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View Full Version : any plasterers in here? mj 24 December 2002, 19:01 If so, any tips for skimming? I can get it nice and flat, and spraying with water and a good hard blast with the trowel gets reasonable results, whats the best way to achieve that mirror like finish only the pros seem to get? cheers, mike. alanjack 25 December 2002, 03:03 No point in asking a plasterer then ;) David_Wallis 25 December 2002, 17:41 experience... why do you need it shiny? Could be the plaster you are using... smooth and flat is all that matters. ed_the_duck 25 December 2002, 19:10 if you want to get it shiny you have to keep doing the water and trowel thingy over and over.....its known a bringing the fat to the surface, or polishing........this is mainly done when the surface is a final finish. if you plan on papering or putting a covering then its not necessary. looks nice when painted. most builders would rather do a dot and dab (dry-line)for painted finish cos its a warmer material.....also plastering is a dying art so if you any good you can earn a fortune RON 25 December 2002, 20:08 I wouldn't say a fortune, I've just had my whole house done, rendered and plastered, took on eman four weeks, he was damn good too, cost.................. 3 grand! stevebt 26 December 2002, 18:24 iif you want to achieve a resonable finish for the unexperienced i would say to buy a plastic sponge float, when you have apllied the plaster wait for it to slowly set than sponge the wall in circular motion until you have an artex patern then use the trowel to smooth over and remove the patern repeat about four times until set and you might get away with something that looks resonable http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/fingers/fing10.gif grabber 28 December 2002, 15:51 don't do the shiny mirror thing unless thats the finish job (not painting/papering) cos the stuff will just slide off the wall, i think you can get a sandable plaster, might be better off with that if you havent plastered before dnb 29 December 2002, 01:37 Plaster is an evil material!! (I've done too much DIY plastering lately...) getting the plaster smooth and flat is the first thing (quite difficult, as it has this habit of going solid when you're not looking :() then you can polish the surface with a metal float and plenty of water. Lots of practice makes perfect... :) |