Spongers
- Thread starter spunky
- Start date
Salfordspread
Well-Known Member
Fuk knows and no intention of finding out . Seen it done by loads of youngens but I just stick to the traditional way I was taught as kid . Some lads rate it but I've never bothered tbh each to there own I guess
Same as that first coat on flatten let it pick up a little bit then second coat ,three trowels with a mt carbon steel if need be a quick whip with a flexi but not a lover of them ,I’ve seen lad using the sponge method each to their own but most of them are one coat warriors that’s just the way I was though back in the day
spunky
Private Member
Flatten off
Around the same sort of time you'd flick to wet trowel, maybe a tad earlier depending what your going over, also differs if you're one or two coating.
Also - I really appreciate the kiss.
Means a lot
X
Steve Brown
Well-Known Member
I use one on sovereign finish plaster, use it after I've flattened the second coat after it's picked up a bit.
Depends on suction when I go over it, sometimes able to sponge the whole wall then let it pull in before troweling up, other times have to go back after 6' trowel up the repeat.
Never bother with it when using multi or board finish.
superspread
Well-Known Member
Think you need to go on the car washing forum
spunky
Private Member
Thanks bob that’s what I do but get a few sponge lines don’t know if I should be leaving it later, sponge a smaller amount and get on it straight away, 10m a time sort of stuff
Too thin?
Leaving the sponged texture too long?
Porous substrate?
If one coating the thickness should still be at least 2mm (to max 3mm)
Normal suction (and temperatures), 4 to 5 mins after completing the wall (enough time to clean the sponge off), drop back and trowel.
Leaving the sponged texture too long?
Porous substrate?
If one coating the thickness should still be at least 2mm (to max 3mm)
Normal suction (and temperatures), 4 to 5 mins after completing the wall (enough time to clean the sponge off), drop back and trowel.
essexandy
The Lake Governor
I've not found a sponge I like, but have used a carpet float plenty of times.
Two coats on, let it pick up beyond the point you'd give it a first trowel and then whizz over it with the float and then drop back and trowel it up.
Sometimes I'll float a couple of walls or more before dropping back to trowel them.
I definitely wouldn't be using this as a preferred method, it's more of a get out of jail free card for when it's cold and/or damp, or you've got one of those particularly dreadful batches of plaster.
Done properly the work will come out absolutely mint.
Always happy to help a newcomer to the trade Dave.
Refina 'Medium' orange are about right for me.
Their 'coarse' orange also works, but it's a bit strong for me.
I probably only use these at most 3 or 4 times a year if I'm honest.
So I clean them really well and pick all the shite out first before putting away.
KingCharlesTheTurd
Active Member
sponge floating skim never heard so much bollox in my life....on same par with those idiots who use wonderstuff pink SBR on a re-skim as well, trades been turned into a laughing stock by clueless chancers as well as 2 minute thicktokkers and 5 min facefucking ego tossers
spunky
Private Member
lol you know the difference between me and you?
If someone’s a blatant c.u.n.t I call them one, I don’t act like a c.u.n.t 24/7
If you want to try and act hard and continually spout s.h.i.t.e carry on you prize c.u.n.t
spunky
Private Member
I tried the fine bob for me it seemed a better finish may be a fluke who knows, there harder to use though they don’t glide like the medium ones
Cockney
Well-Known Member
Evening @Lurpy!
Salfordspread
Well-Known Member
Well said but yiur still a cooont . Ha ha
essexandy
The Lake Governor
Oi you c**t, I said above, make a carpet float. You can thank me later.
ChrispyUK
Well-Known Member
All the details are on the CHD plastering channel including exact dimensions and colour Mr B.
hollybank
Private Member
Axminster or Shag Pile?
ChrispyUK
Well-Known Member
Prob a bit of old underlay
essexandy
The Lake Governor
Axminster
In all seriousness; I've only used a good quality short carpet (obviously), that was scotchgarded.
I'm still using (when I feel it necessary) the same float I made almost thirty years ago.
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essexandy
The Lake Governor
I'm sure there are situations where that'd come out just fine, but I reckon they're few and far between.
Chris W
Well-Known Member
correct if im wrong but didnt sponging come from europe? in the way that they use different gear to us?
Years back on here anyone caught sponging was torn apart... 'f**k off back to poland ya c**t' etc etc
I went to france for a job years back and couldnt get any british finish so we ended up using long set machine plaster from the local bricomarche... (b and q in french) tried it as normal and couldnt do anything with it (like trying to trowel up flexi tile adhesive) but a garden sprayer and a sponge turned out to be the way... could lay on a full room, have a brew, go round with a garden sprayer, sponge the fat up and trowel that up.. rinse and repeat. Problem i saw was that you could stick your thumbnail in it 3 days later and it soft as s**t.. cos its all just fat i guess..
Dont the painters moan at you if youve just trowelled up a load of fat and its all coming back off on the roller?
dont get me wrong im as guilty as anyone for scrubbing up a bit ive forgot about, like a reveal head and then burning the f**k out of it...
Years back on here anyone caught sponging was torn apart... 'f**k off back to poland ya c**t' etc etc
I went to france for a job years back and couldnt get any british finish so we ended up using long set machine plaster from the local bricomarche... (b and q in french) tried it as normal and couldnt do anything with it (like trying to trowel up flexi tile adhesive) but a garden sprayer and a sponge turned out to be the way... could lay on a full room, have a brew, go round with a garden sprayer, sponge the fat up and trowel that up.. rinse and repeat. Problem i saw was that you could stick your thumbnail in it 3 days later and it soft as s**t.. cos its all just fat i guess..
Dont the painters moan at you if youve just trowelled up a load of fat and its all coming back off on the roller?
dont get me wrong im as guilty as anyone for scrubbing up a bit ive forgot about, like a reveal head and then burning the f**k out of it...
ChrispyUK
Well-Known Member
I’ve tried it and got some ok results. Also useful as you say if you’ve forgotten about a bit, but if it’s left too long you just end up with the aggregate sitting on top of semi set plaster and you can’t flatten it back in.
Monkey Boy
Well-Known Member
Go back to bed
That's actually the wrong time to sponge crispy that's why your not getting good results
ChrispyUK
Well-Known Member
Haven’t tried it in ages tbf mate. Was just saying though that it’s not necessarily a get out of jail free card if used a bit too late.
You loving the sponge or does it just depend?
ptolemyworks
New Member
I don't typically sponge float. I have tried it but found it actually made more marks than it fixed. But if you want to do it it's very much just a matter of experience. The timing varies depending on the surface you're plastering on, temperature,.humidity etc. I typically use a combination of flicking water and using a wet brush on more stubborn areas. I would say sponging is probably not much different from this.
The key is not too early and not too late. You'll know it's too early because the plaster will drag and move or you'll create blisters, and you may get tiger stripes. If you wait too long the plaster may be too set to work. In my experience it's better to go on the later side than too early. Gently sponge over the rougher areas so that you aren't having to deal with them later when the plaster is harder to work with. It's almost never 'too late' as some water will reactivate the cream in the plaster even when it's very firm, but you'll give yourself and easier time by sponging out the bigger imperfections early on.
Just play with it. If the plaster is still too soft then just wait a bit longer. Final troweling should be done when the plaster is very firm and you really need to push hard to get a fingertip into it.
essexandy
The Lake Governor
As said, I used a carpet float opposed to a sponge float and I don't trowel up leaving the surface all fatty (unlike my stomach). I've never once had a decorator have any issues with the finish left.