Plastering the ceiling on concrete with your own hands

Although plastering a concrete ceiling may seem like a difficult undertaking, you can do it yourself if you take the proper approach. Plastering is an essential step in creating a smooth, even ceiling that is prepared for painting or decorating, whether you’re finishing a freshly finished surface or rejuvenating an old one.

We’ll simplify the procedure into doable steps in this guide, enabling you to confidently complete the task from beginning to end. With a little perseverance and the appropriate knowledge, you can achieve professional results without having to be an expert.

These instructions will help you turn your concrete ceiling into a smooth, polished surface that improves the appearance of your room as a whole.

Step	Description
1. Prepare the Surface	Clean the concrete ceiling, removing dust and debris. Apply a primer for better plaster adhesion.
2. Mix the Plaster	Prepare the plaster mix according to the instructions on the package, ensuring a smooth consistency.
3. Apply the First Coat	Use a trowel to spread the plaster evenly across the ceiling. Work in small sections.
4. Smooth the Surface	Once the first coat is applied, use a straightedge or trowel to smooth out any bumps or ridges.
5. Apply Additional Coats	If needed, apply a second coat of plaster after the first has dried. Smooth it out as well.
6. Finish the Ceiling	After the plaster has dried, sand the surface lightly to achieve a smooth finish. Apply paint or other finishes as desired.

First signs of defects and the beginning of repairs.

Defects from application errors.

Such problems appear over a short period of time for no apparent reason. Having noticed cracks or crumbling of the surface, begin to assess the complexity. Tap the surface with a hammer or mallet, go over it with an old spatula. The primary task is to remove pieces of plaster from the ceiling that do not hold well. They have long since peeled off, air voids have formed between them and the base. Such places are determined by a dull sound. With a small area, it is enough to just remove the weak surface by re-covering the area with a solution of fine sand or putty. Be sure to prime the surface to be treated before re-applying. This will significantly increase its adhesion.

Note: Any ceiling will eventually fade or just change color. There could be a noticeable bright spot after replacing a tiny section. This only matters if ornamental plaster is used to finish the ceiling. If not, all of this will be discussed at the end.

Problems after flooding from above.

Pointwise dampness is the result of less resistance to moisture moving through an object. It is also feasible to repair such ceilings partially. The problem area’s weakened plaster is removed, but the surrounding 50 cm should also be cleaned. This will shield you from unexpected weakening and peeling. In this situation, gypsum plaster is frequently used to plaster the ceiling.

Methods for removing old plaster.

Standard manual.

As previously mentioned, the first step is to use your hands to tap and peel the old plaster off the ceiling. Strong areas are challenging for this kind of procedure. Here’s an alternative method: soak them after wetting them with water. With a sponge, rag, or sprayer, wet the ceiling plaster with your hands. Once the surface is wet, move on to the known step of using a mallet to beat off.

Mechanical approach.

Very difficult areas that do not respond to removal are processed with various electrical devices. One of them is a simple hammer drill. Having fixed the chisel attachment in the socket, go over the difficult area removing layer by layer.
An excellent option is a grinder. After placing a diamond cutting wheel, go over the area to be treated, making small cuts. The distance between them should be 3-5 cm. Afterwards, simply remove the areas between the grooves with a spatula.
When the task of cleaning is very difficult, they resort to specialized equipment, which includes a grinding machine for removing plaster. There are also sandblasting machines that wash away all unnecessary things from the wall surface.

Suggestion: Wet the treated surfaces with water on a regular basis to cut down on dust.

Plastering the ceiling on concrete.

Plastering the ceiling of a new building on bare concrete with your hands in the absence of repairs. In order to avoid problems later, it is crucial to consider all of the technological features at this point.

Humidity should be taken into account initially. It should be less than 3%; after 28 days of favorable weather, this percentage is attained.

Plaster is prone to peeling when applied to a concrete ceiling that experiences high levels of humidity. Salts may build up in the spaces between the plaster and concrete. Gypsum crystals are dissolved by their mineral formations, which also weaken the adhesion.

Plastering the ceiling with gypsum plaster is not advised because the new house has not settled completely. Cracks will appear with even the smallest displacement.

Preparation.

The surface is first cleared of any dust and solution odor. A grinder is used to remove any reinforcement or strong tubercles that protrude. Water is used to clean the ceiling if needed. He is roughened with a metal grater to improve the plaster’s adherence to the concrete ceiling.

The concrete’s surface will then be thoroughly brushed. The objective is to improve the properties of material adhesion. Once the primer has been coated and allowed to dry, start preparing the plaster solution.

Technology used to get ready for the solution standard. The mixture is combined with water in the container according to the ratios listed on the package. In order for the solution to fully impregnate and mature, it must be infused for five minutes. It becomes necessary to knead again with an electric drill or trowel over time. You want a thick "pasta" that is lump-free.

Note: Calculate using the drying speed listed on the package rather than preparing a large amount of mixture at once. If you don’t have enough time to apply everything in the designated amount of time, some of the diluted solution will start to solidify inside the container.

How to level the ceiling with plaster.

After cleaning the concrete or removing the previous coating from the ceiling in order to prepare it for plastering, we start the actual process. Plastering the ceiling by hand ensures that nothing is missed when painting or doing other finishing tasks. To avoid being sidetracked by searching when applying, make sure you have all the necessary materials ready first. Workplace instruments:

1. a stainless steel trowel for application;
2. a rule for leveling the plane along the beacons;
3. plastic containers for mixing and priming;
4. an electric drill with a mixer attachment;
5. spatulas of different widths.

We proceed to dismantling the old coating.

Removing the plaster from the ceiling usually takes a third of the time of all the work. Easy when you know exactly which layer is applied and what it consists of. But if you moved into an old apartment and decided to do the plastering of the ceiling with your own hands, expect multi-layered. Often, without completely removing the whitewash, they glue the wallpaper, then leaving pieces of wallpaper, glue the tiles, and then apply plaster to the remains of the glue. This is a real problem, because each of these layers is removed in its own way. To help you, here is a list that answers the question of how to remove plaster from the ceiling of different layers.

The composition of the layer and the method of its removal.

Alternatives to remove water-dispersed paint:

• Use a spatula in combination with a building hair dryer, heating the surface and scraping it off.
• An electric drill with a metal attachment will additionally remove a layer of putty.
• A special liquid (Dufa remover), after applying which after 30 minutes you can freely remove everything with a spatula.

Eliminating lime wash:

The mixture does not lie on the whitewash, at least not in a qualitative sense, so it needs to be removed. Collapsing and bubble formation are the results. The low adhesion of whitewash is the cause of this. Use a spatula to scrape off the surface after soaking it in water. When you get to the concrete, you should also give it a water wash. When removing thin lime plaster, the same procedures are followed.

In challenging areas (corners and areas where heating pipes pass): plaster

The solution is a spatula and hammer, which will help to remove any irregularities. It is crucial to keep in mind that removal of load-bearing floor slab reinforcement and functional irregularities is prohibited.

Growths such as mold:

Everything has long been invented for such situations. Purchasing a specific blend and applying it to the ceiling’s base is sufficient. Everything is cleaned with water after the time indicated on the packaging. The Tikkurila company’s "Homeenpoisto" is one of these blends.

Although it may seem difficult to plaster a concrete ceiling on your own, it is completely possible if you have the right equipment and some guidance. This post will guide you through every step of the procedure, from surface preparation to uniform plaster application, guaranteeing a polished, seamless finish. Whether you’re working on a new project or updating an old ceiling, these tips will help you get great results without hiring a professional.

Application procedure.

As previously mentioned, they can usually get by with a basic spatula, but it is preferable to use an antique tool. Because your new spatula will become extremely dull after it is finished.

Remember to remove the coating from the walls two to three centimeters below the ceiling when removing layers from them.

Proceed to priming after cleaning. Pipe and corner locations require a thorough priming of the embroidered areas. As a primer, use Knauf "Betokontakt." First fill in the damaged areas with a less expensive mixture, like Rotband plaster. Using a mesh to finish the ceiling with wet plaster will strengthen the entire array. It strengthens the coating as a whole, improves adherence to the base, and greatly lowers the chance of peeling.

Installing beacons.

Plaster ceilings can be leveled most easily and effectively by working on beacons. In cases where the plane is extremely crooked, plastering the ceiling on beacons becomes extremely crucial. Examine your ceiling; these guides are probably also necessary. See what deviations your ceiling makes in certain areas from the horizon by attaching a rule or a long level.

The distance between beacons is the rule’s length minus 20 cm. In order to stay on course, a reserve is required. Before installing them, make sure everything is level by using a laser level to draw marks on the wall that will serve as your guide.

This marking is pulled with nylon threads or fishing line. You will use this as a point of reference when you install beacons. Plaster or putty is used to attach beacons. Everywhere they should touch the stretched thread should be touched equally.

The ceiling is plastered along the beacons by throwing, and then it is leveled using a rule tool. See the article about installing beacons for more information about this technology.

Priming the leveled surface.

Recall that you must use the same brand of primer and putty after determining which plaster brand is ideal for your project. Additionally chosen is the decorative plaster for the ceiling.

Depending on the type of layers and the liquid itself, the primer coating can take anywhere from 8 hours to fully dry. Go over the directions on the box.

Finishing layer.

We move on to the last step after letting the primer dry. That answers the question of how to plaster a level ceiling. All remaining flaws are finally leveled out by the finish. Its fine particles fill all the voids and irregularities left by the rough plaster. Occasionally, putty is applied as a finish.

It can take up to three weeks for all of the layers to completely dry; if you don’t want to redo the work, you will need to be patient. Once finishing is complete, decorative plaster is applied to the ceiling. Your creativity is the only restriction on what you can create in this space: any textures, patterns, colors, and reliefs. For instance, adding textured plaster to the ceiling will increase relief and volume.

As you can see, although it is quite possible, plastering a ceiling with your hands in preparation for painting or other decoration is not the easiest task. The most important thing is to keep going and adhere to all of the experts’ advice.

Comparison.

The market offers a plethora of choices. Plasterboard structures that set distinct shapes, colorful and patterned suspended ceilings, and ornamental coatings. Which is better, plaster or stretch ceilings? Major repairs frequently bring up these kinds of questions.

As usual, both sides have advantages and disadvantages. Plastered ceilings are dependable, essential coatings that are hard to affect by outside variables. If you have kids in the house, plaster is a better option than suspended ceilings. Ultimately, tossing something can puncture the stretched canvas.

However, a stretch ceiling is completed quickly and at a significantly lower cost than plaster. Generally speaking, the decision is entirely yours and is based solely on personal preference.

Although plastering a ceiling on concrete may initially seem difficult, it is a task you can complete on your own if you take the proper approach. You can achieve a smooth, polished finish by methodically following each step and carefully prepping the surface.

Recall that accuracy and patience are essential. Apply the plaster evenly, taking your time, and don’t rush the drying process. This guarantees an end product that is both beautiful and long-lasting.

You can become more confident in your plastering abilities with some practice, which will make subsequent home renovation projects even more doable. Now get your hands dirty and let’s start remodeling your ceiling!

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