Your Home Build: Plastering

Plastering the walls and ceiling of your self-build home will put the finishing touches to the home of your dreams

Electrical

Do not attempt to have the walls of your self-build home plastered until you are satisfied that all electrical cables, conduit and backing boxes to pug sockets and light switches are in place.

Professional

However tempting it is do not attempt to try to plaster the walls and ceiling yourself. Plastering is like icing a cake, every lump and bump will show and it is this that visitors will remember about your build; not the hard work you put in. A professional plasterer will complete a room in a day and transform a dull brick surface into a clean smooth canvas for decorating.

Ceilings

Working above your head is not to be recommended as it can be tiring and then mistakes can happen. Scaffolding can help but only the professional should be let loose on your ceilings.

Plasterboard

Plasterboard has to be put onto the ceiling and the joins covered with a form of masking fabric or tape before it is plastered. This is not a job that can be done single-handed. You will need at least two people with strong arms to hold up the boards while they are nailed into position.

Insulation

Before plasterboard is put on walls or ceilings ensure that insulating material if placed behind it for added warmth to the room and protection against noise.

Coving

Simple curved coving can finish off the edges of a room. If walls are to be painted a different colour to the ceiling the coving will give a clean distinct line to work to. Never be tempted to use fancy carved coving and embellishments. This should be left for stately homes. You have to remember that one day you will want to sell your home and ornate plasterwork will detract from the rest of the house.

Artex

Swirly Artex patterns on walls and ceilings is not only old fashioned it is really hard to remove and smooth out. If you think that by putting up rough Artex instead of employing a plasterer will save you money you will soon find it is a false economy.

Dado

Dado rails should be used in older, high ceiling properties. They will probably be the wrong items to put on the walls of a newly built modern home. Also, when you come to remove them you will probably have to repair the marks left on plastered walls.

Painting

It is possible to buy paint for newly plastered walls. It will go on better and give a good base for further painting at a later date. Strange as it sounds magnolia is a good colour for newly plastered walls as it is neutral while you decide on the décor and is acceptable if you decide to sell the house.

Dry Lining

Quite often new houses are dry lines. This is a form of plasterboard that is sealed before wallpaper is put on top. There are many modern styles of wallpaper on the market that will suit the house you have built. However, if you are thinking of moving in the near future consider painting the walls rather that putting up wallpaper as a neutral base is more attractive to buyers.