A cross to bear...

[essexandy]

do u flatten or just sponge straight away?

I'd never flatten first before putting a float over, be it a sponge, plastic or cross grain float.
When the setting isn't going nicely when it's cold and damp using a float to start with will usually save you one trowel over and give a nice finish if you time the floating over just right. If you know what you're doing you wont leave any fat on the wall either so there is absolutely no problem with the integrity of the surface, I've never had any adverse comments from a builder or decorator when doing this quite the opposite in fact.

 

[spunky]

I flatten it being thinking about just going over it but not sure if the angles would suffer

 

[bubbles65]

I'd never flatten first before putting a float over, be it a sponge, plastic or cross grain float.
When the setting isn't going nicely when it's cold and damp using a float to start with will usually save you one trowel over and give a nice finish if you time the floating over just right. If you know what you're doing you wont leave any fat on the wall either so there is absolutely no problem with the integrity of the surface, I've never had any adverse comments from a builder or decorator when doing this quite the opposite in fact.

I was taught that floating increases the surface area and therefore allows more air at it to speed up setting times. That was on rendering but same principle I would say:RpS_thumbup:

 

[lucius]

I suppose sponge floating is not much different from when we used to float Syraphite.

 

[essexandy]

I was taught that floating increases the surface area and therefore allows more air at it to speed up setting times. That was on rendering but same principle I would say:RpS_thumbup:

Oh yes.

I suppose sponge floating is not much different from when we used to float Syraphite.

Exactly lucius, you remember how the Siraphite used to hang about on damp days and how a float over would transform it? Well it's just the same with multi.

 

[lucius]

Oh yes i remember, good stuff syraphite but i used to hate it when one lost concentration and the float stuck to the wall.

 

[bubbles65]

never ever used it....................have I missed out ???

 

[essexandy]

never ever used it....................have I missed out ???

It had it's good points but sometimes in the cold and damp you would end up trowelling it up the next morning. The first spread I ever worked for still has a few bags in his shed, he's so tight he wont throw anything away in case someone finds a use for it.

 

[bubbles65]

LOL...............given your age it's reassuring to know he's still alive:RpS_laugh:

 

[essexandy]

LOL...............given your age it's reassuring to know he's still alive:RpS_laugh:

That's probably because he was a lazy ****. His brother was nearly as bad and that's why I got to learn so quickly because he figured the more he could get me to do as quickly as possible the less he had to do. I can honestly remember scouring a Siraphite wall up on my first day. You can imagine how much I pulled of with that old chipboard float lol. I was only with him for six months and then started with my old man who then had to try to unlearn me all the bad work habits I been taught. He failed:RpS_blushing: