by means of
wooden float.
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c) Rough cast finish: In this, the mortar for final coat

contains fine sand as well as coarse aggregate in ratio
1:1.5:3. The mortar is dashed against prepared plastered
surface by means of large trowel. The surface is then
roughly finished by wooden float. Such finish is water proof,
durable and resistant to cracking.
d) Dry dash: In this , the final coat having cement sand mix
proportion of 1:3. Clean pebbles are the dashed against the
surface, so that they are held in position. The pebbles may
be lightly pressed into the mortar with wooden float.
e) Depeter finish: This is similar to pebble dash finish in
which pieces of gravel are pressed with hand on the surface.
Gravels or flint of different colours may be used to obtain
beautiful patterns.
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f) Scrapped finish: In this the final coat is applied to

about 6 to 12 mm and after few hours, when it has
stiffened, the surface is scrapped in patterns for a depth of
3mm. for scrapping steel straight edges are used. Such
surface is less liable to cracks.
g) Textured finish: This is used with stucco plastering.
Ornamental patterns or textured surfaces are made on the
final coat of stucco plastering.
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8.10 Special material used for plastering

1. Acoustic plaster: This contains gypsum mixtures applied
as final coat in finishing the plastered surface. Such a coat
undergoes chemical reaction resulting in production of gas
bubbles and consequent formation of tiny openings in the
coat. These honey combed minute openings absorb sound.
This is used for the interiors wall of halls, auditorium etc.
2. Asbestos marble plaster: This is made of cement,
asbestos and finely crushed marble imparting Mable like
finish.
3. Barium plaster: It is made from cement, sand and
barium sulphate. It is provided in X-ray rooms to protect
the person working in it.
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4. Granite silicon plaster: This is used for superior type of

construction because it has quick setting and highly elastic
properties.
5. Gypsum plaster (plaster of Paris): It is obtained from
heating finely ground gypsum heated at 160 to 170 ⁰C. It
hardens within 3 to 4 minutes of adding water. To extend
the setting time, suitable retarders are used. It is generally
used in combination with lime for ornamental work and for
repairing holes and cracks.
6. Kenee’s cement plaser: Keenes cement is obtained by
calcinating plaster of paris with alum. This is very hard and
sets in few days taking white, glass like polish. It is used for
ornamental and decorative plastering.
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7. Martin’s cement plaster: Martin’s cement is obtained

when pearl ash is calcined with plaster of paris. It has quick
setting properties and forms a white hard surface on drying.
8. Parian cement plaster: It is obtained when borax is
calcined with plaster of paris. It is used for interior work.
9. Scagliola plaster: It is obtained by dissolving keenes
cement and coloring pigments in glue. It appears like
marble.
10. Sirapite plaster: It is obtained when plaster of paris is
slaked in petroleum. It has quick setting and fire resisting
properties. It produces white hard surface on drying.
11. Snowcrete and colourcrete cements: These are trade
names given to white and coloured cement respectively.
These are used on external wall to create good appearance.
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8.11 Defects in plastering

1. Blistering of plastered surface: This is the formation of
small patches of plaster swelling out beyond the plastered
surface.
2. Cracking: Cracking consists of formation of cracks in
plaster work resulting due to :
a. imperfect preparation of background.
b. discontinuity of surface.
c. movement of plaster surface due to expansion or
shrinkage.
d. excessive shrinkage due to application of thick coat.
e. faulty workmanship.
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3. Falling of plaster: Following may be the reason of this

defect:
a. bond of plaster with background may not perfect.
b. too much thermal changes.
c. imperfect bond between successive coats of plaster.
4. Crazing: It is the formation of a series of hair cracks on
plastered surface due to the same reasons that cause
cracking.
5. Efflorescene: It is the whitish crystalline substance which
appears on the surface due to presence of salts in plaster
making materials as well as building materials like bricks,
sand and cement etc. It effects the adhesion of paint to the
wall surface.
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6. Flaking: It is the formation of very loose mass of plastered

surface due to poor bond between successive coats.
7. Peeling: It is the complete dislocation of some portion of
plastered surface resulting in the formation of a patch.
8. Popping: It is the formation of conical hole in the plastered
surface due to presence of some particles that expand
during setting.
9. Rust stains: These are sometimes formed when plaster is
applied on metals.
10.Uneven surface: This is obtained purely due to poor
workmanship.
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8.12 Remedies of plaster defects

Following measures if employed will result in minimization of
defect:
1. The surface to be plastered should be properly prepared.
2. The finished surface of the plaster should not be trowel led
excessively.
3. Superior quality of bricks should be used for brick works.
4. Water used in construction should be free from soluble
salts.
5. Efflorescence if any should be removed by rubbing the
surface with brushes. Alternatively a solution of one part of
HCL or H2SO4 with 4 or 5 parts of clean water may be
applied on the affected surface with brushes.
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6. Water should not be used for washing the surface to

remove efflorescence.
7. Surfaces should be painted only when efflorescence has
fully ceased.
8. Proper damp proof course should be laid correctly.
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