Why is aftercare and time so important when it comes to plastering your home?
We know how it feels when you have finished one part of your home renovation and want to move on to the next one.
However, with some parts of the process, it is essential to take a step back and try to wait for your home to be ready for the next stage.
This is definitely true for plastering.
However, one thing you need to know when it comes to plastering is that the waiting period is crucial.
We know that it can be frustrating, but we have put together this blog post to let you know why this aftercare is important and why the waiting period for the plaster to dry is also key.
How long does plaster take to dry?
There are different approaches that you can take when it comes to plastering.
Most of the time, you will find that plaster is applied to the plasterboard. If this is true for your home, then you can expect it to take around 2-3 days for the plaster to dry and be ready for the next stage.
If you have plastered onto a more sold backing, such as bonding or cement render, this can extend the drying period of your plaster and could be as long as 5-6 days.
Of course, you need to remember that the weather outside will impact your plaster's drying time. Warmer weather will make the plaster dry quicker; however, if it is too hot, you may find that you damage the plaster, especially if you let your plaster be exposed to direct sunlight, which can lead to cracks in the plastering.
It may take longer for the plaster to dry if you do it in the winter months, but sometimes the cooler weather can help with the moisture levels and ensure that your plastering dries to the best level possible.
Don't forget to mist coat!
One important part of the aftercare process with plaster is the mist coat.
However, this is one that is often overlooked or disregarded for speed.
The reason why you should mist coat is that it helps to stop the porous nature of the new plaster. New plaster will absorb liquids by its nature, which, for the most part, means that your paint will then soak into the plaster and look strange and may even take more coats of paint.
A mist coat is designed to be applied to plaster once it is dried. It is essentially a watered-down emulsion paint that forms a base coating ready for the other paint to be applied.
Why is it important to wait?
The last thing to cover is why it is important to wait for your plaster to dry.
We wait for the plaster to dry because the surface is in the ideal condition for the paint to seal to the wall. If you don't do this, then the paint won't form a seal. Instead, it will soak into the plaster. This means that moisture and, in turn, condensation will form, and this will be found within the wall structure.
As you can see, plaster is something that just takes time, and there is a good reason for this. If you want to make sure that your walls will look their best and that your house will stay looking fantastic for many years to come.
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