Cement-lime plastering of walls with your own hands: photos and videos

A tried-and-true technique for giving your walls a smooth, long-lasting finish is cement-lime plastering. Knowing how to apply this kind of plaster yourself can help you save time and money when remodeling your house or starting a new project. You also get the satisfaction of witnessing the fruits of your labor.

This tutorial will take you step-by-step through the entire process, from assembling the required supplies to applying the finishing touches. For the best results, you’ll find detailed instructions, practical advice, and visual aids like pictures and videos. This article is meant to make the process as simple as possible, regardless of your level of experience.

Prepare yourself to put on some elbow grease and give your walls a long-lasting, eye-catching finish.

Variants of dry mixes and their composition.

The majority of amateur builders won’t have any issues handling things themselves if they visit the building supplies market to buy plaster. It is not difficult to locate them as they are widely distributed both domestically and internationally.

Typically, they are packed in sizable 25 kg multi-layer bags. Certain suppliers may offer mixtures in bigger packaging—50 kg, for instance—to purchasers who purchase in bulk.

Knauf cement-lime plaster and the following brands are available at your neighborhood construction market or on the shelves of construction hypermarkets:

• Caparol;
• Hercules;
• Osnovit.

Based on their own research and development, each manufacturer provides their own version, either in its traditional form or in combination with different polymer additives that improve drying speed, hardness, and plasticity. They are all of adequate quality and ready for use right out of the package. It is important to remember, though, that purchasing them in bulk is not advised. They have an expiration date, just like most building compounds, after which the mixtures gradually lose quality.

However, it frequently happens that the cost of them is too high, and there is an untapped supply of materials from the previous renovation in the garage or shed close to the house, from which the required lime plaster will be molded.

Maybe some of the parts will need to be bought separately to ensure that there is the necessary quantity of finished material at the very end, but this will come at a much lower cost. Everything will undoubtedly work out if you just choose the proper proportion while maintaining the integrity of lime mortar technology for plaster.

With the correct equipment and instruction, anyone can finish walls with cement-lime plastering, which is a practical and efficient method that provides durability and a smooth surface. With the aid of pictures and videos, this article offers detailed instructions that will enable you to accomplish expert-quality outcomes on your own.

Differences from other types of plaster.

These plasters with cemented lime stand out for having excellent vapor permeability, flexibility, and adhesion. Its strength is lower than that of cement and cement-sand, and its longer hardening time makes it less labor-intensive than gypsum.

Materials made of synthetic inclusions and a base are superior to cement and lime mixtures, but the latter have the obvious benefit of being safe for the environment and the functioning of the completed space. A lime-based mixture, on top of everything else, is less prone to bacterial, fungal, and parasitic damage—something most synthetic plasters cannot claim and for which primer or impregnation must be used.

Bonus: The primary benefit of synthetic mixtures is the ability to make lime plaster in an artisanal setting using your own hands.

The composition conceals the lime plaster’s most crucial feature. Its purpose is to give the surface a smooth structure so that decorative building materials can be processed later. Nearly every one that is known can serve as a base, such as:

• Stone;
• Brick;

• Foam block;
• Cinder block;

• Concrete, etc.

Apart from uniform surfaces, intricate bases also belong to this group; they may comprise of stones, sandstone, and shell rock in various portions of the volume at the same time. However, it can be substituted with cement-free lime-sand plaster if needed.

Methods of application, technique and tools.

You must choose how the lime mortar for plaster will be mixed and applied before you can begin to prepare it. Utilizing these materials has demonstrated that there are two primary ways to apply these compositions: manually and mechanically. Because it saves time, preserves the master’s strength, and streamlines the procedure, the second option is better. Even on professional construction sites, pneumatic tools are unfortunately not always available, so hand tools such as the following are frequently used:

You can use brushes and rollers for convenience. If you are not making your own lime mortar for plastering walls, you may use auxiliary equipment for mixing. This comprises electric drills with add-ons, mixers (such as concrete mixers), and construction mixers.

Design and calculations.

Prior to making a purchase, initial estimations and computations are performed. The number of layers and the application method determine the quantity. The mechanized method is the most costly in terms of materials, but it produces the most uniform coating when utilized.

It is possible to adjust the number of layers by hand application, which modifies the amount of plaster used per square meter.

The application method has an impact on the project’s expenses as well. The amount is determined using technical maps and hygienic guidelines, accounting for the room’s measurements and material characteristics. The quality category and the requirements are taken into consideration when recalculating the consumption rates.

Lime plastering walls can also serve as insulation; in this instance, an order of magnitude more lime plaster is used per square meter than when leveling walls.

Preparing the surface for processing.

To perform computations accurately, the full range of tasks must be accurately evaluated. At first glance, you can assess, for example, if a new building has lime-sand plaster applied to untreated walls. Additional surface treatment will be needed concurrently with any scheduled or unscheduled repairs.

It’s possible that unanticipated issues, like shaky foundations and concealed fissures and holes, exist beneath the current covering.

As a result, you should first remove any auxiliary coatings and the old plaster layer before moving on to the assessment and calculations. For overlapping transitions and influxes, they must supply all additional reserves. The walls are primed, leveled, and cleaned at the start.

Lime plaster can be applied to concrete quickly and easily; however, a mesh is needed when working with bases that have poor adhesion, like foam blocks. Although a thin-wire chain-link can be used, the painter’s (plaster) version is thought to be the best option.

Self-tapping screws or, in more challenging situations, screws with dowels driven into the wall are used to fasten any of these mesh varieties to the wall. The material is secured around the edges and, if required, seized in the middle.

When processing a wooden interior ceiling, shingle—thin wooden strips—is used in place of mesh. Because of their fragility, using them requires expertise and experience. Plaster is removed with a tool or is washed off after lime whitewashing.

If the primer is the first step, they will need to wait for it to dry before applying lime plaster to cover the surface.

The installation of beacons completes the preparation of the interior walls of the building. Although it’s not required, the process frequently yields more even walls. Beacons and rules function well together. The rule, perched atop the beacons, nearly effortlessly reaches the surface. This step is omitted if there isn’t a tool like that.

Beacons are constructed from the same plaster solution, aluminum profiles, or identically sized wooden planks. They are positioned in accordance with the cement-lime plaster’s glue level. The plaster will be thicker on the side of the profile that is higher.

When beacons are composed of a mixture, they resemble a comb. Draw a vertical line, toss it, and smooth it to the appropriate level to form it. Although the spacing between the beacons is chosen separately, it ought to be shorter than the rule’s length. blending together spontaneous elements.

The issue of how to make a lime mortar for plastering worries a lot of people. Lime plaster, which is available as a dry powder for interior construction, is very simple to combine. All that is required is a simple mixing with water to create a creamy paste that is painted onto the wall. You just need to follow the recipe on the package to get the right consistency. You must mix using a construction mixer set to medium speed in order to guarantee homogeneity.

It is crucial to pay attention to the proportions when working with a homemade composition. The same set of materials should ideally be used for each stage of lime plaster preparation, but they should be gathered in different ways. Their densities and ingredient proportions are different.

Cement-lime plaster components include:

• Slaked lime;
• Cement;
• Sand;
• Water.

You can add PVA glue if you’d like. The lime plaster proportions are taken from the regulatory document tables.

Ordinary lump lime can be used to prepare it if slaked lime is not available. It is combined with water in a specific ratio for this purpose. The ratio of lime to water in lime plaster is 3:1.

Wearing protective gear, such as respirators and gloves, is essential. Lime needs to be added to liquid, not the other way around. This releases heat and initiates a chemical reaction. For this operation, you should use a deep plastic container made of stainless steel, preferably with a lid, as it will foam and possibly splash. Take the lime dough outside the room as well when making it.

Only 24 hours have passed before you can resume working with the mixed lime plaster. This is where the response should stop.

The filtering step comes next. You will need a thick gauze or fine mesh for this, through which they pass. It is intended that the solid sediment stay on the filter. This is the slaked lime that plaster will use. It is combined with cement and sand, then water is added to get the right consistency. The following are the ingredient proportions (lime, sand, and cement):

• For splash: 1:0.5:4;
• For primer: 1:0.7:3;
• For the top layer: 1:1:2.

The proportions of cement-lime plaster are not fixed. If needed, they are adjusted; for instance, adding more sand (a filler) to create a harder composition, or adding lime to create a stickier composition. You can use any sand—even coarse-grained—for the lower layers, but it is preferable to use the smallest fraction for the upper layers.

Interior finishing of rooms.

Once everything is prepared, start splashing. The wall in this instance has the thinnest cement-lime plaster applied to it. Because it has the most sand in it, the subsequent layers stick to the wall more easily. The splash is not even; instead, it is spread out and allowed to dry before moving on to the next phase.

Priming is the primary stage. Over the hardened spatter, the thickest layer of cement-lime plaster is applied. Throwing it against the wall completes the process. There will be at least 5 mm of thickness. The performance improves with a thinner layer.

In the event that the application has already occurred on the area restricted by the beacons, a rule is used to level the cement-lime plaster. Using a spatula, the composition remnants are taken out of the tool and placed in a shared container. After that, the process is repeated until an entirely smooth coating is achieved. The resulting voids are then filled.

The rule should be applied quickly from top to bottom, with a focus on the beacons. In this instance, you can apply it to the lower portion of the wall first, level it appropriately, and only then process the upper portion of the wall.

Using a pneumatic tool speeds up this section significantly. It’s time to use a level to check the verticality when it hardens but remains alive. In this case, mistakes can still be fixed. The corners receive extra consideration because.k. This is the point at which all of the anomalies and bevels become apparent. This issue becomes particularly apparent if you make the lime plaster yourself.

Continue to the final step of the processing once the second layer has solidified. It’s not required. The varying levels and soft transitions between treated areas demonstrate its necessity. A more liquid solution is being used at this point. A flawlessly level texture is required. This time, a trowel or trowels are used to apply the lime mortar plaster in a circular motion until a smooth, even surface is achieved.

Step	Description
1. Surface Preparation	Clean the wall from dust and debris, and apply a primer for better adhesion.
2. Mixing the Plaster	Mix cement, lime, and sand with water until you get a smooth, thick consistency.
3. Applying the First Coat	Spread the mixture evenly over the wall using a trowel, and smooth it out.
4. Leveling the Surface	Use a straightedge to level the plaster, removing any excess material.
5. Applying the Second Coat	Once the first coat is dry, apply a thinner second coat for a smoother finish.
6. Finishing Touches	After the plaster sets, use a damp sponge to smooth out any imperfections.
7. Photos & Videos	Capture the process in stages to document your progress and ensure quality.

Plastering walls with cement-lime is a dependable and tried-and-true technique that leaves walls smooth and long-lasting. You may produce results that are on par with those of a professional by following the correct procedures, from combining the ingredients to applying the layers.

Although there may be some physical work and patience involved in this process, the outcome is well worth it. You can change your walls to make them more durable and aesthetically pleasing with the right tools and methods.

For a variety of surfaces, cement-lime plastering is a reliable option whether you’re updating a single wall or a whole room. You can become proficient at this skill and experience the satisfaction of a job well done with a little practice and attention to detail.

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