Types of plaster and plastering techniques you need to know when finishing off your home renovation

If you are in the final stages of a self build or renovation project then it is highly likely that you will be thinking about the different types of plaster and plastering techniques on offer.

Plastering walls is a job that is usually best left to the professionals, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do your research when it comes to which type of plaster and plastering style will be best for your home. Some will be more suited to certain types of property than others, and it really does pay to get it right.

As well as checking that the type of plaster and plastering technique you are using is suitable for the type of house you have, it is also interesting to note that some plaster types are better than others for particular wall structures and applications.

Here, we take a look at the types of plaster you are most likely to come across and explain which works best where.

Types of plaster and plastering techniques

While plastering the walls of your home might seem a fairly basic task, there is actually scope to alter the look of a space by choosing different types of plaster and plastering techniques.

But it isn't just the look either. Sometimes different plasters and plastering techniques are needed for practical reasons. For instance, lime plastering might be required in older properties to ensure walls can breathe and not become damp.

Below we explain the key options available, how they are used, how they are applied and how much they cost.

1. Gypsum plaster

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 (when a professional is called in)," explains Homebuilding's website editor Amy Willis.

"I had Artex ceilings to contend with when renovating my home, and with gypsum, it was easy to simply skim over the top of it to give a smooth look."

Expect to pay between £15 and £25 per m2 for gypsum plaster, with plasterers often setting a minimum fee of between £200 and £300 a day. The bigger a room, the more plasterers you may need as each wall will need to be completed in a short time window to avoid lumps.

Plastering is a difficult job to do yourself, but if you have prior experience and want to give it a go, you'll need tools like a standard plastering trowel and hawk (like this Draper ABS Plasterers Hawk from Amazon), a speed skimming tool, which is a bit like a flexible ruler, and a sponge float like this Orange Soft Rubber 18mm Sponge Float from Amazon

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.)

Amy Willis

Amy spent over a decade in London editing and writing for The Daily Telegraph, MailOnline, and Metro.co.uk before moving to East Anglia where she began renovating a period property in rural Suffolk

Try these tools for plastering walls

2. Cement and sand plaster

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.

3. Traditional lime plaster

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," explains Amy Willis. "My home has older sections where lime plaster was far more suitable than cement alternatives."

"The old lime plaster in my home, which is typically a mix of lime, sand and water, even had bits of horsehair mixed into it to strengthen the sections between the timbers."

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.

If you need to use lime plaster, it is sensible to make sure you hire a plasterer with experience working and plastering with lime plaster. These are often specialist skills so expect to pay a premium for this.

4. Clay plaster

Thanks to a renewed interest in traditional and natural types of plaster in recent years, clay plaster is currently seen as very on trend in all kinds of property, old and new alike.

Clay plaster uses natural clay as the primary binding element before being combined with aggregates and natural fibres.

Its warm, natural tones make it a decorative plaster that is often left in its natural state for feature walls. It can also be coloured for a unique finish.

"Clay plaster is more expensive a finish than gypsum plaster as it is a specialist technique is needed when applying, but it can potentially be cost-neutral as you won't need to pay for any costly decorating in addition to plastering," adds Amy Willis.

It is typically applied with a steel trowel in a similar fashion to lime plaster, with a base cost and either one or two coats to finish. It is often finished with a Japanese finishing trowel to polish the plaster and remove trowel marks. They are commonly available in stainless steel and plastic.

Although it is a great option, clay plaster is not suitable for areas that will regularly be exposed to water such as showers or behind sinks. Expect to pay between £30 and £80 per m2.

5. Venetian Plaster

Another traditional type of plaster, like clay and lime, Venetian plaster is a hugely popular finish for internal walls right now.

It is made from fired limestone and water, with no aggregates in the mix. It is finished with a primer and a wax coat and has a beautiful, natural appearance.

On the downside, Venetian plaster isn't cheap and often needs a specialist to apply it.

6. Tadelakt Plaster

Tadelakt is a natural, lime-based plaster that comes from the Marrakech region of Morocco, and is one of the oldest plastering techniques in the world.

Its specialised application process includes ramming, polishing and treating with soap to help produce its unique natural organic appearance. An eco-friendly option, Tadelakt is well-known for its durable and water-resistant qualities, which also make it resistant to mould and mildew.

It gives a beautiful, natural, rustic finish that suits both traditional and contemporary interior schemes. It is perfect for all kinds of applications, including wet rooms and kitchens.

7. Marmorino Plaster

Another lime-based plaster, Marmorino is made from lime putty, primarily slaked lime, and ground marble.

It can be applied in a number of ways to product a variety of effects, from matt to glossy and even to look like natural stone or polished marble.

8. Stucco plastering

Also known as render in the UK, Stucco plastering is a decorative coating commonly used on walls to create a unique and attractive finish.

The big benefit of Stucco plastering is its flexibility and durability, which makes it a good choice for interior and exterior projects. More commonly used externally, it can be finished in a mixture of finishes. These range from smooth to a wide variety of textured styles. To enhance Stucco, it can be tinted with various natural colours or painted with a masonry paint (like this Sandtex Ultra Smooth masonry paint from Amazon).

FAQs

What is the difference between plastering and skimming?

Plastering is about applying plaster to a bare wall. There are commonly two or three coats applied when it comes to plastering a wall. The first coat is often referred to as a scratch coat, designed simply as a base for a second coat of plaster, with a third coat used for the finish.

Skimming refers to the application of finishing plaster. For walls that are already plastered but lack the smoothness of a freshly skimmed wall, a thin coat (typically 1-2mm) of finishing plaster is added.

"Skimming is ideal when it comes to renovating, especially if you need a solution for making a rough Artex ceiling smooth," adds Amy Willis

What is the difference between multi-finish and finishing plaster?

Multi-finish plaster offers a clue in its name. It is a more flexible version of finishing plaster and can be applied to bare bricks and blocks as well as existing plaster and plasterboard. Finishing plaster is slightly finer and is typically used as the final coat to help create a smooth finish ready for painting or wallpaper.

What is the best type of plaster for skimming?

Gypsum plaster is the most commonly used plaster for skimming. It is used on plasterboard, finishing off newly plastered walls and adding a smooth finish to smoothing to previously plastered walls.

When plastering walls, you need to choose the right type of plaster, but you also need to consider costs and finishes. Check out our articles on how much to plaster a room, painting over new plaster, and how to find a good plasterer if you're not planning to do it yourself.