There are many finishes within a property. As you might expect, we get people asking whether we can plaster over them. Some will allow for direct plastering, but others won’t. It is vital to understand these differences. Otherwise, you could end up making expensive and potentially damaging mistakes. What we are going to do is cover whether you can plaster over brick and wood. Then, if you need services from reliable plasterers in Sheffield, you can come to us.

Brick

Plastering over brick isn’t the simplest job, particularly if your bricks are old and degrading. If you have crumbling walls, it’s recommended that you don’t plaster over them. The material won’t stick well to the surface. Moreover, there is a huge risk of damage to the plaster in the future. If your walls aren’t in top condition, you’d be better off seeking professional aid.

Should the brick wall be in decent condition, you could plaster it. However, you will need to do a lot of preparation to guarantee things are done correctly. There are two main approaches to use here.

Plasterboard

Firstly, you can secure plasterboard to the brick wall. By doing this, you can avoid working with a heavily uneven surface at the start. Brick can be more difficult to plaster. This is thanks to the individual levels of the brick and the cement that holds everything in place.

Once the boards are in place, you have to skim over them using plaster. Compared to other methods, this is cheaper. Should you fail to properly secure the plasterboard to your brick though, there can be issues in future. The best option here is to speak to top plasterers in Sheffield and get a professional service.

Sand and cement render

Applying a mixture of cement and sand to your brick before plastering creates an even, strong finish. The plaster will stick to this surface more easily than it would with the brickwork. The strategy takes longer and costs more. However, it is highly durable and won’t need as much maintenance.

Before even starting the plastering work, you must clean the wall thoroughly. Bricks have a habit of creating a ton of debris and dust. To make certain your materials stick to the brick, it’s necessary to thoroughly brush over the surface. Use wire brushes for this to get rid of loose material.

Wood

Due to wood’s porous nature, plastering over it can prove tricky. Adding plaster straight onto wood isn’t recommended. It will result in it disconnecting from the exterior. This can be expensive to rectify. But, there are ways to plaster over wood. Let’s look at them, then you can ask us for help from top plasterers in Sheffield.

A leading method would be using Expanded Metal Lathing (EML). What we have here is a metal mesh sheet that supplies texture for the plaster to stick to. You must secure it into position using nails or screws. It is an easy and cost efficient method.

One other way to plaster over wood is by disrupting its surface. Do it by scratching and producing texture in it. This results in a finish that’s more easily gripped by the plaster and primer. However, it isn’t the most reliable approach. The plaster may eventually disconnect from the wood exterior.

If you are working with wooden panels, you can push the plaster in between them. It will clump up on the other side. From there, it will harden around the back of every panel. Basically, it’ll hook around each part of the wood. This isn’t the most reliable or successful method though. It is best as a last resort.

To conclude, plastering over wood calls for preparation and the use of suitable materials. EML is the best method because it is cost efficient and simple to apply. The other methods are alternatives but not the most reliable.

Plasterers in Sheffield who are fast and fairly priced

At G Lee Plastering, we provide competitive pricing on all the services. Our team always gives clients excellent results for the money too. We’re also a punctual and prompt business, so you won’t be left waiting.

If you’d like to do business with the best plasterers in Sheffield, get in touch today. You can ask us for advice and then get a quote for any job.