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Newly installed drywall panels provide a flat wall surface, which is suitable for hanging wallpaper or painting after plastering, depending on your preference. Here, we are describing plastering itself, which is an essential step. If you do not feel confident, to do this yourself, rather find a plasterer through Mr-Skill. If you go ahead though, it is essential that you apply the dry wall compound in precise steps, in order to obtain the smoothest finish.
What You’ll Need 
Drywall plaster mix
Drywall tape mesh
Drywall tape tools
Respirator (facemask)
Non-slip drop cloths
Tips and Cautions
Remember you could also get a plastering quote from one of our craftspeople on Mr-Skill.
Use non-slip cloths to cover floors before plastering, and tape up door and window frames to prevent fine dust from infiltrating the rest of your home.
Apply several thin coats of plaster mix rather than one thick layer to avoid lumping.
When sanding down after the final plaster application, be sure to wear a facemask.
STEPS
1. Cover each seam on the drywall panel with the self-adhesive mesh tape, and avoid tape overlap where the vertical and horizontal joints meet.
2. Use a trowel to pack the plaster through the mesh and into the seams. Don’t forget to cover screw holes carefully in the panels.
3. Gently scrape off excess plaster while it is still wet, using a trowel.
4. Leave the plaster coat to dry properly, and then sand off any high points with a drywall sander.
5. Apply a second coat and repeat the process per the above guidelines.
6. Sand the final plaster with fine-grit paper and wipe clean. Apply a coat of plaster primer paint. Once this is dry, you are ready to paint.
One of our London plasterers has built and plastered more walls than he cares to remember, but he can never resist the look of satisfaction on the clients face when he completes yet another successful job.
Tags: coats, drop cloths, dry, drywall, drywall tape, find a plasterer, fine sand, london plasterer, paint, plaster mix, plastering quote, sand, sander, seam'trowel, skim, smooth finish, tape mesh, wallpaper, wet
Posted in Plastering & Drywall, Project Advice | Comments Off
Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Apr 05
Plain ceilings are very boring these days. Developers Find  Plasterers to pep-up their shrinking houses with decorative cornices and roundels to conceal their small size. As a result, these have become fashionable and many people with older houses would like to follow suit. You can even apply one to an artex ceiling if you are skilful. The especially nice thing about a job like this is that modern ceiling roundels are so relatively cheap.
o The trick to attaching a ceiling rose (as roundels are sometimes called) is to affix them to a smooth surface. Hence, if you have an artex ceiling you will need to first level up with fibrous plaster where the roundel is going to go. This does not have to cover the entire area – an even 80% spread is sufficient. This job is not easy though, and you may like to Find a Plasterer on Mr-Skill to do it for you.
o Remove any existing light fitting and insulate the wires carefully. If you are in any doubt, Mr-Skill can recommend an Electrician to do this safely for you.
o  Apply a generous supply of no-more-nails or similar on the reverse of the roundel, slip it over the electric wires, and press it to the ceiling with a twisting motion. It should adhere nicely, in which case leave it alone for 24-hours. If not, hold it in place with masking tape twisted around the electric wires, and taped to the ceiling too.
o The next day seal around the roundel with a flexible white acrylic filler. If applicable, reinstall the light fitting after first turning off the mains.
I have seen the most wonderful finishing touches applied to roses by Plasterers in London. There are literally no ceilings to the possibilities, especially when matched to an appropriate light fitting. Just imagine how an neat idea like this could enhance your lifestyle, and add value to your house.
Tags: acrylic, artex, ceiling, cornice, electric fitting, fibrous plaster, fill, filler, find a plasterer, finish, glue, insulate, masking tape, plasterer london, plasterer quote, plastering job London, plastering quote, remove, rose, roundel, seal, skim, smooth, touch
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Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Nov 03
Stone cladding was popular in the 1980’s when homeowners had a yen for new houses built in the English Village mode. Thin slices of real or artificial stone were cemented to external walls, fortunately adding no structural value in the process. Hence, stone cladding can be chipped away – this will leave an ugly mess though, and you will need to find a plasterer to make good. I included this picture to remind you how the job was originally done, and that you have to take it down, piece by piece in the same way.
 You will also need the following tools to do the job:
Strong extension ladder.
Hard hat, safety goggles and builder’s gloves
Large flat screwdriver
Hammer, flat and pointed chisels, and crowbar
Large paint scraper with wooden handle and rubber mallet
o Clean your safety gear and put it on. Position the ladder so that you can reach the cladding at roof level near a convenient place to start. If you can, secure the top of the ladder to the roof beams. If the wall is double-storey height, have scaffolding installed or call for plasterer quotes on Mr-Skill.
o You may find that the cladding is secured on both sides with metal clips or finished off with wooden trim. Remove these using the screwdriver, starting at the top and working down.
o Starting on one side of the wall, bash away at each individual piece of cladding until it cracks or splinters, and then chisel it away completely.
o Use the scraper and mallet to tidy up before proceeding to tackle the adjacent piece. If you do not, then you will have to go up the ladder a second time.
o When I was having a small job like this done myself by plasterers from London, I noticed that they were stripping the wall diagonally. This way they had the choice of two sides to work from. Believe me, this trick does help a lot.
Does this sound like hard work to you? It surely does to me. Why not hire a rated tradesmen on Mr-Skill to do the work instead?
Tags: artificial stone, bash, break, builder's gloves, chisels, cladding, clips, crack, crowbar, find a plasterer, hammer, hard hat, ladder, mallett, paint scraper, plasterer quotes, plasterers London, remove, safety goggles, screwdriver, splinter, stone cladding, wooden trim
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Quite frequently, an older house may have a basement lying dormant. If the owner knows that it exists at all, then they often just fill it up with junk. Other basements are completely forgotten places, even though it would cost £100’s to build equivalent new space.
 o The single most important point is access. If you cannot get to the basement from the house itself, the chances are that you will not use it properly, and may waste your money. A spiral staircase is a popular space-saving solution. If mobility is an issue, consider a conventional staircase with wheelchair-assist, or a mini-lift.
o Damp is another very important consideration. If you are in doubt, find a tradesman at Mr-Skill and ask for their estimation.
o Get rid off all the junk, and clean the basement out completely. Then paint everything white, including the floors and ceiling. Suddenly everything looks brighter and larger too, and you can begin to plan. At this stage, I recommend you consult a designer to get ideas.
 o What shall you use the extra space for? A family room, a study or a pub? The possibilities are endless. Now draw up your plans, and have them approved by the local council before proceeding. Tradesmen in London will refuse to do a thing without this, because otherwise they know that they will be chasing moving targets. When you are ready to begin, do not take chances. Find a tradesman recommended by Mr Skill.
Remember to advise your insurer of the change and have your policy updated. After that, you can move your furniture in, and enjoy your bigger home.
Tags: access, approve, basement, clean, council, damp, design, designer, dormant, empty, family room, find a tradesman, insurer, junk, lift, paint, plans, policy, pub, spiral staircase, study, tradesman quotes, tradesmen london, wasted, wheelchair-assist
Posted in General Building, General Building, Handyman Services, Handyman Services, Inspirations, Painting & Decorating, Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
 Covings and Cornices are witnessing a renaissance in modern homes, and whereas once they were simply a practical item to disguise the joins where ceiling met wall, London builders are often receiving requests for something a little more unique. Both internally and externally, adding decorative coving to your property can improve the appeal and value of your home and maximise its “kerb appeal”.
Coving is not in itself a difficult addition to make to a room, but when you are considering integrating coving, architraves, skirting and maybe even a dado or picture rail to create an impressive effect, you may want to use the skills of a builder in London to assist you with the design and installation. Particularly with high ceilings or exterior applications, it is far safer to use the services of a London builder with a scaffold, rather than try to carry a piece of coving up a ladder!
The uses for coving may not only be limited to the horizontal and vertical joins of a room or brickwork. Ceiling coving is also becoming popular, with designs available to compliment an existing ceiling rose, create the impression of a beamed ceiling or highlight another feature of your ceiling. Indeed, wall and ceiling coving is now being introduced to incorporate concealed lighting units and add a very special touch to your home at little expense.
We have published a few ideas about what can be achieved in a room with coving and cornices. We hope that these inspire you to think of how the addition of coving could make a change to the rooms in your home – and don’t stop there! The integration of coving and cornices with architraves, skirting and picture rails can turn an ordinary room into something superb.
 Pre-packed coving and cornices come in range of materials, each providing a different influence on your room, and it is a good idea to discuss your ideas with a London builder to determine the best materials to use and that your plans are practical.
A good selection of London builders are accessible through our Tradesmen´s Directory or if you would like to use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of the page, builders in London will be able to email you with London builders quotes for helping you give your rooms the “Cor! Nice!” effect.
Tags: architrade, bathroom, bedroom, cornice, coving, dado, Decorating & Interior Design, Find a Builder in London, general building, lounge, picture rail, plastering, skirting
Posted in General Building, Painting & Decorating, Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
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