Which plaster is better – manual or mechanized?

Selecting the appropriate plastering technique for your walls can have a significant impact on the project’s quality and finish. Determining the superior option among the available manual and mechanized plastering methods can be challenging.

For centuries, plastering by hand has been a popular method among experts due to its hands-on approach. However, because of its efficiency and speed, mechanized plastering is becoming more and more popular.

We’ll contrast the two approaches in this post and examine the benefits and drawbacks of each. By the end, you’ll know more clearly which plastering method might work best for you.

The essence of machine plastering

What distinguishes manual plastering from plastering done by machine? Plastering has not been exempt from the general automation and mechanization of production processes. A plastering station has taken over the physical labor of applying the solution.

It is filled with water and then a dry plaster mixture to be worked on. After being thoroughly cleaned by special augers, the components are fed into a mixing container and high pressure is applied to the wall using a mortar gun and a sleeve.

Special additives are added to the solution to stop it from sticking to the machine’s working surfaces, which are the tank walls and the sleeve. Only dry factory preparation mixtures are compatible with the station. Cement-sand mixtures are used outside, and gypsum plasters are used indoors.

It makes sense to distribute this way:

• Plaster, where one of the components is gypsum, is not used outdoors;
• Cement-sand mixtures are much heavier than gypsum mortars. Therefore, it is much more difficult for a plastering machine to work with them, as a result of which the plaster feed rate drops by 1.5-2 times.

Simultaneously, the augers’ wear increases and their replacement comes at a substantial financial cost. Obviously, nobody uses cement mortar to plaster indoors.

Advantages and disadvantages of machine plastering

Plastering station artisans typically observe only favorable features in the automated solution application:

• Absence of heavy physical labor;
• The speed of work increases by 3-4 times;
• Materials for machine application of plaster are cheaper than similar mixtures for manual work;
• The consumption of materials is less than with manual plastering;
• The cost of the work itself is almost two times lower (from 220 rubles./m2 when working with a station and 550 rubles./m2 when applying 3 layers with a trowel);
• The quality of the work is higher:

1. the mixture is supplied under high pressure, which contributes to better adhesion of the plaster to the wall;
2. the plaster solution is more uniform in composition, since it is ground by two screws, as a result of which the surface of the plaster practically does not crack;
3. errors in the preparation of the mixture are excluded – its consistency is embedded in the station by the program.

Experts do not perceive any drawbacks. They believe that the topic of "which plaster is better, mechanized or manual" should not even be discussed.

However, there are a few direct and indirect drawbacks to the plastering station’s technology if you look closely at it:

• High noise level, which excludes work at night – this is a relative disadvantage, since during the day the neighbors will understand and tolerate;
• Work on a three -phase current (there is only in apartments with electric plates);
• Long period of plaster drying — 7-8 days;
• A lot of time for station maintenance at the beginning and end of the shift, which will necessarily be reflected in the price of the work depending on the volume of plastering (preparation of the station for work according to the regulations should last 2 hours and another 2 hours are spent on washing the equipment after its completion);
• You cannot plaster the walls in the bathroom and kitchen under the tiles with gypsum. Manufacturers of dry solutions write on the packaging that the mixtures can be applied to the walls in damp rooms, including the bathroom. But nowhere is it indicated that tiles can be laid on such plaster. Practice shows that it tears and peels off on gypsum plaster. The plasterers of the machine station completed the work and left, and they may not know what happened to the tiles later;
• Mandatory installation of plaster corners in the inner corners, which increases the cost of the work.

The choice between manual and mechanized plastering comes down to the size, cost, and desired finish of the project. While mechanized plastering is faster and more efficient, it is best suited for large surfaces or tight deadlines. Manual plastering offers more control and precision, making it ideal for smaller, more detailed work or repairs. Selecting the best option for your particular needs can be made easier if you are aware of the advantages of each method.

What is better, machine or manual plastering

It would appear that the aforementioned benefits of mechanical plastering completely eclipse the advantages of the traditional manual plastering technique. However, a comparative analysis must be done in order to determine objectively which method of plastering—manual or machine—is superior. The differences between these approaches will then become apparent.

Since we are discussing individual clients, we will take into account separate orders for work ranging from 50 to 250 square meters in parallel for an individual house and apartment.

1. In terms of price, a dry mix for plastering stations is cheaper than a similar one for work with a trowel. Sounds convincing and at the same time true. But who said that gypsum-based mixtures will be used for manual plastering? They are very inconvenient to work with and financially expensive. The use of cement, sand and a concrete mixer leads to the fact that materials for manual work cost 2-3 times less. And the thicker the plaster layer, the more noticeable the difference.
2. Indeed, when using dry mortar when working with a machine station, 3 kg of plaster is saved per 1 m2 (consumption of 13 kg versus 16 kg, respectively). But when replacing it with cement-sand plaster, this advantage disappears due to the low price of the plaster mix.
3. The quality of the work is higher. The difference between machine plastering and manual plastering in the area of ​​plaster quality is imaginary. If the technologies are followed, the difference in quality is not observed. The problem of more intense cracking of the surface in cement plaster is solved with the help of fiberglass. Its use more effectively keeps the plaster layer from shrinkage and cracking than in gypsum mortar applied mechanically.
4. Only manually can you plaster a bathroom and toilet because of the gypsum mortar. The best option is to entrust this work to a tiler so that there are no problems with the quality of the laid tiles – they will not shift the blame to each other.

It is evident that plastering stations have not yet been fully utilized to their full potential. Maybe they are part of the job cost, which is usually the deciding factor.

What is cheaper

In St. Petersburg, the cost of machine plastering starts at 220 rubles per square meter, while manual plastering costs between 250 and 300 rubles./m2 for the initial layer because it requires setup work and roughly 550 rubles/m2 for the application of three layers.

Here, everything is immediately apparent. However, not everything is that easy. If plasterers’ trowel prices make everything obvious, then numerous other factors play a role in its formation.

1. The price listed applies to a work volume of 2,000 square meters or more. Plastering becomes more expensive as the volume decreases. The client might disagree, saying that the machine station can finish the task in five to six hours. I’ll make up for it by buying them. However, some crucial details are missing here:

• Time is needed to prepare the surface and install the beacons. They will be included in the price;
• Unplastered slopes remain – they are done only by hand. They are not and cannot be in the price list. It won’t work to invite someone from outside to do this work – professionals always refuse, since there is a lot of hassle and little money. Mechanized plastering experts charge 1.5-2 times more for such work, since their work is generally valued much higher;
• The price includes the time of travel, preparation of the station for work, washing it at the end of the shift. These amounts are significant, but fixed. It is one thing to divide tens of thousands of rubles by 2,000 m2, and another, by 50-250 m2.

2. The cost of electricity is not included in the price for the work. The apartment’s owner will be responsible for payment.

3. The cost of machine plastering also excludes the labor required to install plaster corners. They each receive their own payment.

We will estimate the approximate cost of work for a 100 m2 wall in order to fully comprehend whether plastering walls by hand or by machine is preferable.

Plastering by machine:

• price – 350 rubles./m2;
• layer thickness is 1 cm;
• consumption rate of dry plaster per 1 m2 — 13 kg;
• price of plaster — 410 rubles./bag ("Volma", 25 kg) or 16.4 rubles./kg.

The materials will set you back 42,640 rubles. Salary: $35,000. For the sake of simplicity in our calculations, we will not include other costs. You will need to use the family budget to pay 77,640 rubles in total.

For manual labor, you will require:

• cement M400 — 350 kg (14 bags weighing 25 kg at a price of 235 rubles./package) for the amount of 3,290 rubles.;
• fine sand — 1,500 kg for the amount of 3,000 rubles. (30 bags weighing 50 kg at a price of 100 rubles. per package);
• delivery with lifting to the apartment — 4,000 rubles.;
• fiberglass fiber — 200 rubles.

Be aware that cement costs can differ greatly depending on the supplier. For the calculations, Portland cement in the middle price range was chosen. Cement is also available for 135 rubles per bag. It will cost 10,490 rubles in total to buy the building supplies that are required. There will be a 55,000 ruble wage. (550 rubles/m^2/100 m^2). The entire plastering job cost was 65,490 rubles.

Wordless calculations illustrate the benefits and drawbacks of every kind of plastering.

The scale of the project and your unique requirements will determine whether you choose automated or manual plastering. Plastering by hand is precise and ideal for smaller, more intricate projects. If you prefer having hands-on control and are working in a smaller space, this is an excellent option.

However, larger projects are where mechanized plastering really shines. When covering large surfaces, it is quicker, more effective, and can save a significant amount of time. It does, however, require specific tools and knowledge to function properly.

In the end, each approach has benefits. Take into account your project’s scope, financial constraints, and necessary level of detail. Knowing these elements will help you achieve the best plastering results for your walls, whether you decide to use a machine or a manual method.

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