Lime Plaster - Not Gypsum Multi Finish?

[The_Architect]

Leaning over the banister? You're supposed to have a bouncy plank balanced between a too-upright ladder on one side and a upturned crate on the other. And not step back to admire your work.

i did set this up.. i had a bit of jelly legs on the step up and had to get off.. lol

 

[Cockney]

not sure why it happens! Could it be that yesterday was very hot? 26 degrees? I properly pva’ed it and waited until it went tacky, by the time I plasteted that section of the wall the pva would have dried, could that be it?

edit: they little crack marks feel completely smooth, they arent actual cracks they just look like it..

You my friend have experienced what we call in the plastering world as “crazing“. You have not controlled the suction properly!

 

[The_Architect]

You my friend have experienced what we call in the plastering world as “crazing“. You have not controlled the suction properly!

Quick google suggests painting should be alright over this. Its not cracked so hopefully it stays on the wall.

Next time stronger pva then!

 

[Cockney]

Quick google suggests painting should be alright over this. Its not cracked so hopefully it stays on the wall.

Next time stronger pva then!

Read back to the second line of my words of wisdom to you friend!
Unfortunately for you, My advice don’t come for free so that’s all you’re getting for today.

 

[zombie]

Quick google suggests painting should be alright over this. Its not cracked so hopefully it stays on the wall.

Next time stronger pva then!

I've had this a few times looks horrendous dry but no actual cracks.

If it's the same it will be fine when painted!

 

[ChrispyUK]

Quick google suggests painting should be alright over this. Its not cracked so hopefully it stays on the wall.

Next time stronger pva then!

If the walls are very dry, give them a couple of pissy coats of PVA first, then go stronger.

 

[The_Architect]

If the walls are very dry, give them a couple of pissy coats of PVA first, then go stronger.

I tried doing a 5:1 day before, then a 3:1 and on some walls I end up with the crazing, others the plaster is trying to crack as it dries.. trying to save it by adding water to slow the drying but assume when its doing that its a lost cause..

 

[The_Architect]

It was all going pretty well too.. ive ended up messing it up f**k**g about to save it from cracking.

 

[essexandy]

Oh well never mind ah.

 

[Deleted member 32554]

It was all going pretty well too.. ive ended up messing it up f**k**g about to save it from cracking.

Cheer up you learn more from mistakes

 

[ChrispyUK]

Try a couple of thin coats of pva first to help prime the walls before putting it on thicker. Usually by the time you've got to the end of the wall, you can go back and put the 2nd on, then when thats soaked in, go on with a thicker PVA mix.

If you've got the suction controlled about right, you should not need much water to finish. Your photos look like you've had to scrape the life out of it.

I'd still get rid of the coving if you have it in other rooms.

 

[zombie]

I take back my comments if it's all opening up to crack your f**k*d!

 

[The_Architect]

Thanks a lot guys (not andy )

yeah, all getting used to it. Its weird, some walls ive had no issues with, others are absolute bastards! I definitely havent mastered the art of pva’ing yet.

Ill try getting the wall wetter with a few diluted pva mixes before the thicker mix.

i will be taking to coving off the next room for sure. The hall looks awful haha! Thanks again for the help, i go again soon!

 

[ChrispyUK]

Thanks a lot guys (not andy )

yeah, all getting used to it. Its weird, some walls ive had no issues with, others are absolute bastards! I definitely havent mastered the art of pva’ing yet.

Ill try getting the wall wetter with a few diluted pva mixes before the thicker mix.

i will be taking to coving off the next room for sure. The hall looks awful haha! Thanks again for the help, i go again soon!

You picked one the most awkward places to start imo.

 

[The_Architect]

You picked one the most awkward places to start imo.

the rest will be easy then! Lol. Problem is that the wife wont let me do the bedroom until I can be trusted

 

[Cockney]

the rest will be easy then! Lol. Problem is that the wife wont let me do her in the bedroom until I can be trusted

 

[The_Architect]

if that were the case I wouldnt need to plaster ready for the baby!

 

[The_Architect]

Ive spent all day reading posts / watching vids to get my head around this suction stuff. I wonder if part of my problem is the PVA im using. I wanted unibond but cant find any in this crisis.. i went for an amazon one - Everbuild CONPVA5 Contractors PVA 5Kg https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0012MPV6S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dKnLEb5CBJC99

Ive been doing 1:5 / 1:3-4 (no way of measuring so I eyeball it) before plastering. People on the amazon page suggest using 1:2.. maybe thats why my PVA is drying too fast and gone before I plaster.

Ill try doing a 1:5 day before, few 1:3s before and make the last one the thicker end of 1:3.Nice test to do this week - ill send photos if it stays on the wall.

 

[pftmonojetman]

Am I reading right. Are you using pva on lime?

 

[The_Architect]

Am I reading right. Are you using pva on lime?

Yes, why? Is that a problem?

 

[jamesthefirst]

Yes, why? Is that a problem?

Look up Baumit dg27

 

[The_Architect]

Look up Baumit dg27

I've just ordered better PVA - some Unibond stuff.. wish I'd seen this first. I'll try wetting the wall better next time and getting a few more diluted PVA mixes before I apply the plaster.

I did a bit of a test on the last wall and I did a 1:3 mix day before, then another 1:3 mix before I plastered. That dried quick, so applied more like a 1:2 mix after that and that section of wall worked a lot better. Think I'm going to just try and get the wall as wet as possible and then go for it.

Just need to figure out how to fix the mess I've already made haha

 

[superspread]

Update
Spent two days stripping paper (woodchip on ceilings is a bugger).
today plastered two walls and a ceiling.

ceiling was terrible, too hot and wasnt used to working upwards. Plaster went everywhere and i hated it. The loft hatch + leaning over the banister had me swearing every 5 mins so probably going to have to redo it..

wall went better and happy with that. A few times my plaster wanted to pop (it would break open and id need to wet it down again).. not huge and only a few spots but like it was cracking.

I gave it good pva (1:5 day before, 1:3 before platering) and still had the issue.. any advice?

taking on the big wall tomorrow and going to do it in two goes as its too big to do in one..

Tbh that’s probably a better finish than half the plasterers on here

 

[superspread]

Thistle -bond -it , will be your friend On this project

Thank me later

 

[essexandy]

Tbh that’s probably a better finish than half the plasterers on here

Only half? Your minds shot from being inside too long.

 

[superspread]

Only half? Your minds shot from being inside too long.

I was being polite
I wanted to say probably 98%

 

[The_Architect]

Another wall done and dry! I plastered it first with the skirting then decided to take it off so had to fill the bottom.. think it went alright. All the marks make it look pretty poor but its smooth and was a rough lime wall.

 

[limeplastering]

I think the damage has already been done majority of the time your problems will start down stairs on external walls. If the backing is lime and it’s just a gypsum skim on top it’s not the end of the world but I think you will get a mould issue in the near future or the paint will flake

 

[Wayners]

You can paint lime plaster with contract emulsion. On old places companies use products like Little Greenes distemper paint. That's as far as my knowledge goes

 

[The_Architect]

I think the damage has already been done majority of the time your problems will start down stairs on external walls. If the backing is lime and it’s just a gypsum skim on top it’s not the end of the world but I think you will get a mould issue in the near future or the paint will flake

Yeah, to be honest, I've had all the downstairs done by a professional plasterer and they used multi. That was a year ago and no issues yet. I'm plastering upstairs now so hopefully no problems.

The worry is moisture cant escape, but with lime walls and lime mortar I've been told it will escape externally, no need to have both sides of the walls breathing - although that is obviously ideal.

Building Control prefer gypsum plaster to lime because it meets building regs - but they dont differentiate between traditional and modern houses. Historic England also suggest gypsum to a Grade 2 opposite with the same construction and they've not has any issues in 15 years so I think we will be okay...

 

[Brimstone]

Must have missed something there, where in Building Regs does it say Lime does not meet the Regulations?

 

[The_Architect]

Must have missed something there, where in Building Regs does it say Lime does not meet the Regulations?

didnt say it doesnt meet BR. I said they prefer BG.

 

[The_Architect]

didnt say it doesnt meet BR. I said they prefer BG.

and my understanding is that its nothing to do with lime vs modern but to do with energy efficiency. Ill find the reference later.

 

[ChrispyUK]

and my understanding is that its nothing to do with lime vs modern but to do with energy efficiency. Ill find the reference later.

I think the usual rule of thumb is the 50% rule. Anymore than 50% hacked off then they want insulation upgrade. If you’re at that stage then you may as well insulate regardless as it makes a massive difference.

 

[Brimstone]

didnt say it doesnt meet BR. I said they prefer BG.

"Building Control prefer gypsum plaster to lime because it meets building regs " i.e. lime doesn't meet Building Regs. Insulation is not the issue with either material, but I suspect Building Control are not correct or are getting the two issues mixed up.