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Chapter Eight
PLASTERING

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8.1 INTRODUCTION
Plastering is a type of wall finishing which use to cover rough walls and uneven surfaces
with a plastic material to obtain an even, regular, smooth, clean and durable surface in the
construction of buildings and other constructions. Plastering is generally done using mortar
prepared using ordinary Portland cement. Mortar is a mixture of fine aggregate such as
sand, and binding material such as lime or cement or both mixed with water to a plastic
consistency. .

8.2 TYPE OF PLASTER AND SELECTION

The main purpose of plastering is to preparing a living environment while it prevent
direct expose brick walls to the heavy climatic conditions which could be adversely affected to
the survival of the building and to preparing good substrate which use for secondary finishing
such as painting. Plastering is a key finishing item which provides excellent view to the building.
In any construction work plaster is mainly considered as external and internal because, in each
plaster there are special features to be conserved. Different techniques materials and methods are
followed in wall finishing according to the requirement.

1. For general purpose buildings, internally lime putty plaster and externally either rough or
semi rough plaster is applied using general mortar and lime putty appropriately.

2. Buildings which require sound absorbing properties, the internal walls are introduced
rough sound absorbing surfaces with intruded holes either by metal or plastic or acoustic
plaster is introduce. eg :- for auditoriums, indoor stadiums

3. Pebble dash, cement grilling and textured wall surfaces are obtained according to
architectural requirements
8.3 SURFACE PRPARATION FOR WALL PLASTERING.
The surface going to be plastered should be rough, clean free from dust, paint, films,
coating and other foreign matter. Walls should be well wetted before plastering.
If surfaces are plastered without damping the surface, water that requires to setting reaction of
cement will absorb by the walls and weak bond occur with substrate.

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8.4 INTERNAL WALL PLASTERING

In this site walls are specified to be plastered into 15mm thick with mortar of cement, sand and
lime 1:1:5 ratio and smoothened with lime putty.

8.4.1 COVER PEG FIXING

Cover peg fixing is fixing pegs with cement grout or mortar and piece of tile so that set
out a level surface and maintain horizontal and vertical alignment of the plaster. This is done by
using 200mm off line that is marked to the wall, on the slab in the setting out for brick wall
construction. First cover peg is fixed using center plum bob referring 200mm off line. The plum
bob is held vertically in such away that the point of the centre plumb bob is exactly on the
200mm off line. Then we can fix a cover peg measuring 185mm from the plumb (so that plaster
thickness to be 15mm) with a steel tape on the bottom of the vertical wall surface. This way
cover pegs are fixed at 2m intervals and next they are transferred on to the upper surface of the
wall using plumb bob. Now intermediate cover pegs can be place by using string at required
intervals.

8.4.2

PREPARATION OF MORTAR
To give the best result in a mortar the sand should be well graded & must be clean. Also

should be sharp, angular (gritty to touch), hard and clean. If dirt is present around the sand
particles, interferes with the setting & reduces the strength of the mortar. The lime should slaked
lime & the cement should be ordinary Portland cement. Cement, Lime and sand are dry mixed to
the proportion of 1:1:5 (Cement, Lime, and Sand) before adding water. Amount of water added
to the dry mortar should be sufficient to hydrate cement and give a good workability.
More water will increase the porosity of the mortar after evaporation excess water and
less water causes poor bonding to substrate.

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8.4.3 Tools used for plastering

(a) Wooden Float

(c) Metal Float

(e) Plumb bob & Rule

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(b)Floating Rule

(d) Gauging Trowel

(f) Set Square

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8.4.4 PLACING AND FINISHING THE PLASTER

The cement plaster is applied in one or two coats. The mortar is dashed
against the surface between the cover pegs placed.
urplus plaster is removed with the help of masons level bar and then the plaster is pressed
well with a wooden float so that the plaster may fill in the joints of the masonry. It is then trowel
and rubbed for rough finish. Before applying lime putty coat the first coat is allowed to set but it
should not become dry. The lime putty coat is then applied in a thin layer. It is then well trowel
and rubbed perfectly smoothed.

8.5 EXTERNAL PLASTERING

In this site, plaster is done to a semi rough finish using cement, lime and sand 1:1:5 ratios.
Preparation of mortar is same as done in internal wall plaster.

8.5.1 PLACING AND FINISHING THE PLASTER

External plaster is done to thickness of 15mm. fixing cover peg is same as done in
internal plaster. The proportion is 1cement, 1 lime and 5 sand. After applying the mortar to the
wall it is allowed to be dried for a considerable time and it is leveled and roughly smooth by
using piece of rigid-form or a piece of sponge so as even texture is obtain.

8.6 SOFFIT PLASTERING

Plastering the bottom surfaces of slabs and beam are known as soffit plastering this is
extremely difficult task compare to normal internal or external plastering. Hence very skill
masons are requires for got perfect plaster.

8.6.1 FIXING LEVEL PEGS

Before plaster the soffit level pegs should be fixed so that level the surface.
There are two methods:-

1. Level pegs can be fixed by using engineering level.

2. It can be done by using thread.
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The first method is more accurate and it gives horizontal plane. The second method gives a
plane but it may be horizontal or not.

8.6.2 MORTAR
material use in and preparation of mortar for soffit plastering is same as the internal
plastering but when use rough sand for the preparation of mortar placing is some what difficult
in soffit plastering hence finer sand is normally choose for soffit plaster. in soffit plastering,
more water in mortar should be slightly greater than water content in mortar used to internal
plastering or external plastering.

8.6.3. PLACING AND FINISHING

1:1:5 (cement, lime, sand) mortar is used to plaster the soffit. First cement grout prepared
to past like consistency is applied to the surface so that improve the bonding. Then prepared
mortar is dash to the surface using trowel and finished to a rough using straight edge and
wooden float or piece of rigid form. After plaster is sufficiently set (not dried), rough plaster is
smoothened by using lime putty and trowel until smooth surface is obtain.
The soffit plaster is similar to internal plastering only difference is, it needs time and skill
compare to internal plaster because concrete surfaces are less water absorbent and it takes long
time mortar to be harden.

8.7 REINFORCING IN PLASTERING

8.7.1 CHICKEN MESH FIXING
Normally the bond between wall and concrete surfaces and brick walls are weak, hence
bond where column touches the wall surfaces are weak in strength and cracks can be occur even
after the finishing them.
This may be due to

1. sudden shocks apply on walls due to heavy shutting doors

2. vibrations due to walking on the slab
3. due to variable thermal expansion coefficient

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As a remedy for this cracking chicken mesh is introduce in between wall and concrete surface as
an reinforcement. The mesh should be at least 150mm spread from the joint towards both
direction and then it is nailed to the wall. Then we can do the plaster as usual.

8.8 Plastering methods by experience

At the beginning of plastering the surface to be prepared clean by chipping, scraping
&brushing for remove the loose particle. The chicken mesh and comer beading to be fixed at
necessary places as shown in fig. The purpose of nailed chicken mesh is , the different materials
has different thermal constant. So that have different thermal expansion & contractions at certain
temperature. There for creak must be occur at the joint on plaster surface. So that the chicken
mesh is specified to nailed at joint to provide plaster from creaking. Same problem must be
occur in gab between wall& beam. At here also has done as described. But before the gap should
be filled by any type of flexible material and sealed by water proofing sealer, to avoid from
moisture effect in the gab.
The purpose of fixed corner beading at the corner of walls & columns are to be avoid creaking at
edges & maintain accurate vertical alignment of edge.
Providing a off line to each and every plaster surface. Then 20mm specified level pegs were
placed by referring the off line. Using this method can maintain the horizontal & vertical
alignment of plaster surface.(uniform &leveled surface.)
The specified proportion of plastering mortar mixing with machine mixing or manual mixing.
At the working time horizontal &vertical alignments should be check with using of straight
edges. The standard gauge box to used for mixing proportion of material.
To provide lights where working in a dark places.

8.9 External wall plastering

As specified one coat of external wall plastering should not be less then 16mm
thickness. The proportions is 1cement, 1 lime and 5 sand. After applying the mortar to the wall it
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is allowed to be dried for a considerable time and it is leveled and roughly smooth by using
piece of regiform or a piece of sponge. Then which was well smooth by well graded sand mortar.

8.10 Floor rendering

For a better appearance and smooth surface, floor areas are rendered with (C: S) mortar. In
our site this was done with a 1:3 or 1:4(C: S) mixture. Before laying mortar on the floor, it
should be ensured that the surface is free from dust and dirt. To determine the level of the
rendering, depending on the thickness, gauges are placed on the floor with the aid of the leveling
instrument.

Leveling
instrument
Staff
Gauges or
spots

After placing gauges, rendering can be started and the surface is

leveled with the straight edge. The spirit level is used to check the evenness of the surface.
However in our site a chemical called Chemifix which is popularly used as an adhesive was
mixed with the mortar to prevent it from being weak with time.

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8.11 Defects in plastering

Internal plastering serves two main functions, it provides a continuous smooth and level
surface to walls & ceiling and a back ground suitable for receiving a decorative paint.
Porosity or suction, roughness and shrinkage of the back ground are main factors that can
influence the performance of cement lime and gypsum plaster finishes. Some examples of
defects which arise from these factors as follows.

8.11.1 Crazing and cracking

Crazing and cracking of finishing coats are frequently caused by shrinkage of back
ground or shrinkage of the under coat. In both instances, the cracking is invariably reproduced in
the finish coat. The use of good quality sand, suitable mix proportions & adequate time set side
for shrinkage to take place between coats can reduce the risks of this defect.

Very fine crazing on neat gypsum finish coats can arise from application faults. High
suction of the back ground, too rapid drying or too late final trowelling can be responsible for
this defect usually this can be overcome filling a thin wash of plaster or by decorative treatment
such as painting.

8.11.2 Shelling
Another common problem with plaster finishes is shelling because of the loss of adhesion.
The set plaster can easily be removed from its background by movement of the background or

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even the plaster it self. The various forces that generate these movement include adhesive forces,
forces due to the weight of the material and the effects of shrinkage.
The bonding agent provides a good bond for the new plaster & should reduce the risk of
shelling.

8.11.3 Blowing
Blowing starts as a bulked on the plaster . the bulkage then develop in to a fine crack
which tends to be circular in form. In the advanced stage of attack the circular patch of plaster
lifts and falls away leaving a small conical hole. The cause is generally due to the presence of
lime modules in the plaster materials.

8.11.4 Efflorescence
Small quantities of soluble salts as the sulphates and carbonates of calcium can cause
this defect. These soluble salts are than carried to the background of plaster, and efflorescence
out as the water evaporate. In order to prevent damage to decoration as a result of efflorescence,
an oil based sealing coat can applied over a plaster surface before the decorative coat. But the
best preventive measure is still to delay decorating newly constructed walls until they are dry.

8.11.5 Rust staining

The corrosion of electric- conduits, switch boxes, nails & other metallic components
which are fixed behind the plaster can cause stains to appear on the plaster.
The best prevention against corrosion is to use galvanized components. To reduce risk of
staining from corrosion, all ungalvanised metallic parts should be painted with aluminum
paint.

8.12 WALL RECTIFICATION

Rectification means prepare wall , openings and any other structural member for the plas
finishing works. In SKET site we rectified external walls for skim coat application. In this case
we had to find a least value for chipping and filling. For that purpose at very beginning we take
measurements to the wall surface from off lines. these off lines are made by threads reference to
actual survey lines. Then we made a measurement sheet adding plus and mines values Finally
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decide a value from off line. According to that value amount of filling and chipping should be
minimum. Finally fix cement lamps to selected value and then chip or fill with cement motor.

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