If you are thinking about a great finish, plastering should be considered. Plastering refers to a process that can turn coarse surfaces to a smooth one. It can be used for your wall or ceiling roof. The main purpose of plastering is to obtain a smooth and hard surface that could be painted. As a result, it delivers a pleasing aesthetic look.
It is crucial that you know things about plastering especially if you are thinking about the finish. This is for awareness sake. It is better to know something than blindly following the contractor. Here are the things that you need to know about plastering:
Types of plaster according to materials used
There are different types of plaster according to the materials used. The types include:
1. Lime plaster: this plaster is made of lime mixture. This is commonly used as under coat but it can also be used as a finish coat. There is a possibility that lime plaster will shrink so animal hair is used. This plaster is ideal for restoring and rehabilitation of old structures.
2. Cement plaster: this is a mixture of sand and cement. It can be used as an under coat especially for partitions, brick blocks, and other hard backgrounds.
3. Clay plaster: it is a mixture of sand, clay, and water. In fact, clay plaster is considered one of the oldest types of plasters.
4. Gypsum plaster: gypsum plaster is widely used today because it can be mined naturally. It can also be produced commercially. This plaster can be used as an under coat and finish coat. In fact, this an alternative of lime and cement plaster.
5. Heat resistant plaster: this plaster is used for chimney and coating walls. It is used to replace gypsum plaster especially if the temperature is too high. It is used by industries with temperatures exceeding 50 °C
The applications of plaster
You have to know that plastering offers more than a great finish to buildings and construction. Here are other applications of plaster:
1. Art: in Europe, you can see many mural paintings like Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel art. During that time, they call the wet plaster intonaco. Michelangelo painted the mural on a thin layer of wet plaster. In this case, the plaster is the medium holding the pigments together.
2. Medicine: in the field of medicine, plaster is used as a means of supporting broken bones. The bandage will be filled with plaster then moistened. It will be wrapped around the damaged limb afterward. This is called an orthopedic cast. Aside from that, plaster is also used in radiotherapy. Plaster bandage will create an impression of the patient’s neck and head then the impression will be filled with liquid plaster. This can help hold the patient’s head or neck steady while radiation is ongoing.
3. Fire protection: plasters are used as a fireproofing product. During the fire, the plaster will release water vapor, which can slow down the spread of fire.
Now you know more about plastering. Whether it is your wall or ceiling, plasters can add beauty to your space. The success of plastering work will depend on the contractor so it is crucial you check every now and then to achieve the right results.
