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.