Maximum wall plaster thickness

Walls can be leveled before finishing using plaster. This method of preliminary wall decoration has a number of undeniable advantages: the low cost of the material and the ability to perform all the work yourself. Even a person far from construction can master the technology of wall plastering in literally a few minutes. The main thing is to know the maximum thickness of the applied material when performing wall decoration. The material of the surface on which the work will be carried out is also taken into account.

Varieties of plaster

For decoration, several types of mixtures are used. They differ in their composition and intended use. Classify their plaster compositions as follows:

• Simple. It is used when special finishing is not required. It is applied to the wall in two layers.
• Superior. Suitable for wallpaper. Such plaster is applied to the wall in three layers - spraying, priming and coating.
• High quality. It is used to prepare walls for painting. It is applied in several layers. In the process, it is recommended to use special beacons.

The structure of the plaster may be wet or dry.

In the first case, it is a cement-containing mixture that reliably adheres to the surface. It is undemanding to the humidity level in the room. Of the shortcomings can be noted the long drying of the material.

Dry plaster is more convenient in work. Its composition includes gypsum or calcareous mixtures. The disadvantages include the demanding material to humidity in the room.

Thickness for various substrates

It should be noted right away that the layer of mortar on the wall should be minimal. Excessive thickness will cause the stucco to crack under its own weight. Consider what should be the maximum thickness of the plaster on specific examples.

Brick

For brick walls, a certain relief is characteristic, so the minimum amount of mortar should be 5 millimeters. Applying less does not make sense, since there will be problems with the alignment of the material. The maximum value can reach up to 5 centimeters. For such a thickness, it is necessary to use a reinforced mesh. The maximum permissible layer of plaster without mesh should not exceed 2-2.5 centimeters.

Concrete base

Due to its structure, concrete adheres well to any finishing materials and has a fairly flat surface. The thickness of the plaster for concrete walls starts from 2 millimeters. Up to a maximum of 20 mm can be dispensed without using a mesh. With a reinforced mesh, the thickness can reach 7 centimeters.

Aerated concrete blocks

By their structure, these products resemble concrete, so the minimum amount of the mixture is the same as in the previous case. The maximum allowable value can vary from 8 to 15 millimeters. It all depends on the curvature of the walls.

Wooden surfaces

Coupling the mixture to the tree is not so easy. Therefore, before starting work on a wooden wall, a metal or plastic mesh is installed. The optimal cell size is not more than 40 millimeters. A metal mesh is attached to the surface using self-tapping screws, a plastic mesh is mounted on glue. The solution is applied in two layers. The thickness of the first does not play a big role. It is applied in order to hide the grid. The thickness of the second layer ranges from 1.5 to 2 centimeters.

Drywall

Drywall itself is a good finishing material, so it rarely needs additional alignment. If there is a need for applying plaster, the minimum layer is 1.5 mm, the maximum is 10. If the maximum amount of plaster is applied to drywall, a plastic mesh must first be installed.

Heaters

As in the case of wooden surfaces, the insulation is plastered in two stages: the first covers the reinforcing mesh - 1.5 centimeters, the second layer - leveling - 1-2 cm. These data apply to all types of insulation, including mineral wool and polystyrene.

The working process

Wall plastering involves applying several layers. Each is applied with a specific purpose.

Spray

A preliminary layer that is applied to a bare wall. The purpose of the spray is to connect the wall surface with the stucco mixture. For spraying it is necessary to use a liquid mixture. Plaster is simply thrown onto the surface of the wall, leaving as many irregularities as possible. For brick, concrete and aerated concrete blocks, the spray thickness is 5 millimeters, for wooden surfaces - 9 mm (taking into account the reinforcing mesh).

Priming

This is the main layer of plaster. The primer is applied after spraying a little bit. Do not allow the complete drying of the preliminary layer, this will hinder the adhesion of materials. For soil, a mixture of a thicker consistency is used. It is applied as follows: a small amount of plaster is thrown onto the wall and immediately leveled. The procedure is repeated until the entire wall is plastered. To optimize the process, special beacons can be installed on the wall before spraying. These are metal or plastic guides, which are set in level to the required thickness of the plaster layer. The distance between the lighthouses is 1-1.2 meters. The soil pours between the lighthouses and is smoothed out.

If gypsum or lime mortar is used for the soil, the recommended thickness is about 7 millimeters. For cement mixtures, the optimum soil thickness is 5 mm.

Nakryvka

This is a topcoat designed to eliminate minor defects and errors. Mixtures are used for nakryvki, the fraction of which does not exceed 2 mm. The finishing layer is applied with a wide spatula, but does not attack the surface, as in previous cases, but is tightly pressed and smoothed in a circular motion. The thickness should be minimal for all types of surfaces. After covering, the plastered walls are grouted.

There are times when the solution is applied in one layer. The thickness of the cement-based plaster should not exceed 2 cm, lime and gypsum mixtures - 1.5.

Tolerances

The thickness of the plaster on the wall is prescribed in building codes and regulations (SNiP), act 3. 04. 01-87. All standards for insulation and finish coatings are listed here.

1. For simple plastering, the maximum permissible deviation in the vertical plane is not more than 3 millimeters. For high-quality mixtures, this figure should not exceed one millimeter.
2. Across the wall (in a vertical plane), no more than 15 millimeters is allowed for plastering with simple mixtures and 5 mm for high-quality materials.
3. It is worth noting that even the number of errors is strictly regulated. On a plot of 4 square meters, no more than three defects are allowed. And this is when working with a simple mixture. For a high-quality requirement, it is even stricter, no more than two.
4. The depth of the bumps should not exceed 5 and 2 millimeters. For simple and high quality materials, respectively.
5. To perform work in a horizontal plane, the requirements are the same. Therefore, it makes no sense to repeat them.
6. Remember that there are certain requirements for the humidity of the rough wall. This indicator should be within 8%. To determine the level of humidity, there is a special device - a moisture meter. If there is no device, you can simply inspect the wall. It should be dry visually and to the touch.

Conclusion

Plastering walls is not such a difficult procedure as it seems at first glance. The main thing is to properly prepare the base and monitor the thickness of the coating to be laid. Remember some practical tips.

• If the solution is applied in several layers, the total thickness of which exceeds 3 centimeters, be sure to use reinforcement.
• Prepare the base thoroughly. The influx on the wall with a thickness of only 1.5 millimeters will increase the amount of material used by at least 3-4 bags.
• Use beacons to simplify your work as much as possible.