Nuances and subtleties of plastering the ceiling

Plastering the ceiling is a rather complicated matter, which not every beginner will decide. Here you need to not only know the technological side of the job well, but also be able to use specific tools, and not in the most convenient position. Therefore, for beginners who are determined to plaster the ceiling in the apartment on their own, it is recommended that you first try your hand at the walls and do not forget about strict adherence to the process technology.

How to clean the surface of old plaster

Before starting any repair work, it is necessary to free the ceiling from the old plaster. This stage can be skipped only to those masters who make repairs in a new building. They can immediately begin to level its surface or putty if leveling is not required.

Some masters believe that if the plaster is still holding well, then there is no need to repel it. Other specialists insist on its removal, even if it requires considerable effort, since it has already served its purpose and after some time it will begin to collapse anyway.

• Old plaster can be repelled with a hammer, putty knife, grinder or puncher, clean off the remaining metal brush.

• After releasing the surface from the old coating, it is necessary to carefully examine it for defects. If there are cracks on it, then they should be embroidered and repaired.

Tip: for defects of large size, you must additionally put a special sickle tape on top of the putty layer. It is also recommended to use it for processing joints between floor slabs.

Wet leveling - plastering the ceiling

Let us consider in detail how to level the ceiling with plaster - it is this method of alignment that causes particular difficulties.

Preparatory work:

1. Before starting the main work, you need to walk along the surface with a primer on concrete, which will provide good adhesion and strengthen the foundation.
2. Using the level, you need to determine the lowest and highest points of the ceiling. If the detected difference is more than 5 cm, you will have to apply the plaster in several layers. In this case, it is desirable to use a reinforcing mesh that acts as a frame and is attached to the surface using conventional glue.
3. Before plastering the ceiling, you must correctly mark its surface. For this, beacons (plaster profiles or wooden blocks) are used, the number of which depends on the width of the room. On average, two lighthouses are located at three meters, the extreme ones should be at a distance of 60 cm from the walls.

How to plaster the ceiling

Plastering the ceiling with your own hands involves the use of the same technology as for walls. It is necessary to apply the solution to the surface using one of the following tools:

• steel trowel - suitable for applying plaster for the ceiling with a thin layer: a small amount the mixture is superimposed on the instrument, and then with quick movements with a slight pressure is transferred to ceiling;
• spatula - used with a layer thickness of more than one and a half centimeters.

Tip: the plaster solution can not be made too thick, otherwise it will be inconvenient to apply. In addition, the plaster may fall off the surface under its own weight.

Plastering the ceiling on lighthouses is carried out in a certain sequence: it is processed first the middle part, and only then the side strips, it is recommended to start the process in the direction from the center to the wall.

You must work with your back to the light. To remove the excess solution, you need to draw a rule towards yourself. The final movement is, on the contrary, from yourself. Thanks to this, the master will be able to see the gaps in the plaster layer and correct the identified defects, the absence of which is especially important during subsequent painting.

How to prevent the formation of bubbles

Incorrect application of the mortar is fraught with the formation of air bubbles that appear where the stucco does not adhere to the surface and as a result sag under its own weight. That is why beginners, taught by bitter experience, are interested in how to plaster the ceiling correctly.

Professional craftsmen advise applying the plaster in two layers, the first of which is made very thin. After it dries, a second coat can be applied. The secret of this approach is that the two layers of the solution adhere well to each other and as a result no voids appear on the ceiling.

Tip: in order to remove the already formed bubbles, it is necessary to wait until the solution has completely dried, and then with a spatula to clean it from the ceiling in places where the defect appears. Affected areas will have to be plastered again.

Preparing the ceiling for finishing

The use of one plaster for the ceiling does not allow to make its surface perfectly smooth - before painting it will have to be putty additionally. First, a primer must be applied to the ceiling and only then can the putty mixture be used. Then it is recommended to process well-dried surface with sandpaper or polymer grout.

The nuances of plastering a plasterboard ceiling

The surface of the drywall is not perfectly smooth: it shows the joints of individual sheets, as well as the head of the screws. Since full alignment in this case is not required, plastering the ceiling with your own hands is needed to eliminate all minor surface defects, as well as additional GCR protection.

Processing the ceiling before wallpapering

1. First of all, it is necessary to apply a layer of penetrating primer on drywall: it will make its surface more durable, reduce its absorbency, and also improve adhesion to the selected coating. In addition, the subsequent painting will have to spend much less expensive materials.
2. All joints and irregularities must be filled with gypsum plaster or special putty for joints.
3. To apply a common layer, you will need a finish composition and a narrow spatula ten centimeters wide. Leveling is best done with a tool that is at least three times wider. At the corners of the ceiling, it is advisable to additionally glue a net-sickle.
4. After the putty layer has dried, the joints must be treated with a special painting net and re-applied. After that, you can glue the selected wallpaper on the ceiling.

Putty before painting

If you plan to apply paint to the surface, then before plastering the ceiling from drywall, it is necessary to conduct a more thorough treatment:

• First of all, to apply a primer to the seams and various irregularities, you need to use not a roller, but a brush. It is this tool that will make it possible to carefully process any surface defects.
• In the future, it is desirable to glue not only the corners, but also the seams with a mesh.

The process of plastering or puttying itself will be as follows:

1. Plaster or starting putty is applied over the mesh until a smooth surface is obtained. Also, the mixture fills all the recesses and holes from the screws.
2. After the surface dries, the ceiling is primed again and bandaged: a paper tape is applied to the seams and corners, which is fixed with ordinary glue. Thanks to the use of paper, it is possible to achieve an ideal surface in the most problematic places.
3. Final puttying with the finishing composition is recommended to be done in several passes. To apply a thin and even layer, you need to use a fairly wide spatula.
4. After that, the surface of the ceiling is polished with sandpaper, at the final stage, paint is applied to it.