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Ask The Trades › DIY Forum › Building Questions › Plaster drying too quick

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Plaster drying too quick (Read 18880 times)

new_boy GDPR opt-out	Plaster drying too quick Feb 26^th, 2006, 10:21pm Hello there I am new to the forum, I am plhaving trouble plastering a ceiling. : When I apply the plaster it is drying out virtualy as I put it on so I`m unable to smmoth it out. Can anyone give me some advice to help
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Chaddy GDPR opt-out	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #1 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 10:37pm is the plaster in date still?? If its not it can set almost instantly
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scotspark Trade Member Offline mmmmm it's gonna cost you!! Posts: 3074 Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0 scotland Scotland Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #2 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 10:40pm add more water
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new_boy GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #3 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 10:43pm Yes its a new bag of multi finish. The cieling does seem very powdery when I am troweling the plaster on
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new_boy GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #4 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 10:45pm Scott If I add any more water I wont get it on the trowell
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Chaddy GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #5 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 10:49pm Dont want to teach you to suck eggs. Have you checked the date on the bag?? If you bought it from a diy shed it could well be out of date or it could have been stored incorrectly. Just noticed you said the ceiling was powdery....have you sealed it at all??
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new_boy GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #6 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 10:59pm I will Have to buy another bag to redo anywy so I will check the date. No I havent sealed it. looks like thats where ive gone wrong Should I use PVA to seal, should it be diluted and do I need to let it dry before skimming
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Chaddy

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Re: Plaster drying too quick
Reply #7 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 11:11pm

If you use a 5-1 water/pva mix. 'Paint' this liberally onto the ceiling. Allow to go tacky.

Apply the plaster when this is goes sticky. You should be ok. Roll Eyes

If you have got a builders merchant nearby you'd be better getting your plaster from them they have a much higher turnover of stock and so the plaster should be well within date.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

PS welcome to the forum Grin

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new_boy GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #8 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 11:16pm Thanks Chaddy Will have another go on Friday Can I scrape the crap layer of plaster off or just go over the top? ( its not very thick )
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Chaddy GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #9 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 11:20pm You'll be better to scrape it off mate. You'll probably find it hasn't 'stuck' properly anyway due to the powdery surface. On a positive note it should come off easy!!
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JerryD GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #10 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 11:35pm Make sure you use clean (drinkable) water for mixing the plaster and also make sure the room is NOT heated for at least 24 hours prior to plastering. Keep all doors into this room closed to stop heat from other parts of the house entering.
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new_boy GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #11 - Feb 26^th, 2006, 11:46pm Thank for the tips Jerry Should i clean the bucket after every mix
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Chaddy GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #12 - Feb 27^th, 2006, 8:07am yes clean the bucket thoroughly between mixes.
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woodsmith

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Re: Plaster drying too quick
Reply #13 - Feb 27^th, 2006, 8:16am

When you are mixing the plaster add the powder to the water not the other way round. For some reason I find it sets a lot quicker if you add the water to the powder. It should stay workable for 40 minutes or more.

You may find it easier to skim a thin coat, not worrying too much about the finish, then while the first coat is still wet, lay on another thin coat, which you can trowel off to a good finish.

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Robbo

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Re: Plaster drying too quick
Reply #14 - Mar 2^nd, 2006, 8:51pm

What surface exactly are you skimming onto?
If it is new plasterboard then DO NOT pva it. If it is an old painted ceiling then do indeed p.v.a. it in fact do it twice!
One trick to retard the setting time is to add a splash of pva into the mix. There are some plasterboards that if fixed ivory side up instead of ivory side down send the plaster off almost instantly....could this be the problem.
As mentioned by woodsmith put on a coat of skim (though not too thinly) this you want to flatten down as best you can after application, then you can add a thin second coat, termed laying in, this coat you will have time to perfect a finish on as it will not take up so quickly. Flatten it down as it begins to set... a splash of water and a trowell, repeat again and finally a dry trowell to polish the finish.

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new_boy GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 135 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #15 - Mar 4^th, 2006, 2:05am I am skimming onto what looks like a very old plaster surface so will make sure that PVA`d twice and ALL mixing equipment is clean Thanks for the advice. I will let you all know how I get on.
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new_boy GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 135 For This Post: 0	Re: Plaster drying too quick Reply #16 - Mar 4^th, 2006, 10:45pm Hi All I managed to replaster the ceiling and followed some of your tips. It didnt turn out perfect but its good enough to use a textured paint on Thanks again for your help
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