Hi
Just registered with the forum, must say iam very impressed with some of the advice given.
I have just started out doing bits of plastering, did a short course and then re skimed my bathroom. The walls were over artex and came out ok. The ceiling had been artexed to a greater depth so i decided to put a layer of bonding plaster on first and then reskim.
My questions are,1. after putting on the bonding should I need to level with a straight edge or does this depend on the thickness of the coat. 2. At what point could I have skimmed the bonding ( ended up skimming a week later after 2 coats of pva ). 3. The ceiling was 9x8 feet and i found it difficult to get a good finish, as it was drying to quick, any advice for keeping the plaster workable for longer on a bonding back ground. Sorry to be a bit long with my first post, but ive got another couple of projects lined up and need the advice.

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420 bp

I'm no expert, but I wouldn't have said you would need a straight edge with the bonding because you would have been puting it on fairly tight, similar to skimming.

Re. when to skim: I'd have skimmed straight away after the bonding had set. That way you will have limited suction because the bonding is still moist. The dry bonding is likely to be quite absorbant, so plenty of PVA would be needed. A 9x8 ceiling is not really all that big so you shouldn't need a great deal of time to work it, just get it on as quickly as possible and it will give you more time for flattening.

That's my experience as an ok DIYer.

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I always blame my tools

For me, if its a tight coat of bonding over artex i dont bother using a feather edge. If i got to put it on a little thicker i will go over it with a f/edge.

as mentioned you had too much suction. Its better to spray the dry bonding with water, which will soak in very quick, then a few coats of pva.

Thanks for the advice guys, taking in what you have said, I think it would have been wise to use a straight edge as the bonding was put on fairly thick to cover all the imperfections. I could have re boarded but I wanted the experience using the bonding.

I think I took to long with the ceiling as I was trying to get the laying on done in the 3 or 4 sweeping motions ( is this necessary for a good job ) as at the moment can only go one way. Any advice for mastering this or is it just down to plenty of practice.

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420 bp

you have to weigh up whether you needed bonding or can you get away with scraping the high points and skimming.

i like andy have rarely used a featheredge for a ceilin as its not normally that deep but you have to weigh up yourself whether it would be beneficial to use one or not (it certainly wont hurt.)

would it have been easier to overboard it?

as for sweeping motions get as much on your trowel as you can handle in one go and bring it back over your head in a sweeping motion say 5-6" with a fully loaded trowel.

don't f*ck about with it get it on. clean your tools, woodwork n edges etc then flatten off when pulled in repeat for 2nd coat (only thinner) and you wont be too far out.

sounds like you need practice to speed you up and the good thing about plastering is you can bond it again and re-skim it if you f*ck it up!

cheers fella , really need the practice, i will be doing spare bedroom next. This room is not to big 10 by 8 feet, the ceiling is ok so its just the walls on this one. Most of it is just a reskim with a bit of hardwall above the door where the plaster had blown.

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420 bp

i would give it the tight coat because you dont know whether the artex contains asbestos so your best not removing the high points

thats a good point from lufc

if its from before say the mid eighties (i think) it may contain asbestos.

i had a job a while back that i refused because it involved removing thick artex from walls from the seventies.


its better to be safe than sorry!

ive done my good deed for the day now.!

im off t get pissed!