Mesh for indoor plastering

LOIZOS said:
Yes, it does but I don't think your comment about me going against the advice is fair. The first few responses seemed to suggest mesh and skim was a good option (yourself included) and later others chimed in with other suggestions which to me were vague like 'use a flexible product'. I thought I might still be able to skim and use the right product, hence my confusion and need to ask more questions. The reason I came on here to ask the question in the first place was because of all the contradictory advice I've received. I understand your analogy and again appreciate all your responses on here. Thanks again.
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If you are on a tight budget there is no chance you can use flexible breathable lime products.

Looks like a straight forward re skim with multi finish to me scrim/mesh where required.

If you have any external walls with damp problems etc hack off or batten over and use a dry line system, insulate if you can stretch.
 
FreeD said:
If you are on a tight budget there is no chance you can use flexible breathable lime products.

Looks like a straight forward re skim with multi finish to me scrim/mesh where required.

If you have any external walls with damp problems etc hack off or batten over and use a dry line system, insulate if you can stretch.
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Agree. That's why I was confused with flexible product, as the only flexible product I know of is lime based products (that I use) which blows the budget into the sky. Mesh is the only option here imo before hacking off and starting again, but as mentioned it's still a shortcut and not a magic wand, just potentially a better chance of preventing cracking within a limited budget.
 
Squarehead said:
Agree. That's why I was confused with flexible product, as the only flexible product I know of is lime based products (that I use) which blows the budget into the sky. Mesh is the only option here imo before hacking off and starting again, but as mentioned it's still a shortcut and not a magic wand, just potentially a better chance of preventing cracking within a limited budget.
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Got it! Anyway, you've all been helpful to confirm that mesh is the way forward to reduce the likelihood of cracking, but I'm going into this expecting that I will get some cracks reappearing in the short term and hopefully it's manageable when that happens.
 
LOIZOS said:
Got it! Anyway, you've all been helpful to confirm that mesh is the way forward to reduce the likelihood of cracking, but I'm going into this expecting that I will get some cracks reappearing in the short term and hopefully it's manageable when that happens.
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I've been testing this stuff on internal skim and it's very good, hopefully it'll do the trick. If not then look at polycell crack free ceilings paint to use on any cracks that might appear, its excellent too.
 
Whats the best way to use the mesh?

Staple it to the wall/stick it with the PVA or put on the first coat and then trowel it in?
 
TwoTrowels said:
Whats the best way to use the mesh?

Staple it to the wall/stick it with the PVA or put on the first coat and then trowel it in?
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I put on first coat and lay the mesh into it,
Keep it as tight as possible then use excess you've squeezed out to cover it again. You have to be a bit patient and not put second on too early as it could grin through the final finish. You will need to experiment till you find the right timings.
 
TwoTrowels said:
Whats the best way to use the mesh?

Staple it to the wall/stick it with the PVA or put on the first coat and then trowel it in?
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I pva then staple tops of it and spread from top to bottom pushing it against wall. I did a test panel where I did it this way and removed the entire panel to observe. One it was a bugger to get off and two the plaster had pushed behind the mesh onto pva.
 
Mesh is made to be sandwiched between coats not under the first.
By doing this it will still squeeze through the holes but won't be as effective as between the first and second coat and not directly on top of existing substrate.


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Jgreenplastering said:
Mesh is made to be sandwiched between coats not under the first.
By doing this it will still squeeze through the holes but won't be as effective as between the first and second coat and not directly on top of existing substrate.


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Re-read . It pushes under. No problems.
 
Jgreenplastering said:
No need, yes it will push through the squares but you won't get as good a coverage or full working capabilities as if you were laying it into your first coat.



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Agree coverage is reduced. Workability on Victorian walls I find better as it takes a bit of high suction out. Gives good grip too. I wouldn't use it if you could only bed in, couldn't be arsed with that. Bit like said on here many a time, if it works for you carry on. I used to question those that plaster onto fully set pva , I always thought it had to be tacky, changed my view on that now. My theory is that if you did have to bed in mesh, would we all be laying on plasterboard first then bedding in normal scrim like the old hessien days as no way you could trust adhesion of scrim glue, we all know how shite that is.
 
Squarehead said:
Agree coverage is reduced. Workability on Victorian walls I find better as it takes a bit of high suction out. Gives good grip too. I wouldn't use it if you could only bed in, couldn't be arsed with that. Bit like said on here many a time, if it works for you carry on. I used to question those that plaster onto fully set pva , I always thought it had to be tacky, changed my view on that now. My theory is that if you did have to bed in mesh, would we all be laying on plasterboard first then bedding in normal scrim like the old hessien days as no way you could trust adhesion of scrim glue, we all know how shite that is.
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Yea your right. There is no method to the madness sometimes.


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Tried it today on one wall that was covered in hairline cracks - used the bedding in method and it was pretty easy to do tbh, trowelled it right in and it was well covered and then allowed it to pick up a bit more than usual to 'lock' it in - in fact I never had much say in that as the poxy multi was going off like lightening. Put a nice second coat on but I reckon I can still see a faint mesh pattern showing in a couple of spots.

Going to try the other way on the next bit.
 
TwoTrowels said:
Tried it today on one wall that was covered in hairline cracks - used the bedding in method and it was pretty easy to do tbh, trowelled it right in and it was well covered and then allowed it to pick up a bit more than usual to 'lock' it in - in fact I never had much say in that as the poxy multi was going off like lightening. Put a nice second coat on but I reckon I can still see a faint mesh pattern showing in a couple of spots.

Going to try the other way on the next bit.
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If scrim bleeds through don't worry, give it a coat of paint then it sands back
 
Builder depot ran out of the other mesh so suggested to use this Speed Pro fibre mesh instead. Still good enough?

https://m.builderdepot.co.uk/speed-pro-render-mesh-alkaline-resistant-1m-x-50m.html

My intended plasterer has now delayed my job due to another job that has taken precedence for him. I'm not happy with that so he found me someone else to use but they have never used mesh but will do it if I want them to using whatever method I want. Not sure whether to risk it - he's meant to be a good plasterer so I expect he will pick it up quickly. Should I tell him to bed it in or staple on. Also, doesn't stapling run the risk of rusting inside later? Any suggestions here?
 
Wouldn't worry about staples rusting, he will be fine with it if really a plasterer. Which method? I think we've covered that.
 
Squarehead said:
Wouldn't worry about staples rusting, he will be fine with it if really a plasterer. Which method? I think we've covered that.
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Thanks again for the input. Was it ok that I took the other mesh instead of K-Rend? Looking at the technical data, the K-Rend was about 88g per sq metre vs the Speed Pro 160g. Plastering starts tomorrow at 8am!
 
Sounds thicker so better. Offer him freshly ground coffee, Swiss chocolate biscuits and smoked salmon sandwiches for lunch and I'm sure he'll do a good job.
 
Best advice yet! He seems more keen to just use scrim tape everywhere over all the cracks instead of the mesh saying it's the same thing and the bits that haven't cracked after all these years are unlikely to start cracking now. I think I should just leave him to it now before I crack up myself.
 
jamesthefirst said:
If your paying day rate and you want him to use the mesh then tell him. If not get someone else in who will.
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I think he was a little nervous about it but after trying mesh on the first wall by using his preferred "trowel into the first coat" method, he has taken like a fish to water. Really happy with the result so far and he decided to use it where there's larger surface areas to cover and just use scrim everywhere else and ceiling cracks which are harder to mesh since he's doing it all by himself. Really happy so far with his work.
 
LOIZOS said:
I think he was a little nervous about it but after trying mesh on the first wall by using his preferred "trowel into the first coat" method, he has taken like a fish to water. Really happy with the result so far and he decided to use it where there's larger surface areas to cover and just use scrim everywhere else and ceiling cracks which are harder to mesh since he's doing it all by himself. Really happy so far with his work.
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Try and persuade him to use it everywhere...particularly on ceilings. I work on my own too but don't cry like a baby and just get on with it.
 
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