Plastering the ceiling on beacons: ideal alignment for painting

Plastering a ceiling can be difficult, particularly if you want the finish to be flawlessly smooth and ready for painting. Many experts rely on the use of beacons to accomplish this, which act as guides to guarantee that the plaster is applied uniformly throughout the surface.

Beacons make the process easier and help to achieve a perfect, level surface without requiring any guesswork. This technique is especially helpful for ceilings, where accuracy is essential to prevent uneven patches or dips that could detract from the final appearance.

Knowing how to plaster a ceiling on beacons is crucial for obtaining the perfect alignment required for a seamless, polished finish, regardless of experience level.

By distributing the plaster uniformly over the whole ceiling, plastering the ceiling on beacons produces an exceptionally smooth surface that is perfect for painting. This method makes professional-quality results achievable even for those with minimal plastering experience.

Features of ceiling plastering

Generally speaking, the creation of comfortable living spaces and exterior property renovations are the primary objectives of finishing work in apartments and country homes. The desired effect will not materialize in the absence of a smooth and elegant ceiling.

The unique aspect of ceiling work is that mortar and debris spill onto the floor, leaving hard-to-get traces. It is therefore customary to begin completing the premises with them. Plaster conceals the floor slab joints and provides a smooth surface ready for putty, painting, or wallpapering.

When the ceiling is first sheathed with plasterboard, there is a dry leveling technique in addition to direct monolithic plastering, or the wet method. In this instance, plaster is required to minimize paint consumption, align and isolate the gypsum board’s surface from moisture, and seal the sheet joints.

Benefits of the traditional plastering technique for leveling a ceiling:

• Cheapness. When doing the work yourself, the cost of repairs will be less than for suspended plasterboard or stretch ceilings.
• This type of coating significantly reduces the height of the room in comparison with other options.
• Cement and gypsum plaster do not emit substances harmful to human health into the surrounding space.
• Increases the fire resistance of ceilings.

Drawbacks:

• A large amount of dirt is formed during work.
• Additional finishing is required, and in the case of stretch and suspended ceilings – no.
• Takes a lot of time. This is especially true for cement-based finishing solutions.
• There is no space for installing built-in lamps.
• To lay electrical wiring on the ceiling, you will have to make grooves and then cover them up.

Which solution to choose: gypsum or cement?

Knowing the applications for both cement and gypsum plaster as well as their key benefits and drawbacks will help you choose between the two materials wisely.

Gypsum increases the finish’s malleability. Because of this, plaster is less dense than cement. Its texture is more appealing, and shrinkage is essentially nonexistent. Because gypsum mixtures are porous and the finish is vapor-permeable, mold cannot grow on them. Such gypsum also hardens rapidly.

These mixtures do, however, have two disadvantages: they cost 1.5–2 times as much as cement and cannot withstand high humidity. This may limit the amount of gypsum plaster that is used to finish the ceiling.

The strength of mixtures on a cement binder is high. They also exhibit greater adhesion and have no fear of water. Such plaster is made with less expensive components, which lowers the overall cost of repairs.

Cement mixtures take a very long time to harden. The solution is harder to level because of its decreased plasticity, and finishing putty is also needed before painting. Large weight adds to the load on the structural elements of the building. Cement plaster is heavier and more dangerous when it falls from the ceiling, endangering the occupants of the home.

The characteristics of these two finishing materials make it clear that cement mixtures work better for plastering ceilings in moist areas like bathrooms and when excellent adhesion and strength are required, like when caulking slab joints or caulking cracks. Gypsum mortar is more frequently used as a final touch on room beacons and for minor imperfections.

How to plaster correctly on beacons

First of all, it is important to note that using plaster mortar to level a ceiling is a difficult task that calls for some expertise from the master. Someone who has never used a trowel or a rule will probably have to go through a lot of pain before achieving a somewhat satisfactory outcome. Usually, it makes more sense to hire experts to handle the task rather than attempting to cut costs.

The example of gypsum plaster on beacons up to 20 mm thick will be used to analyze the technology used in plastering the ceiling. The details for other scenarios are at the end of the list.

The following equipment is needed: a stepladder, a drill with the proper attachment, a rule, a spatula, a float, a plastering trowel, a roller, a big bucket, and a laser level or level.

Crucial! To avoid having to scrub the plaster and paint off the floor later, cover the floor with plastic film before you start working.

Generally speaking, beacons are used to apply gypsum plaster to ceilings.

1. Old finish is removed from the ceiling with a spatula down to the concrete floor slabs and joints.
2. The surface is carefully primed.
3. With the help of a laser level fixed under the ceiling, the lines for installing the beacons are marked.
4. The solution is mixed in a bucket with a mixer. The ratio of dry mixture and water is taken according to the instructions on the package. In its consistency, the ready-to-apply solution should be similar to thick sour cream.
5. Gypsum plaster bloopers are thrown along the beam.
6. The beacon is installed in a given plane and leveled.
7. Plastering mortar is applied to the ceiling between two beacon profiles.
8. Using a rule or a float, the solution is pulled together and leveled.
9. After about an hour, the excess plaster is cut off with a spatula.
10. Then the process is repeated until the entire area of ​​the ceiling is processed.
11. When the solution sets, it is moistened with a sponge and smoothed with a metal spatula (grouting is done).
12. The beacons are removed. The channels remaining from them are sealed with the same plaster.
13. The ceiling surface is ready for finishing. This can be decorative plaster, wallpapering or painting.

For your information, we have written a separate article that goes into greater detail about the various kinds of plaster beacons and how to use them.

Finishing living rooms, where the ceiling does not have large height variations, is where the specified plastering technology is most frequently utilized. Putty is used to level the surface when, under ideal initial conditions, the height difference between the most convex and concave points is within 3–4 mm.

Once the initial layer of plaster has solidified, a reinforcing mesh must be installed on the ceiling in order to apply gypsum and cement plaster with a thickness greater than 20 mm. Material: either metal or fiberglass. The second kind is selected when working with cement mortar (which is heavy and causes significant shrinkage) and if the finish thickness is greater than 30 mm.

In cases where the ceiling irregularity exceeds 50 mm, it is advisable to opt for either gypsum board or a suspended ceiling instead of plaster.

Paying close attention to detail during the plastering process is necessary to achieve a perfectly smooth ceiling that is ready for painting. Plaster is applied more evenly when beacons are used, which results in a level surface that is easier to paint and looks better.

Taking the time to carefully place the beacons and apply the plaster will help you avoid common problems like uneven surfaces or obvious flaws. This method increases the ceiling’s durability while also enhancing its final appearance.

Plastering the ceiling on beacons is a dependable method for achieving expert results, whether you’re working on a remodeling project or finishing a new space. You can create a gorgeously smooth ceiling that improves the overall appearance of your room with a little perseverance and the appropriate equipment.

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