Wall Finishes: Plastering

The most popular type of interior wall finishes is plastering, which is the finishing step that must be done once the sheets of drywall are hung. With the proper tools and some plastering tips, any DIY beginner can accomplish the task. Plastering is labor intensive, but actually very simple.

Plastering: How To   

The first thing you need to do if you decide on plaster wall finishes is to purchase the proper materials and tools. You will notice there are different types of “mud” available for plastering. Many people make the mistake of purchasing a fast setting compound thinking they will save time, but this is a mistake. Mud that sets more quickly is also much more difficult to work with. On big jobs, you may not save any time at all using the fast setting types and you will definitely have more difficulty doing the plastering.

Always mix a little more compound than you will actually need for the plastering job. Every time you run out, you will need to wash everything and start all over again, so always start with more than you will need for the plastering.
To mix compound, start with the water in the bucket and then slowly add the compound powder. This will ensure you are going to have a smooth mixture to work with because adding water to the powder can easily become a lumpy mess.