Reinforcing mesh

It’s crucial to achieve a smooth and long-lasting finish when plastering walls. Reinforcing mesh is one of the most important components that can guarantee the durability and strength of your plaster.

Reinforcing mesh gives the plaster additional stability. It is commonly made of fiberglass or metal. It aids in preventing cracks and other problems that may arise over time, particularly in locations that are prone to movement or the intersection of different materials.

To get the best results on your plastering projects, we’ll discuss the various kinds of reinforcing mesh that are available, their advantages, and how to install them correctly in this article.

Type of Reinforcing Mesh	Usage
Fiberglass Mesh	Used for internal walls, preventing cracks and adding strength to plaster layers.
Metal Mesh	Ideal for exterior walls or heavy-duty areas, providing strong support and durability.
Plastic Mesh	Lightweight and corrosion-resistant, suitable for areas with moisture, such as bathrooms.

When mesh is used for plastering walls

A two-meter rail must be used to measure the deviations in both the horizontal and vertical directions in order to assess the need for reinforcement and choose the right material.

If the layer is thicker than two centimeters, the plaster has to be reinforced. The solution will hold by itself if it is thinner.

When finishing surfaces composed of cellular concrete, the plaster needs to be strengthened with a reinforcing mesh regardless of the layer.

Fiberglass mesh or polymer can be used to reinforce plaster that is 2-3 cm thick.

It will be necessary to use a metal grid if the thickness is greater than three centimeters.

Plaster that is thicker than five centimeters should not be applied. Plasterboard sheets are a better option for leveling the walls if there are significant deviations.

Plastering requires the use of reinforcing mesh to ensure a smooth, long-lasting finish, strengthen the walls, and prevent cracks. Because it helps disperse stress throughout the surface, it is perfect for both new construction and remodeling. Whether you’re plastering an exterior wall or an interior wall, adding mesh is a quick and easy way to improve the strength and caliber of your work.

Types of reinforcing mesh for plaster

The construction industry offers the subsequent varieties of reinforcing mesh to fortify wall plaster:

1. Metal, made of welded together steel rods of different cross-sections. Due to its susceptibility to corrosion, it is recommended for use in dry, heated rooms, for reinforcing a thick layer of plaster.
2. Galvanized, made of welded together rods of different cross-sections with different cell sizes. Suitable for external and internal finishing works. Can be used in unheated and damp rooms.
3. Rabitsa, woven from metal wire. Used under a thick layer of plaster.
4. Expanded metal grating made of galvanized metal. Manufactured by punching solid metal sheets and drawing them out into diamond-shaped cells arranged in a checkerboard pattern. Suitable for a thin layer of plaster or putty.
5. Sintoflex – made of polypropylene foam with cells 12×14 and 22×35 mm. Lightweight, durable, chemical resistant, suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
6. Armaflex – heavy-duty polypropylene material with reinforced nodes and cells 12×5 mm.
7. Plurima – plastic reinforcing mesh for plastering walls, for interior and exterior work, with cells 5×5 mm. Inert to chemicals.
8. Fiberglass mesh, with 5×5 mm cells, for use both inside and outside the building. Fiberglass is impregnated with polyacrylic compounds, making the material resistant to atmospheric and chemical influences.
9. Universal — woven, made of polyurethane, with different cell sizes:
10. 6×6 mm – for reinforcing finishing putty, up to 20 mm thick;
11. 13×15 mm – for plaster up to 30 mm thick;
12. 22×35 mm — for a thick layer of plaster on external walls.
13. Masonry (painting) — made of polymer, with 50×50 mm cells, for reinforcing gypsum plaster.

Shingles for plastering

Plastering wooden structures can be accomplished with wooden shingles.

Two layers of wooden slats, measuring 15-20 mm in width and 3-6 mm in thickness, are nailed to the walls to form shingles. With a step of roughly 50 mm, the first layer of slats is positioned on the wall surface at a 45-degree angle to the floor. With an inclination in the opposite direction, the second layer is positioned at the same angle against the wall. During the plastering process, a wooden lattice is created, and the cells are filled with mortar.

It is preferable to buy prefabricated lattices in the shape of shields rather than individual shingles when plastering large wooden surfaces.

How to choose the right mesh for reinforcing a wall

The selection of content is influenced by several factors:

• composition of the plaster mixture;
• material of plastered structures;
• plaster thickness;
• operating conditions.

An alkali-resistant mesh is chosen to strengthen plaster mortar made of cement. You can use any type of reinforcing material when using gypsum solutions.

The use of pricey, heavy-duty imported reinforcing materials is not economically viable. Choosing domestic meshes is a better option because they have comparable technical qualities to their foreign counterparts.

Benefits of fiberglass reinforcement

For a variety of applications, plastering walls both inside and outside of buildings is best done with fiberglass reinforcing mesh. Benefits of it:

• has excellent adhesion to structures made of various building materials, all plaster and putty compounds;
• withstands heavy loads;
• resistant to aggressive atmospheric and chemical influences;
• protects the plastered surface from cracking.
• a wide range allows you to choose any material to reinforce plaster of different thicknesses;
• the lightness of the material allows you to transport it on any car, saving on transportation;
• not dangerous during installation, unlike metal analogues;
• easy to cut and install.

Advantages of steel

Plaster reinforcement with metal mesh has become increasingly common because of its many benefits.

• high strength, allowing it to withstand heavy loads from thick plaster layers;
• the possibility of use on any base, except for structures made of plasterboard and hollow bricks.
• even metal can be plastered by welding a steel grid to it;
• permissible plaster thickness is up to 50 mm.

Features of mesh installation

Plaster reinforcing mesh is installed so that it is within the solution’s bulk.

The kind of reinforcement and the plaster mortar’s composition determine the best method of fastening:

• directly on the mortar, on the first plaster layer;
• install with screws or self-tapping screws, then fill the cells by spraying liquid solution.

How to attach fiberglass mesh

Fiberglass with a maximum cell size of 5 x 5 mm, a density of 110-160 g / m2, and resistance to strong alkali effects is appropriate for reinforcing a plaster layer between 3 and 30 mm.

We fasten the fiberglass reinforcing mesh into the reinforced wall’s plaster mass in this manner.

Apply the solution to the wall surface along the mesh’s width, then use a comb trowel to level it.

Using a float or spatula, we place the fiberglass on the wet plaster and submerge it in the solution. We stack the sheets on top of one another with a margin of overlap exceeding 10 centimeters.

Using a wide spatula, we apply another layer of solution on top in an even layer.

If a thicker layer is required, we add another row of mesh, apply plaster, and then rub the surface once the solution has dried.

It is acceptable to use screws or staples to secure the reinforcing grid to the wall surface when reinforcing a putty layer that is less than 10 mm thick.

Installing a metal mesh

It is advised to reinforce the walls with a galvanized metal reinforcing mesh with 10×10 or 12×12 mm cells if the plaster thickness is greater than 30 mm.

Expandable galvanized wire mesh works well too. It is simple to cut and modify to fit any surface, even if the plaster layer is only slightly thick.

The following order is followed when performing the work:

• degrease the metal mesh with acetone or solvent;
• cut into sheets with metal scissors;
• make holes on the wall or ceiling with a hammer drill with a drill bit, 6 mm in diameter. Hole pitch – 25-30 cm. There should be about 16 holes per 1 m2;
• We attach the grid with screws and mounting tape, placing the sheets with an overlap of 10 cm, paying special attention to the abutments to the walls and ceiling;
• to create an even layer of plaster, we install guide beacons;
• we throw the plaster mortar with a trowel and level it with a long float or spatula;
• after the first layer dries, apply another layer of plaster, level and rub.

Plaster layers as thin as 5 mm can be used in conjunction with an expanded metal reinforcing grid.

In order to give the walls more strength and durability during the plastering process, reinforcing mesh is essential. By preventing cracks, it contributes to a smooth, durable finish.

When installed properly, the mesh becomes one with the plaster, strengthening the wall’s ability to withstand impacts and settle. Because of this, it is crucial to getting plastering results that are of the highest caliber.

You’re being proactive by using reinforcing mesh to make sure your plastered walls hold up beautifully for many years to come. It’s an easy way to safeguard your investment that works well.

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