How to plaster a wall for beginners

Plaster can be used to cover walls and ceilings. Applying plaster can change a wall’s appearance, making it more level, moisture-resistant and gives you the opportunity to add texture. It is important to plaster walls correctly, or they wil start to crack and sag. Plastering walls takes time and patience, but once you have learned the technique, you will find the job easy to finish to your satisfaction.

Get the plaster ready

- Use a hawk to carry the plaster.
- Scoop up the plaster and add it to the hawk. A hawk is a square board which is used to carry plaster, and will make your job much easier.
- Bring the hawk up to the wall or up the ladder if you are working high up on the wall.

Plaster the walls

- Gather your plastering materials that you will need together. You can contact your local home supply store to determine how much plaster mix you will need for the job you plan to do, and the other materials you will need to make the job easier for you.
- Place some plaster onto the center of the trowel from the hawk.
- Cover the wall with plaster by making a sweeping, fluid motion.
- Use the opposite side of the trowel and smooth the plaster over that you just applied to the wall.
- Keep going until you have covered all of the walls that you plan to plaster.
- Wait approximately 24 hours for the plaster to completely dry.
- Once it is dried, use sandpaper to remove any high points of plaster which detract from the finished look you are seeking.

Paint the walls

- Add a second coat of plaster if the walls do not have the look you are looking for.
- After the second coat is dry, sand it again if needed.
- Once you are finished plastering a wall and it is finished drying, you can paint the plaster any way you would like. If you are having problems, contact your local home supply stores for plastering courses you can take. They can also give you many plastering tips. Once you learn the technique, it is a great DIY repair project which can done in a day.