PLASTERING SERVICE IN SUDBURY SUFFOLK

Gypsum plaster is one of the most common types of plaster used in the interior of homes. It’s often used in conjunction with plasterboard, but can also be used over existing plaster. Gypsum is often the go-to plastering option when building, renovating or extending a home. And that’s because it is reasonably priced, fairly speedy to apply and leaves a smooth finish when painting new plaster.

Types of gypsum plaster include:

• Browning plaster: This is used as an undercoat, designed to be applied to the wall before a finish coat (skim coat). It is ideal for use on absorbent surfaces such as bricks. 
• Bonding plaster: This is similar to browning plaster and is used before a final coat is applied. However, it tends to be more popular as it doesn’t rely on an absorbent surface and has amazing sticking ability.
• Thistle plaster: This brand name from British Gypsum but has become shorthand for a finish coat and can be used on plasterboard, or as part of a two-coat system.
• Carlite plaster: Also used as a finishing coat and suitable for a wide range of substructures, this type of plaster takes longer to set than Thistle.
• Hardwall plaster: Another plaster used as an undercoat, it is best used for masonry backgrounds in sound condition.
• One-coat plasters: These can be used as both an undercoat and a final finish. They tend to be thicker than other types of plaster and are best used for smaller repair jobs as opposed to entire walls. (Unlike the gypsum-based one-coat plasters, there are now one or two lime-based plasters on the market designed to cut down on the longer curing times usually associated with lime. These are still breathable but have a few added ingredients such as chalk and sand.)

Cement plaster is another common type of plaster that is typically applied to bare walls. Unlike lime and gypsum plaster, cement plaster is made from sand, cement and water, usually mixed up on site. Its quick setting times and lower cost make it a popular option, but it is important to note that it is harder to achieve a smooth surface with cement plaster than with gypsum. For this reason a gypsum plaster will commonly be applied on top.

The fact that cement plaster is not as breathable or flexible as lime also makes it unsuitable for period homes. That said, the advantage of cement plaster is that it is durable, helps strengthen walls and boosts warmth and soundproofing, as well as creating a smooth surface.

Lime plaster is a traditional, durable and breathable plaster that is typically used in older homes. “Lime plaster can be essential for older buildings with materials that were designed to be able to breathe.

Lime plaster is commonly applied in three coats; the first is a scratch coat applied with a trowel. When this coat has been marked (or scratched to help adhesion), dried and brushed down, it needs to be dampened before applying the next coat. The final coat is applied with a trowel, much like adding a skim coat.

Drylining is a construction method used to create internal walls, ceilings, and partitions by fixing plasterboard to a supporting structure without using traditional wet plaster.

Unlike conventional plastering, which involves applying several coats of plaster directly to masonry, drylining uses prefabricated plasterboard panels that are fixed mechanically or bonded to walls using adhesive. The joints are then finished using either tape and jointing compounds or a skim coat of finishing plaster before decorating.

Latex self-levelling compound (often called latex screed) is a cement-based smoothing mixture that uses a liquid latex polymer additive instead of just water. It is poured over rough or uneven subfloors to create a flat, smooth foundation before installing final floor coverings like vinyl, carpet, or tiles.