Question and answers on Stucco and Plastering-- January, 2012
Inexperienced plasterers-false advertising
Hi, my name is Chris Slane, I'm a drywall finisher. If you have
the time I've got a question. My
biggest contractor is doing a
house that is mostly plaster. He's
hired some guys that don't seem to have a clue what they're
doing,
they've been on this
house for about 7 weeks, granted it took
almost 400 boards of
Durock, but it's getting ridiculous.
I don't know a lot about the
plaster process, but they have been
sanding in between every coat, touching things up with drywall
mud, and
have not flattened or
fixed any of the joints, especially on the
ceilings, you can see
every joint. My dilemma is my
contractor is running out of time,
and wants me and my partner to try to fix
their mess. I have no
idea how to plaster with anything except
sheet rock mud, can you
give me any suggestions? I do know
that what they call finished
product is smooth like glass, but there is
dust everywhere, and
again, you have the joints showing
everywhere, not to mention air
bubbles and nicks here and there. I
didn't think you were
supposed to sand plaster at all, and
especially not after the finish coat. Any light you can shed
on the subject would be
greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time,
Chris Slane, L&S Drywall Sadly enough,
this is what killed plastering, inexperienced. These days, with the
economy bad, drywall contractors and painting contractors are
advertising as plasterers.
No, you don't sand plaster. The finish coat is troweled smooth. The
surface should be so hard that it can't be sanded.
Drywall compounds are soft and weaken the surface of the product.
Plaster won't bond to durock. Obviously this is drywall mud.
This contractor should have checked the experience or the portfolio of
these people.
I just checked 390 advertisements for plastering contractors in the
Washington, DC area, and saw 3 names I recognise as
experienced contractors.