Dry plaster: types and applications

Previously, when preparing plaster, you had to spend time mixing lime, cement or gypsum. Now any modern consumer can purchase ready-made dry plaster for a timber-frame house, for exterior decoration of another building, for interior decoration work. Before applying to the surface, it will only need to be diluted with water.

Dry plaster can be sold as a free-flowing mixture, which requires dilution in water. Sheet materials are created on the basis of gypsum (in such plaster it is approximately 93%). Manufacturers trim the sheet with paper or cardboard on both sides: this does not allow the gypsum to collapse, crack.

If we talk about plasters that are diluted with water, it can be noted that there are several main types of such solutions. Mixtures are lime, cement or gypsum.

These materials are very popular because you can work with them very quickly. They include not only gypsum, there are also polymer fillers. Such mixtures are purchased for interior finishing work. The main plus of gypsum plasters is that there is no need for finishing, because the base is very even. The disadvantages of such materials are low strength and instability to liquid.

This is the most traditional option and has been used by consumers for years. The composition of such materials includes cement, sand, lime. This type of plaster is used for finishing the interior surfaces: it is not resistant to liquid, therefore it is not suitable for external walls.

Cement-based dry plasters are versatile: they can be used for both interior and exterior decoration. The main components are sand and cement, additional components are polymer fillers that increase adhesion and make the material more viscous.

Such coatings are not suitable for damp substrates. For this reason, it will be necessary to thoroughly dry the surface before applying the plaster. It is also necessary to use a special deep-penetrating primer. The coating dries up in three days (however, this can happen faster), completely hardens in a week.

If you cannot decide which type of plaster is better, gypsum or cement, then we suggest watching the following video.

Sheet plaster has many advantages.

The following advantages are especially attractive to consumers:

• Ease of installation. If you install sheet material, you do not have to wait a while before finishing. It is also worth noting that the installation itself is much faster and easier than applying conventional plaster.
• Soundproofing. Such material is an obstacle to sound waves.
• Fire resistance. This coating will not spread and sustain flame. Only the cardboard or paper top layer will suffer.
• Safety for human health. Sheet plasters are created without the use of harmful components. When heated, such materials do not emit harmful substances.

Dry sheet plaster has not only advantages, but also disadvantages:

• Insufficient resistance to liquids. Even if you apply a special waterproof coating to drywall, it will not be able to withstand exposure to water for a long time. If your apartment is flooded, you will need to redecorate the ceiling or walls.
• Insufficient strength. It is not recommended to hang heavy pieces of furniture or equipment on drywall walls.

Sheet materials can be installed in different ways. Two methods are commonly used.

With this installation method, drywall is fixed to the base with adhesives. You can purchase a special mixture, it is diluted in water. The manufacturers usually indicate the proportions on the packages. The result should be a homogeneous and thick enough material that can be easily applied to the substrate.

Drywall has a significant weight, so you should not carry out installation work alone. It is recommended that you have an assistant install such material.

Installation on adhesives is carried out as follows:

• First clean the base to which the plaster will be applied. You can do this with a sander or sandpaper.
• Apply a primer to the ceiling or walls. Due to this, the surface and the adhesive will adhere better to each other.
• Wait for the primer to dry and use glue, apply it in the center of the wall and around the perimeter. There should be quite a lot of adhesive on the surface. The glue can also be applied to the drywall itself.
• Lean the sheet against the surface. With the help of a building level, it will be possible to check whether it is installed correctly.

Installation on a frame is not like the previous method.You will first need to prepare the aluminum frame: then dry plaster is attached to it using self-tapping screws.

Installation work is carried out in the following order:

• Clean the surface, prepare it for the installation of the structure. It is necessary to remove potholes, get rid of irregularities. Otherwise, the frame will not hold well.
• Install a horizontal profile at the bottom of the wall. The design is based on this element. Using the building level, you will need to mark the base in advance.
• Then the upper profile is installed on the ceiling.
• Then the installation of vertical racks should be carried out. They will connect the bottom and top elements. To ensure that there are no gaps when installing drywall, observe a step of 40 cm.Using a building level, check whether the vertical elements are evenly located.
• Using a screwdriver and self-tapping screws, fix the drywall to the frame. Make sure that there are no gaps between the sheets: they should be located end to end.

If you want to achieve good work results and get a high-quality and durable coating, you need to consider certain rules.

Remember the following nuances:

• All utilities should be sorted out before using dry sheet plaster. Lay them out in advance.
• In rooms where there is a high risk of fire, use fireproof coverings.
• Do not install dry sheeting at very low temperatures, otherwise the cardboard or paper will peel off the drywall.
• Do not use conventional sheet materials in rooms with very high humidity. Stop choosing sheets that have a moisture resistant coating.