Gypsum plaster, its use and consumption

Because of its easy application and smooth finish, gypsum plaster is a popular option for wall finishing. The end result can differ significantly depending on how well you use gypsum plaster, whether you’re working on a bigger project or remodeling a single room.

This adaptable material offers a strong and sturdy surface in addition to improving the appearance of walls. Its ability to create a seamless, professional look makes it a popular choice among builders and do-it-yourselfers.

Knowing how much gypsum plaster you’ll need for your particular project is crucial when working with it. Making the most of your time and resources can be ensured by careful planning, which can also save waste. This article will discuss the applications of gypsum plaster and show you how to figure out how much you’ll need.

Technical characteristics and composition of gypsum plasters.

Different ingredients are added to the mixture based on the intended use. These are primarily additives that enhance the solution’s particular target characteristics:

  • Bleaching: additives that increase the level of whiteness. Metal salts (white, zinc), lime are used. Advantages of ordinary gray gypsum plaster in the absence of additional components, lime and other substances.
  • Strength. The composition of gypsum plaster is supplemented with substances that improve its strength characteristics.
  • Technological period – the time from mixing the solution to the beginning of the setting process. Adjusted by proprietary additives. Varies within the time from 20 minutes to 2 hours.
  • Hardening speed.

The packaging of gypsum plaster indicates its composition. Certain proprietary additives, though, are kept under wraps.

What determines consumption.

There are only two variables that influence the amount of gypsum plaster needed per square meter: the wall’s evenness and layer thickness. It doesn’t matter about other indicators.

About 250–300 g of gypsum plaster are used per square meter in a typical working surface condition (differences in plane no greater than 5 mm). Typically, the manufacturer lists this information on the packaging. One set of parameters for Habez Start MN is as follows:

The following formula needs to be used if the walls are significantly distorted: divide the total number of deviation measurement points by the total number of these points.

A section of a wall measuring one meter square and with a slope of three centimeters, for instance, needs to be "weighed," or the slope measured multiple times using a plumb line. For instance, in three. The outcome is 0, 1.5, and 3 cm. The values obtained are divided by the number of measurements (3) and added up to 4.5 cm. Consequently, our gypsum plaster will be consumed at a rate of 1.5 cm per square meter. As a result, you can figure out how much mortar is needed to plaster a wall with any kind of deformation.

The result will be more accurate the more measurements you take. It is advisable to compute the amount of plaster and gypsum putty needed per square meter beforehand to prevent overspending on unclaimed materials.

How to plaster walls with gypsum plaster.

Inexperienced plasterers make mistakes when they try to level and apply gypsum plaster to walls. This is the result of ignorance. This work, however, is multi-staged and fairly straightforward.

Preparing the base.

The wall needs to be level. The primary dirt and deformations that need to be attended to are:

  1. Slopes. The use of gypsum plaster makes leveling the walls convenient: the permissible layer thickness is 50 mm (in contrast to the thickness of cement-sand finishing with its maximum of 15-20 mm).
  2. Cavities. It is better to fill in deep depressions and potholes in advance, before applying the main layer.
  3. Bulges. If possible, it is better to grind them down. Otherwise, you will have to “build up” the layer thickness over the entire wall.
  4. Remains of finishing are completely removed (pieces of wallpaper, glue, whitewash).
  5. Mold is a sign of freezing walls and poor ventilation.

Plastering internally won’t address the underlying cause of the mold issue. Furthermore, this plaster is "weak" in damp spaces.

The main steps in surface preparation for flat walls are dust removal and cleaning to improve adhesion. For this, primers are employed.

Installation of beacons.

DIY Using beacons—wooden slats or metal profile sections fixed in the plane of the future plaster—makes gypsum plastering much easier.

Beacons with a span width that makes it easy to follow the rule are firmly fixed vertically across the whole wall.

Application.

Using two spatulas, I apply the mixed composition to the wall. Using the small spatula, I gather the solution and move it to the large spatula’s working surface in the most practical manner.

When working with large areas, the mass is thrown straight from the trowel and spatula, swinging in a direction opposite to you.

Alignment.

Self-made gypsum plaster.

The plaster mass is leveled using an aluminum strip that is 1.5-2 meters long. The movement is oriented from bottom to top, allowing the rule to glide along guides and beacons alike. This is the process of cutting off excess mortar, which is then scraped off the rule using a spatula and reapplied to the wall (where mortar-less recesses have formed).

DIY Gypsum plaster is not applied all at once; in certain areas, recesses are created after excess is scraped away with a rule. They need to be again worked with a rule and filled with plaster mass.

The rule moves in a zigzag pattern. This enables you to gradually reduce the force used on the tool.

This method of hand-applied gypsum (or any other) plastering is identical to that of professional plastering.

Following the layer’s drying, the gypsum plaster is glossed by grouting and meticulously leveling the surface. The wall gets to the point where it looks like glossy paper.

The task is to use a damp grater to gently rub the roughness. With felt or felt first, and then steel.

Grate using a grater is only feasible on a wall that is level. The tool will leave marks on uneven surfaces, removing the bulges. But you can obtain a more perfect plaster in this manner.

Smooth, long-lasting walls and ceilings can be easily created with gypsum plaster, which is both effective and adaptable. It’s simple to use, offers good coverage, and, by absorbing extra moisture, helps control indoor humidity. Knowing how to use gypsum plaster and figuring out how much you need for your project can save you time and money, whether you’re building new or remodeling.

Advantages and disadvantages.

Gypsum plaster offers benefits and drawbacks. Comparing the properties of gypsum and cement-sand mixtures makes them easier to assess:

  • Application areas. Conditions of normal humidity. Cement – in any.
  • Durability. Cement-sand are more durable.
  • Viability of the solution. The time for implementation is several times less than when working with cement mixtures.
  • Ease of application. The mass of the plaster is elastic, easy to apply and level.
  • Thermal conductivity — 0.23 W / m × ° C, for cement – 0.6 ÷ 0.9 W / m × ° C.

"Warmer" is how gypsum is described. But this benefit is not essential because of the layer’s negligible thickness. However, gypsum is more comfortable to the touch and feel: a wall with a cement-sand finish feels colder to lean against.

  • Drying speed higher.
  • Layer thickness. For cement plasters, it is unacceptable to apply a layer thicker than 1.5-2 cm, when working with gypsum compositions, thickening up to 5 cm is allowed.
  • Vapor permeability. The indicators are relatively close.
  • Finishing. Gypsum coatings do not need puttying, can be polished to a shine.
  • Price. Gypsum mixtures are more expensive than solutions made from cement and sand.

Nothing is inherently bad about materials; the key is to use mixtures correctly, for the intended purpose, and to take full advantage of their advantages. In order to determine whether to use cement or gypsum plaster, it is important to consider the specifics of a given wall and circumstance.

The primary drawbacks are the finish’s poor strength and weak resistance to moisture; it is easily scratched, chipped, and damaged. It is not appropriate for facing walls in moist environments.

The principal benefits include minimal shrinkage, rapid drying, and ease of use.

Comparative characteristics of plasters from different manufacturers.

Plasters made by different companies have different fillers, with differences in their size, color, consumption, and allowable layer thickness.

The Gypswell range of plaster mixes is manufactured by "Osnovit," a Russian company. Four brands are used to represent the line:

  1. Gypswell PG25. Gray mass for manual application. Vitality – 1.5 hours, layer thickness up to 8cm! Consumption – 9kg on KV.m.
  2. Gypswell PG25 W. White. Differs from PG25 only with color.
  3. Gypswell PG26 m. A mixture for manual and machine application. Visible 2 hours, thickness no more than 3 cm. Gray.
  4. Gypswell PG26 MW. White. The remaining characteristics are similar to the mixture PG26 m.

All brands exclusively for use in rooms with typical humidity levels. It is advised to plaster the bases made of foam concrete, state concrete, brick and masonry, CSP, GKL, and GCL.

GIFAS is a homegrown producer. three brands are released:

  1. GifasStart. A mixture for rooms with normal humidity. Consumption for thicknesses. layers 10mm-9-11 kg. Color – from gray to white. Vitality – 45 min.
  2. GIFASMN. For manual and machine application. Consumption 8-10kg. Viable for 40 minutes.
  3. GIFASPREMIUM. Pot life 45 min. Color gray, white. Flow 8.5-10kg per 1m.kv.

All of the mixtures are meant for interior use, though damp rooms may also benefit from their application with the right primers.

Standard: manufactured in large quantities by "Etalonstroy" offered in two varieties:

  1. ReferenceClimLife. Light gray mixture. Layer thickness when applied – up to 50mm. Viability – 1 hour (at air humidity 60%). Consumption per m. kv. with a thickness of 1cm – 9kg.
  2. ReferenceClimLifeMN. Saves those. characteristics of the ClimLife line, but requires machine application.

Only when working inside.

Bergauf Construction Technologies LLC produces the plaster mixture known as Bergauf. Three varieties of plaster are available, all of which must be applied manually:

  1. EASYBAND. A mixture of gray colors of varying saturation (not due to the composition, but to the characteristics of the gypsum raw materials). The maximum thickness of the plaster is 40 mm, consumption is 9-12 kg per m. sq. Viability – 1 hour.

Features: includes perlite, which improves the plaster’s ability to insulate against heat. Painting without additional finishing is not advised.

  1. PRIMAPUTZGIPS. Color – white. Differs from EASY BAND by a larger fraction of the filler.

Suggested for painting and gluing wallpaper of any thickness.

Suggested for use beneath ornamental plasters.

Every composition is meant to be plastered in rooms with typical relative humidity.

Frequently asked questions.

Gypsum plaster hardens too quickly. What to do?

When mixing with water, it’s important to keep the container and tool clean and well-washed to avoid the mixture from hardening. Mechanically remove the mixture that has hardened.

Premature setting can occasionally happen as a result of pouring water into the mixture instead of the other way around.

One common cause is the sale of outdated goods as new. Counterfeit.

How to accurately distinguish counterfeit gypsum plaster.

Only when comparison is feasible is it possible to detect a counterfeit at any point. Experts with a variety of compositional backgrounds may presume that the compositions they have worked with are fake.

An amateur can accomplish this more easily at the point of purchase by concentrating on the packaging. You must compare the paint quality, material, and packaging details in the image across various retailers in order to accomplish this. Get in touch with the manufacturer and get the information straight if you have any doubts.

How to make homemade gypsum plaster.

It is not economically feasible for manufacturers to produce the mixture independently; instead, manufacturers sell their components to manufacturers directly at a discount. Consequently, buying a finished good is more profitable than doing it "homemade."

Ready-made mixes are enhanced with specific additives that boost adhesion and strength in addition to the primary ingredients.

How to lay cement plaster (screed) on gypsum plaster.

Even though cement sticks to the gypsum coating very poorly, it causes considerable shrinkage and surface tension.

As a result, only solutions containing gypsum cover the bases.

Is it possible to apply gypsum plaster (screed) on cement.

Gypsum compositions can be applied to concrete bases because they are essentially non-shrinking.

Aspect Details
Use Gypsum plaster is ideal for interior walls and ceilings, providing a smooth finish for painting or wallpapering.
Application It can be applied directly to brick, block, or concrete surfaces and is perfect for both renovation and new construction projects.
Consumption Typically, 1 square meter of surface requires around 8-9 kg of gypsum plaster for a 10mm thick layer.
Drying Time Gypsum plaster usually takes about 24-48 hours to dry, depending on thickness and room conditions.
Benefits This plaster type offers excellent thermal insulation, fire resistance, and helps regulate indoor humidity.

One particularly effective and adaptable choice for wall finishing is gypsum plaster. Professionals and do-it-yourselfers alike love it for its smooth finish and ease of application.

Gypsum plaster provides dependable performance with little waste, whether you’re building a new structure or remodeling an existing one. Knowing its rates of consumption will help you plan your project more precisely and make sure you buy the correct amount of material.

Gypsum plaster can completely change your walls with the correct preparation and application, giving them a long-lasting, beautiful surface.

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Andrey Ivanov

An experienced builder with more than 15 years of experience. I specialize in plastering and decorative finishing. I started my career as an ordinary worker, gradually accumulating knowledge and skills in various finishing techniques. Now I share my experience to help beginners master the craft and avoid common mistakes.

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