How to apply decorative plaster with your own hands, without making mistakes.

While applying decorative plaster may seem like a difficult undertaking, you can easily accomplish professional-looking results on your own if you have the correct advice. With the help of this technique, you can give your walls some flair and texture to create a distinctive look that fits your room. However, it’s crucial to take specific precautions in order to avoid common pitfalls.

Knowing the techniques involved will make a big difference, whether you’re updating a single wall or completely redesigning a room. Making the necessary preparations and taking your time with each layer will help you avoid mistakes that could otherwise result in an uneven or ugly finish. Anyone can become an expert at applying decorative plaster if they have the right approach and are patient.

Types and methods of applying decorative plaster with your own hands.

There are numerous varieties of decorative plaster available today for wall decoration. Every one of them has unique options for plaster application. However, the technology used for painting, surface preparation, and the tool’s main component are all the same.

We will discuss their primary varieties in order to explain to the reader how the application process for decorative coatings varies.

Textured.

These ornamental compositions consist of blends that, when applied with a specialized tool (like structural rollers), produce a distinctive relief on the wall; relief can also be achieved with special laying methods (like decorative plaster globe map). The intended patterns will be produced by the master’s hand movements in conjunction with the use of a specialized tool.

Structural.

It is not required to use specialized tools or equipment for structural mixtures. Because of the fillers in the composition, unusual relief is achieved. Chips of granite and marble, mineral inclusions, fabric fibers, and other materials are utilized as fillers. Apply one layer to the surface with a spatula and trowel. Once the first layer has dried, go over it once more with a trowel to create a pattern. Additionally, there are marble plasters that use only bits of this noble stone to completely cover the walls in a stone shell.

Italian-style.

Your house will have the true elegance of a Roman villa with this style of ornamental plaster. These wall coverings mimic real stone, most frequently granite, marble, malachite, etc. Practice on plasterboard sheets before applying the composition. There will be a separate description of the application process. Because To. is complicated, a quick explanation won’t be useful.

Bas-relief

The term "bas-relief" in this article refers to any kind of sculpture image that is made of plaster, such as gypsum, and that recedes from the base plane at a small distance. Such work is completed and then decorated. A hundred times over, your efforts will be repaid if you have the strength and skill to decorate with a bas-relief.

Selecting one of the aforementioned varieties is challenging but essential since it will determine the application method used in the future.

Video about applying all types of decorative mixtures.

Technology of applying decorative plaster to walls.

You now understand that while the type of decorative plaster you choose will have a significant impact on the application techniques, all coatings will follow the same general guidelines. This section outlines an easy method for using your hands to apply any kind of coating to walls.

Mixtures can be dry, premade, or made on their own. You are free to select any item on the list; the most important thing is to adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions exactly when preparing it and to keep to the time intervals that are indicated.

Step-by-step instructions for general technology:

1. Preparation. An important stage of work regardless of the selected mixture. Decorative finishing serves only to decorate the walls and is not intended to level them. Before proceeding to the main stage, level the wall, for this they use a cement-sand mixture. To ensure good adhesion, prime the surface. The only one that requires ideal alignment of the walls will be Venetian plaster.
2. Application of the material. The very stage that depends on the type of mixture. We will write in detail about the technology of laying the material in the following sections of the article.
3. Preparation for painting. Often after finishing the work additional processing is required, such processing can be sanding, smoothing, etc. It is necessary to grind, moving from coarse-grained to fine-grained sandpaper.
4. Painting. Decorative plaster can be painted in several ways. Either it will be painting the mass of the material, or painting the surface. The choice of painting method will depend on the desired effect. The material in the mass is painted by adding color.
5. Finishing. For some coatings such a stage is not required, but such types as "Venetian" cannot do without additional treatment with wax or varnish. Wax is applied to add depth and shine to the stone pattern. After application, do not forget about polishing.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the volume and technological demands of applying decorative plaster are roughly the same; the process of forming the coating is where the differences will be greatest.

When doing repairs, make sure you follow the safety guidelines! Put on safety equipment, such as respirators, gloves, and glasses. Make use of scaffolding or stepladders when working at a height.

Preparing the wall surface.

We’ll talk a little bit about one work stage in particular—getting the walls ready for decorative plaster. Many inexperienced artisans question if perfect surface leveling is really necessary.

Decorative plaster can be applied to uneven walls, similar to wallpaper, though there are limitations. Coatings that need to be glossed, for instance, ought to be applied to areas that are perfectly flat. If not, all irregularities—depressions, protrusions, and differences—will be apparent after glossing. The majority of solutions don’t need to be specially prepared; in fact, textured and structural ones can help to conceal minor flaws.

The most important thing is to properly prepare the surface before applying, even if you lack the will or ability to level the walls to an ideal state.

For every finishing, the same algorithm will be used:

1. Remove old plaster (especially if it peels off).
2. Seal cracks and scratches;
3. Perform rough finishing – it is enough to plaster with a cement-sand mixture until strong visible defects are eliminated;
4. Cleaning and dust removal are mandatory;
5. Applying a deep penetration primer.

As you can see, anyone can perform the above-described procedure because it is not difficult.

You can improve your walls by applying decorative plaster yourself, but it takes careful attention to detail to avoid common mistakes. From surface preparation to application technique mastery, this article will walk you through the entire process to ensure that your project is successful and your walls look professionally finished.

What you need to apply decorative plaster yourself.

You will also need an instrument, which is not the same as the ordinary one, in addition to the plastering mixture itself. Depending on the kind of wall covering chosen, there will be changes to both the technology and the equipment.

Standard spatulas metallize surfaces in addition to having sharp edges, which renders them useless.

Let’s enumerate the necessary tool:

1. Spatulas for decorative plaster have rounded edges and are made of high-quality metal.
2. Trowels. Often special trowels are even called Venetian.
3. Sponges for creating textures.
4. Brushes for creating individual patterns
5. Special structural rollers
6. It"s up to you to decide what to paint the plaster with. You can paint by adding a regular color to the base mass, or you can paint the already applied layer – a sponge or brush will be enough for this.

While they are not inexpensive, specialized tools are necessary.

Extra accessories:

1. Cotton gloves;
2. Respirator;
3. Fabric to protect the floor and walls from dust and construction debris;
4. Buckets;
5. Stepladder for working at height;

Once you understand the fundamentals, you can talk about the specific application technology.

How to apply textured plaster.

Correct application of decorative plaster to walls is not difficult, particularly for textured mixtures. Remember that the pattern of textured or relief mixtures is made with specialized tools. They frequently use homemade supplies like cellophane bags, wrapping paper, newspapers, and much more to create unique reliefs.

1. Preparation.Textured plasters are just those mixtures that do not require very careful alignment of the walls. It is enough to remove strong surface defects.
2. Application. It is very easy to use a textured mixture. As a rule, it is applied in a thicker layer compared to other types of coatings. Use a spatula and trowel for application.
3. Creating a relief. Patterns are created with different tools.

Here are some illustrations of these patterns made using various instruments:

A true artistic canvas can be obtained by using a hard brush to create a pattern that consists of first drawing vertical lines and then horizontal lines.

Using the same brush, create a circular pattern by rotating around the axis. Waves or circles with varying diameters also look good.

Patterns with a roller: Special structural rollers can be used to create a variety of patterns. You just need to roll the roller on the wall after selecting a roller in the store that has a pattern you like. You can even achieve the texture of real reptile skin in this way.

The easiest technique is to splash. It is evenly applied to the first layer. The second step involves dipping a broom into the plaster while holding a stick in the other hand. A variety of splashes on the wall will be relieved by striking the broom with a stick. The first layer can be painted any color, and you can add splashes of one, two, or even more colors.

1. Leveling the formed coating. Often after processing with a tool, too protruding parts of the relief remain, to remove such traces, we smooth out the slightly dried coating with a trowel.
2. Painting. You can paint in one or two stages. You need to paint with a roller or sponge, this way the tops of the relief are made lighter, giving visual depth.

As we can see, applying decorative plaster to walls with your hands only takes five easy steps.

Following the right order and being accurate in your work are essential for a successful outcome.

How to apply structural decorative plaster on walls with your own hands.

It is very common to decorate a house’s exterior with different decorative plasters that have a structure. Of this kind of mixtures, "bark beetle" sand plaster is the most well-known. Mineral filler is a component of structural plaster. which includes granite, marble chips, and much more. This filler is what gives the structure its shape. Let’s work through the process of using these coatings step-by-step.

1. Preparation. As with textured plaster, special preparation is not required, it is enough to remove significant damage and differences. Bark beetle decorative coating looks great as an exterior finish for private houses. Don’t forget to clean the walls from old coating, dust and dirt. Before plastering, the surface must be primed.
2. Application. Apply the composition in an even layer on the walls; use a spatula and trowel for application.
3. Second stage of application. Wait until the first layer dries and use a plastic spatula to start smoothing the plaster using top-to-bottom movements. An individual pattern in the form of traces of a bark beetle will begin to appear on the surface. This pattern appears precisely due to the presence of large mineral granules in the composition.
4. Coloring.The coloring of the structural mixture occurs by adding tint (color pigment). You can take the most common color; in the store the seller will definitely advise which option is right for you. No separate painting required.
5. Finishing. Some manufacturers recommend using additional wax to impart water-repellent properties.

Apply plaster in sections. Before the previous section dries, thoroughly apply the following section.

Application of Venetian plaster.

Interior wall decoration is a common application for Venetian decorative plaster. Such a coating gives walls an absolutely stunning appearance, but it is also the most labor- and skill-intensive to apply.

This article won’t be able to cover the entire procedure in detail. We shall thus concentrate on the most crucial issues. Thus, "Venetian" refers to a mixture that mimics real marble. Such decorative plaster is applied in multiple layers to give the coating a natural appearance.

1. Preparation. The surface must be leveled very carefully, this will help to avoid the appearance of defects after the final finishing. Do not forget about applying the primer.
2. Preparation of the composition. You can prepare the mixture for Venetian plaster yourself, but within the framework of this review we will only talk about ready-made compositions sold in stores. To imitate marble, it is necessary to prepare a composition of several shades. Depending on the selected color of marble.

1. Take the finished composition, mix thoroughly, and pour into 3-5 containers.
2. Select a colorant of different colors depending on what kind of marble we want to get.
3. Add the colorant to the prepared containers and mix thoroughly until the desired shades are obtained.

It’s important to estimate the amount of colorant precisely so that the desired shades can be achieved. To avoid mistakes in color selection, gradually add the colorant while mixing.

1. First and second layers. Venetian plaster must be applied to the wall carefully, slowly. Using a spatula, we collect various shades on the Venetian trowel. There is more of the base color, the rest of the colors in the proportion in which they will be in the intended drawing. Apply the resulting mixture to the surface. The first two layers are applied without trying to draw the pattern perfectly. We make chaotic movements during the application process if a directional pattern is not planned.
2. Third layer. The third layer is applied in the same way as the previous ones, but we pay much more attention to the formation of the stone pattern. To apply the final layer you need to take a smaller spatula. Such a tool will allow you to form small details of the stone pattern.
3. Sanding and ironing. We treat the resulting surface with fine sandpaper, and then go over the surface with a spatula, lightly pressing it. This is necessary to compact the surface and give it its original shine.
4. Drawing the veins. Using the same color that was added earlier, using a brush we draw veins on the surface of the marble.
5. Finish coating. It is produced by applying a layer of wax, which is then polished using a grinder with a polishing wheel.

Applying decorative plaster in this manner to the living room or other rooms will enhance the overall appearance of the house.

Bas-relief with your own hands.

There are peculiar methods for using decorative plaster and gypsum. The production of relief panels and bas-reliefs is one such technique. These pieces of art will look fantastic in any room and add a luxurious touch to the home.

It is not necessary to use specialty plasters for bas-relief; regular gypsum will do just fine. To create a bas-relief, the steps will be as follows:

1. Surface preparation. Often separate niches are prepared in the walls, or the outline of the future work is highlighted with a frame. The place for applying the relief image is prepared in accordance with the idea. The surface can be either smooth or textured.
2. Application of the image. Transfer the relief pattern to the wall using a stencil or dimensional grid.
3. Creating a bas-relief. With the help of palette knives (special sculptural spatulas of various sizes), a sculptural image is formed. Gypsum mixture is prepared in small portions t.k. it hardens quickly. The consistency should most resemble soft plasticine.
4. Sanding. The resulting relief is sanded using skins of different grain sizes. Then they go over the surface with a mixture that has the consistency of sour cream, removing the cavities that appeared during the sanding process.
5. Painting. Paint the surface with acrylic paints using a spray gun. If necessary, varnish is used as a finishing finish.

A kid’s rubber ball cut in half makes a useful receptacle for blending small quantities of gypsum plaster. It is easy to clean such a container of solidified residues.

Step	Description
1. Prepare the surface	Clean the wall and apply a primer for better adhesion.
2. Mix the plaster	Follow the instructions on the package to mix the plaster correctly.
3. Apply the base coat	Use a trowel to spread the plaster evenly on the wall.
4. Create the texture	Use a roller, brush, or trowel to create the desired texture while the plaster is still wet.
5. Let it dry	Allow the plaster to dry completely before applying any finish or paint.
6. Apply the finish	Add a sealant or paint to protect the plaster and enhance its appearance.

It can be satisfying to apply decorative plaster yourself, giving your room a unique touch. You don’t need a contractor to get results that look professional if you use the right equipment and methods.

Always remember to properly prepare your surface, making sure to get rid of any dust, dirt, or leftover paint. To ensure that the plaster adheres well and looks its best, the surface must be clean and smooth.

Don’t rush the application process; instead, take your time. If you’re not sure, practice on a small section and take your time adding layers to get the texture you want.

You can apply decorative plaster with confidence and pay attention to detail to make your walls a one-of-a-kind and fashionable feature of your house.

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