how to do big celings

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J

J.D.P.

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Hi ive just started plastering after doing an intensive course,before going on to do work on customers houses i am doing a fiew rooms out in my own however i am doing a 10m2 celing and the plaster seems to be going off to quick .it was a re skim on a emulsion painted celing so i pva 50/50 then 4 to 1 when i went to put second coat on the first was hardening so i flattened it off before i couldn't do anything with it .Should i have divided the celing into 3 sections instead of hitting it all at once? i will be doing the celing again as there are a fiew hollows that need sorting and practice makes perfect n all that.any help advice thanks. ???
 
With that amount of pva there should be no problem what so ever. The cieling is only small and should only take 10 minutes at most to rough it on then leave it for 20 mins or so and 10 mins to lay down, all i can say is your way too slow.
 
10m2 is by no means big, however ceilings are a lot harder to master than walls when starting out!

Did you plan on putting on two coats from the same mix (a big no-no IMO), or did you knock up another?

Are you working off stilts, steps, hop-up or tressles. Believe me it can make all the difference.

If the background really pulls the PVA mix in, I normally apply a third coat.
 
stop being tits lads hes told hes fresh at it,use that becka bond stuff they reckon it gives you all the time in the world,the other inside lads will put you straight on the best stuff!
 
Firstly your pva mixes are the wrong way around the weaker mix goes on first and that should be left over night so it does its job of giving you more time to work on the ceiling when it comes to putting the 2nd pva mix on, this can not allways be done on certain jobs but being as you are learning the trade its best to start off on the right foot, bonding agents will work even better at sealing substrates try using a tub of wickes plaster bonding agent about £15 and it will do around 15 sq meters brush or roll it on let dry for a min of 3 hours or over night then try skimming it will help you out no end .
 
Was working off steps with the plaster on a wet board,dont think i'm that slow but obviously not as quick as a pro,had no heating on either,seemed to have alot of working time with the plaster when on the course although the walls were smaller.how will i prep the freshly skimmed celing 50/50 then 4/1 again .think i will buy a fresh bag of plaster to try aswell .will get it right in the end thats why i'm doing my house first and not a paying customers.will try some of that bonding agent n all thanks for the tip
 
not so sure if slits are a good idea for begginers....... but if u can use them, it'll make your life alot easier.
also like church said wickes bonding agent will give u more time.
 
Dont think i will try the stilts just yet,hoping to do the jobs in the house to a good standard as i would be happy to pay for, then have a fiew for friends and family to get my practice in. i already have a job in a factory but am down to 3 days a week now with no sighns of improvement thats why i hope to become a decent plasterer and get the hell out of there. off to look at a cheap van this weekend and have most tools just need a water spray, some better dust sheets and a spare finnish trowel incase i nack mine
 
Bad time at the moment to get into it mate even for us 20+ year boys not being funny but for newbies its going to be very difficult. This is constructive im not taking the piss lad.
 
pva, mix not too dry and a nice cool room mate . youl get there in the end mate stick at it bud.
 
As a beginner dont go down the route of wickes bonding agent stick with pva, as when you come to do your own work pricing in wba can make a big difference, I only ever use pva and nearly always one coat of about 3-1/4-1 (i dont measure it out) apply pva if after 10 mins its dry then apply another coat, I think you over mixed which gave you less time with the plaster
 
pftmonojetman,dont worry mate dont plan on junking the factory job am over 30 and have a big mortgage but as i am working only 3 days a week i see this as an ideal oppertunity to learn a new trade and eventually make me some more money,i know a fiew people in different trades who will set me off with some easy jobs which i will probably do for free until i get the hang of it
 
if the plaster is giving you a hard time try the edge of a wet float to help lay it down, then trowel the fat in to it, then go on with your next coat!
 
Thanks for all the good advice,off to look at a van tommora,then going to crack on and see how much i can get done ,pva 'd the celing tonight and got my angle beads on round the window and other corners, think i'll get a fresh bag of plaster and a water spray might come in handy,will try and post some pics when im done .cheers
 
gmw said:
stop being tits lads hes told hes fresh at it,use that becka bond stuff they reckon it gives you all the time in the world,the other inside lads will put you straight on the best stuff!
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Dont know why am being a tit, was asking the lad some questions to ascertain where he might need some advice.

The number of times people get taught to put two coats on from same mix, I just had to ask!

He was using steps, which take time to move about. A hop-up is easier when your hands full with Hawk and trowel.

WBA is good where nessessary, PVA is just as good and a 1/10th the price.

We all start somewhere and the last thing I do is take the piss.
 
Got 2 new bags of plaster and started again lashed the first coat on tryed not to play with it,wipped downstairs mixed half a bag for second coat cleaned hawk and trowel ,checked where i had started with first and it was still soft so lashed the second on as flat as pos then dry trowel and filled in hollows before wet trowel,well chuffed . and glad i got new plaster cos i was loosing faith .will use other bags of old stuff for smaller bits. still need to be quicker tho and stop playin with each coat and just get it on. :)
 
have you made sure central heatings turned off ive done 1 before where pipes ran in the ceiling i was plastering plaster went off in 5 mins.
 
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