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Plastering
22 articles
Acoustic Plasterboard UK: SoundBloc Installation Guide
Gyproc SoundBloc vs standard board, Rw+Ctr ratings, Approved Document E targets (45dB), independent wall systems, resilient bars, flanking transmission, Robust Details
Bonding Coat Plaster: Mixing, Thickness & Application Guide
Thistle Bonding Coat application: 12mm max coat, mixing ratios, suction control, keying, setting time management, common faults (blowing, cracking, pulling away)
British Gypsum Thistle Plasters: Substrate Guide & Mixing
Thistle plaster products: HardWall for masonry backgrounds, Browning for absorbent substrates, MultiFinish for all backgrounds as skim, Board Finish for plasterboard, BondIt bonding agent, setting times 30–90min
Dot and Dab Plasterboard: When to Use It and Common Mistakes
Dot and dab plasterboard installation: dab spacing, perimeter bonding, services void, common mistakes and cold bridging risks
Dry Lining Methods: Timber, Metal Stud & Dot-and-Dab Guide
Dry lining: timber stud at 400/600mm centres, metal stud C-section deflection head, dot-and-dab 50mm dab minimum, PIR laminate boards for insulation, 25mm services void requirement
External Render Types UK: Sand-Cement, Lime & Monocouche
External Render Types: Sand Cement, Monocouche & Silicone
External render comparison: sand and cement, monocouche, silicone, lime render — suitability, coats, and weather resistance
External Wall Crack Repair: Lime Mortar & Structural Fix
External wall repair and render: RICS crack categories 0–5 (>5mm = engineer), NHL 2/3.5/5 for pre-1919 buildings, epoxy injection for stable structural cracks, sand/cement only for modern buildings
Floor Screeds: Mix Ratios, Curing Times and Pre-Tile Moisture Levels
Floor screeds: sand:cement 1:3 or 1:4, 65mm unbonded / 75mm over UFH; anhydrite liquid 40-50mm poured; cement 28-day cure / 1mm per day drying; anhydrite fast-set but MUST sand off laitance and use calcium-sulphate compatible adhesive; BS 8204-1, BS 8203 moisture <75%RH
How to Install Plaster Coving: Gypsum & PU Step-by-Step
Gypsum vs PU coving: adhesive types, mitre cutting techniques, corner treatment, sizes (100–150mm), fixing to artex, common sizes and profiles
How to Skim Coat a Wall: Two-Coat Plastering Method
Two-coat skim plastering method: browning coat, finishing coat, mixing ratios, timing, and common failure causes
Parge Coat: Building Regs Requirements & Application UK
Parge coat for Approved Document F airtightness and Part E acoustic sealing: 10mm neat sand/cement over blockwork in party walls, cavity sealing at eaves
Plaster Patch Repairs: How to Match Existing Surfaces
Blown plaster identification, bonding coat on masonry vs PVA on existing plaster, multi-coat repairs, feathering, scrim over cracks, painting over new plaster (mist coat)
Plasterboard Fixing: Dot-and-Dab vs Mechanical Fixing
Plasterboard fixing: dot-and-dab adhesive dabs vs mechanical screw-fixing to stud/batten; daub coverage, fixing centres, fire/acoustic/perimeter sealing, services; British Gypsum guidance, BS 8212, BS 8000-8
Plastering Beads UK: Types, Sizing & Fixing Guide
Plastering beads: galvanised stop bead at floor/ceiling junctions, angle bead on external corners (SS in wet areas), arch bead for curved reveals, fixing with dabs and continuous mist coat, PVC-u in swimming pools only
Sand & Cement Render Mix Ratios: UK Application Guide
Sand and cement render: mix ratios by substrate (1:3 masonry to 1:6 background), scratch coat technique, drying time 7–10 days before top coat, movement joints at 3m internal and 6m external, NHL lime alternatives
Scrim Tape and Jointing Plasterboard Edges
Plasterboard scrim: 48mm self-adhesive fibreglass for skim system, 50mm paper for T&J, mesh/folded for corners, metal bead for external corners; BS 8212:1995, BS EN 13963:2014
Scrim Tape and Plasterboard Joints: Why and How
Scrim tape at plasterboard joints: 50mm fibreglass mesh embedded in first coat jointing compound over recessed tapered-edge joints; feather to 250mm; 3-coat system for painted finish, 2-coat for skim overlaid; corner-bead metal or paper-faced; prevents cracking at all joints
Skimming Over Artex and Painted Walls: Prep and Bonding
Skimming over Artex/painted walls — pre-2000 Artex may contain chrysotile asbestos: never dry-sand, sample via UKAS lab, overskim as encapsulation; PVA/bonding-agent prep, suction control; CAR 2012, HSE L143
Wet Plaster vs Dry Lining: When to Use Each
Wet plaster vs dry lining UK: wet 2-coat skim £18-£28/m2 vs dot-and-dab £18-£32/m2 / T&J £15-£25/m2; wet better acoustic mass and airtightness, dry faster on new build / refurb; BS 8481, BS 8212, BS EN 13914
When Should Lime Plaster Be Used and How Is It Applied?
NHL 2/3.5/5 vs non-hydraulic lime, three-coat work for pre-1919 buildings, hair reinforcement, carbonation curing, incompatibility with gypsum, BS EN 459
Which Plasterboard Do I Need? Standard, Moisture & Fire Guide
Plasterboard selection guide: standard, moisture-resistant, fire-resistant (Type F), acoustic, and thermal boards with applications