best way to smooth / prepare plaster

[Engineyard]

Hi,

Just had two plaster jobs done by different people..first seemed ok at the time but now comparing it to the 2nd job it is far from great - but not bad enough to say do it again...
My question is how best to rub down newly plastered work to get a better finish...its plaster on plasterboard, it hasnt got huge ridges and dips but is far from a mirror finish....dont mind putting some effort in to improve it..

Thanks in advance...

 

[stevethespreader]

it hasnt got huge ridges and dips but is far from a mirror finish....dont mind putting some effort in to improve it..

it dosent have to be a mirror finish if it hasent got ridges or hollows whats up with it?, the second plaster may have polished his up a bit but that doesnt mean the 1st plasterer was cr@p give the walls a mist coat and see if you have any blemishes youve already said there is none so i guess it will paint fine, it may also take paint better than your polished wall as the polished wall will be more closed in

 

[Engineyard]

it hasnt got huge ridges and dips but is far from a mirror finish....dont mind putting some effort in to improve it..

it dosent have to be a mirror finish if it hasent got ridges or hollows whats up with it?, the second plaster may have polished his up a bit but that doesnt mean the 1st plasterer was cr@p give the walls a mist coat and see if you have any blemishes


ok thanks.. no wouldnt describe it as @@@p job..but certainly not as neat as 2nd one done... what do you recommend i rub it down with please?

 

[stevethespreader]

what do you recommend i rub it down with please?

you say there are no blemishes so what is there to rub down ? no ridges or no divots lets have a look show some pics

 

[Engineyard]

Hi.. not sure a photo will show it too well... its not horrendous, just that its a prominent wall so want it as good as possible, will try remedial work when we decorate.

 

[roy c]

Why dont you get the first plasterer back and let him skim over the second plasterers work?

 

[joe-90]

You mean, so it's all crap Roy?

 

[roy c]

 

[Nige F]

Steve`s right - polishing plaster is a pointless exercise - unless you want to P iss off the painters . Get a mist coat on and then finefill with a dec`s broadknife. I wouldn`t start sanding patches of bare plaster- you`ll end up with different textures

 

[Handygal64]

I have no idea how to do this but HELP! I live in a house built in 1890 with lathe and plaster walls that have been painted. I am trying to repair cracks minor and major and then want to just do a skim coat over. What is the best way to do this? Can't take it down and drywall because the woodwork is extensive and would need to be taken off which would ruin it.