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Walls
How to build a brick wall
How to hard plaster a brick wall
How to hard plaster a brick wall
Overview
With the right tools, hard plastering brick walls is a relatively simple job. We'll show you how to mix and apply the plaster, how to screed the wall and make sure the plaster is evenly applied.
Steps
Prepare the wall
Use a paint brush to remove any excess dust and dirt from the wall. Lightly brush the bricks with water, this helps the plaster to stick. Lay drop sheets in front of the wall.
Make the plaster mix
Put on your dust mask, safety glasses and protective gloves. Pour water into your mixing bucket. Add three buckets of sand, half a bucket of cement, and half a bucket of lime. Use the mixer to combine all of the ingredients.
Scoop up the plaster
Put a corner of the hawk into the plaster mix and use the trowel to push the mix onto the hawk. Rest the trowel on the hawk, tilt the hawk back and scrape the plaster onto the trowel.
Apply the plaster to the wall
When applying plaster to the wall, work from top to bottom and from right to left. Evenly spread the mortar across the wall. Use the brick lines as a guide, start at the bottom of a brick and spread the plaster upwards about two to three bricks. Continue applying the plaster until you've covered all of the wall.
Screed the wall
Once the plaster is touch dry, screed the wall. Do this by dragging the straight edge along the wall. Screeding takes any excess plaster off the wall to give it a nice flat finish. Start at one side of the wall and work your way across, keeping the straight edge level. Then work your way back across the wall.
Check the plaster is level
Hold the spirit level vertically against the wall to check that the plaster is flat and plumb. If there is too much plaster and the wall isn't flat, rub the spirit level into the plaster until it's level. Repeat this for the other side of the wall.
Screed the wall
Use the straight edge to screed the wall, back to the lines you created with the spirit level. After doing this, use the spirit level to check that it's plumb.
Patch up the wall
After the last screed, there might be areas where the plaster is uneven or patchy. Use the trowel and hawk to apply plaster where it's needed.
Screed the wall
After patching up the wall, run the straight edge across it, to make it level. This should be easier because the base layer of plaster will be drier.
Cut the corners of the wall
Run the side of the trowel along the four edges of the wall – the left and right hand sides and at the top and bottom. This is to make sure the plaster is square to the wall, ceiling and floor. Use the trowel to scrape and clean up any plaster that has fallen on the floor.
More D.I.Y. Advice
Health & Safety
Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.
Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.
Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.
Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.