Can You Plaster Straight Onto Brick?


Brick walls can look rustic and appealing to some. But to others, it can be bothersome, and they want to get rid of it or cover it up. Many people ask if they can plaster straight onto a brick wall to cover it up.

You can plaster onto brick, and it is a good way to cover up the brick for a new wall design. Plastering onto bricks is called ‘wet plastering’ and is an efficient process with the right conditions. This method is preferable because of its soundproof qualities and its effectiveness.

But what is the process of plastering over a brick wall? Keep reading for a step-by-step process and some additional tips to make the job easier.

How To Plaster Onto A Brick Wall

Clean The Wall

Brick seems to stick to everything that you don’t want it to stick to, including dirt and debris. It can become bothersome and especially be a problem when it comes to plastering over the brick. You want the surface as cleans as possible.

Consider taking a rag or wet towel to the wall and wipe away any debris. You may also want to use a pressure washer which will rapidly and quickly remove unwanted debris. But be careful with a pressure washer’s power, don’t stand too close or it may hurt the brick itself.

Dampen The Wall

Surfaces like brick will suck in moisture as it gets wet, and plaster, being mixed with water, has moisture. This means that the brick will suck that moisture out and dry out the plaster faster than it should. This will make the plaster weaker and it will not stick to the wall as well.

But if you get enough water on the surface of the bricks then it won’t suck out any of the moisture from the plaster itself. Thus the plaster will dry correctly rather than too quickly. It is recommended that you dampen it enough to see the water start to drip down the wall, but no more than this or it will be too wet.

Mix The Plaster

Mixing the plaster can seem straightforward, but it is important to do it correctly or your whole project will fall apart. Always put the water in first and then add the mix to avoid any dry powder. Make the mixture firm but not lumpy, it should be able to hold its shape, but be able to be moved with the hawk and trowel without spillage occurring.

Apply A Thin layer

Once the plaster is mixed, you can start applying it to the dampened wall. Only work in an area which would take about 30 minutes to cover, and only apply a thin layer.

This layer is just to start the base of the plaster. It doesn’t have to be perfect. This thin coat is just to get a covering over the bricks and will be sorted out later for looking good.

Check Its Level

But the base coat must be level. If you don’t have it level then it will be difficult to fix that problem later as more layers are added. By taking a long level, mark the depth at which you need to take off and then using a flat board take off the excess.

Creating a level base will keep the finished product looking like a professional did it rather than someone doing it for their first time.

Apply Another Coat

The next layer that is added to the wall will need to look cleaner. This is to get rid of any bumps, lumps, or impurities on the wall. You can start to clean up the edges as this might be the last layer you will put on, but another layer under these same parameters is never a bad idea.

Make It As Smooth As Possible

Finally, make sure to smooth out the final product as best you can. This will be the final look unless you wish to paint over it, in which case you want a clean flat surface anyway. Making the final layer smooth with a clean look is very important.

Tips And Tricks

Following the steps above are helpful and will get the job done, but additional help is always good to have, especially if this is your first time plastering. It can be daunting so here are some extra hints.

Always wear safety gear and clothes that you don’t care about getting dirty. Plaster can be messy, and keeping it off your skin and out of your eyes is important for your health.

Because of the mess, make sure to place drop cloths down where you are working, It is very difficult to get dried plaster off a floor rather than having it on a cloth that can be washed or hosed down.

It’s also important to keep the area that you are working in cool. This will stop your plaster from drying too quickly and give you more time to work with the plaster that you have. If you are new to plastering, this is even more important as you will want that additional time. Don’t make it freezing, a nice cool temperature is fine.

This has been mentioned before, but don’t make your first coat or layer perfect. Just get the plaster on the wall and level it out. If you spend time worrying about every imperfection then the plaster will dry before you level it out. This can make it difficult for later layers to be added.

Finally, one of the most important steps is to clean as you go. Don’t leave any empty bucket that has wet plaster on the sides to dry. Go and clean it out before mixing more. This will keep your materials durable in the long run and easier for you after the job is done.

For additional tips and tricks go to the website below. It gives a list of tips that are helpful if you haven’t plastered walls before.

Conclusion

Plastering can be a dirty job that can be important to learn, but it can also be an art which when done correctly will greatly enhance your home. Plastering over brick is good to know how to do, and when done properly will help brighten the walls you walk past every day.

Ricky Kesler

With all of the projects I've done over the years, you'd think that I work on my house full-time. But I actually enjoy other things like spending time outdoors and time with my family.

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