|
Useful Home Construction Tips Building a home and doing it right is never easy. It includes many different actions that need to be taken, many different materials that need to be purchased and many different construction techniques applied. However, we believe that it is in your best interest to try doing the job right, that is not skip any of the steps or avoid using any of the material required. Let’s imagine that the building part is done and now you only have to carry on with some finishing touches. Although these may seem less money and time consuming and thus maybe less important, this is usually not the case. On the contrary, adding insulation and a proper plastering finish is an inevitable part of any home construction job done right. So, if you were ever wondering what is plastering and how to do it right, look no more since we offer some questions right here. First Stop – Insulation Once the construction part is done, unless you have opted fro some modern systems such as concrete insulation forms, your walls primarily will need some insulation added. Note that, although plastering itself can have some insulation properties, depending on the material chosen and its thickness, it can never replace proper insulation but only amend it. This is why we strongly recommend that you add insulation prior to adding some plaster finish onto your walls. This does not have to be that expensive, but can be more than useful. You can do this by adding some rock wool into the constructed timber frame or by adhering a rigid insulation board onto a dry and smooth wall surface. Both options are highly effective and very easy to install, meaning that you will not have to hire a professional but can do it yourself. The most important thing to keep in mind is that regardless of the type of the material you have opted for, it needs to be tightly fitted into that is onto the wall surface, leaving no gaps, holes or cracks. If you are adding rock wool, just use small pieces of the material leftovers and bulk it into potential gaps, using a screwdriver Rigid insulation boards will have to be adhered closely to one another, leaving only a few millimeters of the space between them. Next Stop – Plastering Once the insulation part has been done, it is time to move on to proper plastering. The first thing you will have to know is that plasters are special mixtures of water and different types of powder materials usually packed in paper or plastic bags. This means that when you purchase them, you do not get a compound that is ready to go onto your walls but needs some preparatory work. There are few basic types of plasters available with basically same purpose but different specifications. The most commonly used is gypsum plaster which is basically gypsum exposed to high temperatures which when combined with water creates a very flexible and lasting compound that is easily adhered to any flat surface. However, its biggest flaw is the fact that it does not tolerate moisture which can be a serious downside. Other option is found in cement plaster gained from a mixture of sand, water and plaster, applicable as both internal and external finish, moisture and fire resistant. Finally, you can opt for some lime plaster made from limestone (calcium carbonate) and sand, exposed to high temperatures and mixed with water prior to application. Now, the manufacturers of plasters have become aware that it can also server as a protective layer why they have decided to add some insulation elements to the mixture, such as glass or mineral wool fibers. However, we would like to underline once more that plastering should never be used as a substitution for insulation, but only as an amendment. If you have chosen your type of plaster, it is time to move on to the installation part. First of all, make sure that the wall surface is even and clean, since you do not want anything getting in the way of your plastering work. Make sure to flat out the wall and remove all dirt and debris from its surface. Then, you will need to construct and add the lath so it can present a base for the plaster. Then, move on to the mixing part. Read the manufacturer’s instructions given on the package and apply the exact amount of water to the adequate amount of plaster. Make sure to use clean water at all times. Once the compound is ready, add the first layer evenly across the wall surface. You can use the time the first layer is drying to clean the tools you have used which will be used for adding additional layers. Finally, add another layer or two, depending on the thickness you wan to achieve. If you were wondering what will you get with plastering done right, read the following few lines: - increased stability and integrity of the wall structure; - improved thermal and acoustic insulation and - some moisture and fire resistance (depending on the chosen type of plaster). Learn more at Insulation Shop, the largest online insulation supplier and source of dry lining and home insulation products in the UK.
Related Articles -
plastering,
|
