How to calculate the plaster consumption per 1 m2 of the wall?

The quality of wall surfaces is one of the most important factors affecting their decorative properties. Therefore, plastering is carried out almost always before all finishing work. Today the building materials market is saturated with many mixtures. Some of them are used for leveling, while others are used to create decorative bases.

Plaster is a special compound that, after hardening, form a durable layer. A feature of the materials is the ability to evenly distribute it over the surface to create a flat plane. One of the criteria that people pay attention to when choosing plasters for walls is their consumption.

The volume of production per 1 m2 depends on several factors:

• The type of plaster. Today, cement, gypsum or special polymers are used for the production of such compounds. All of these products differ in density and coverage. Therefore, the consumption of room plaster can vary over a wide range.

• Surface structure. The walls of any apartment are initially not perfectly flat. The base can have many curvatures, which do not allow evenly calculating the consumption of material for its coverage.

Many plasters are applied if the curvature of the walls does not exceed 2.5 cm. When this figure is much higher, specialists carry out plastering in several layers using special leveling beacons. But it should be understood that the thicker the plaster, the higher the risk of cracking and falling off over time. To eliminate such consequences, various reinforcing meshes are used to strengthen the frames.

Calculation of the plaster mix is ​​an important step that it is advisable to carry out before starting all work. This will allow you to know how many bags will need to be purchased to cover one square meter of the wall.

Before proceeding with the calculations, you should carefully prepare the base. The old coating is removed from the walls, which is not firmly adhered to them. It is also important to align any large protrusions, as these will affect the amount of plastering solution.

The calculation technology involves several sequential actions:

• The first step is to determine the degree of curvature. This indicator indicates how much some areas have surface differences. To do this, beacons are placed on the walls, which are leveled using a laser level. They should be fixed on the same mortar that will be used for plastering (lime, cement).

• After that, measure the thickness of the deviation between the plane, the beacon and the base itself. The number of measurements must be more than 3 pieces. The more such control points, the more accurately it will be possible to determine the desired characteristic.

• Having learned the average thickness of the future layer, you can start calculating the amount of plaster compounds. The process is relatively straightforward. Each manufacturer of plaster indicates on the packaging the optimal consumption of the mixture for 1m 2 with a layer thickness of 1 cm.Often 8.5 kg is considered the norm for the previously indicated volume.

To find out the consumption for your particular case per unit area, you just need to proportionally increase the value depending on how thick the layer is than 1 cm.For example, if you need to lay 2 cm of plaster, then at a consumption of 8.5 kg you will need 17 kg ...

This is where the calculation technology ends. All other operations are carried out proportionally, depending on the original characteristics. For example, to calculate 40 sq. m you just need to multiply the figure obtained earlier by 40. Thus, you can calculate the volume of material regardless of the number of squares of the wall.

Having learned the full amount of plaster, it is easy to calculate the number of DSP bags that are needed to cover a certain area. To do this, simply divide the entire weight of the mixture by the weight of one bag (in most cases it is 25 kg).

You will learn about important details in the process of calculating plaster by watching the following video.

It should be understood that the consumption of plaster depends primarily on its composition.

Several indicators should be highlighted for popular plasters:

• Plaster. Leaves such a mixture for plastering the smallest amount. Average consumption reaches 9 kg / m2.

• Cement. Mixtures of this kind are the most dense, as they consist of sand. The consumption of such products has already reached 17 kg. Therefore, the walls must be strong to support this additional weight.

• Textured and decorative plasters are consumed economically. Depending on the composition and purpose, they will need from 1.5 to 3 kg / m2.

The popularity of plasters has led to the emergence of various types of such products on the market. Among all this variety, such popular brands of plaster mixes can be noted:

• Knauf - products from a German manufacturer. The mixtures are of high quality and plasticity. The company produces several varieties of plastering compounds that can be used both inside and outside buildings.

• Kreisel Is another German manufacturer of plasters. The range of products is represented by both classic mixtures and compositions for automatic application. Products are made with the addition of acrylic, cement or special silicates.

• Bolars - Russian plaster, which is represented by several types of mixtures. To improve performance, the developers add special polymers. The company produces both conventional gypsum mortars and frost-resistant products for facades.

• Weber Stuk and Vetonit. Products are produced by one manufacturer. The first type of plasters is moisture resistant, since it is based on a special cement mixture. The second representative is a universal gypsum plaster that can only be used in dry rooms.

• "Prospectors". Classic gypsum plasters are produced under this brand. They are economical, highly elastic and breathable. They can only be applied in dry rooms. The material is easy to apply, which allows a fairly thin finish coat.

• Ceresit. The company specializes in various building mixtures. It produces many different plastering compounds.Cement and gypsum mixes for universal use have gained particular popularity. The products are of high quality and unique technical characteristics. Also in the assortment you can find decorative plasters such as "Bark beetle", etc.

The purpose of plastering is to obtain a flat surface that can then be easily used for decorative finishes.

When calculating the amount of such mixtures, you should consider a few simple tips:

• The minimum applied layer thickness should be several millimeters greater than the height of the highest point. Therefore, it is so important to use beacons that allow you to see this indicator visually.
• If you do not have experience in interior decoration, do not try to get a perfectly even layer in one go without the use of beacons. Many professionals need a certain amount of time and experience in working with such surfaces.

• To simplify the technology for calculating structural or repair plasters, you can use special calculators, of which there are quite a few on the Internet.
• It is advisable to expose beacons over the entire surface of one of the walls. If you start only on one of the sections, then there is no guarantee that you will be able to level the rest of the area perfectly evenly.
• Purchase the amount of plaster slightly more than you received after such operations. This is necessary, since the consumption of the mixture increases due to careless use and other factors.

The technology for calculating the plaster mixture is a fairly simple operation that requires only care and correct measurement of height differences.