By Kai Iris
DIY projects can come in many shapes and sizes, and whatever your project is, you will need to ensure you have the correct tools for the job. If your project includes some plastering, then there are tools you will need to get if you do not already have them to do the job correctly. Below are the tools you will need for a simple plastering job that will help you finish your job quickly and to a high standard.
Various Trowels
When you look at the various high-quality plastering tools for sale, you will notice different types of trowels, and you will most likely need one of each type for your project. There are four main types of plastering trowels that you are going to require, which are:
- A Finishing Trowel – This trowel is a broad, flat-surfaced trowel that lets you get a smooth flat finish on the plaster on your walls.
- A Window Trowel – The window trowel is smaller in size than a finishing trowel and allows you to get into the tight spaces around the windows.
- A Corner Trowel – A corner trowel makes plastering inside and outside corners much more manageable. Rather than using a finishing trowel, this handy piece of kit makes doing corners a doddle.
- A Bucket Trowel – A bucket trowel you use to scoop up the plaster from your mixing bucket and place it on your hawk, ready to go on the walls. You can often get packs of trowels that will have everything you need to get the job done correctly, so you may wish to look for a set of trowels.
A Mortar Stand
You will also require a mortar stand, which is a small foldable table that you use to hold your plastering material. Although you may get the job done without having this tool, having one makes it much more straightforward, especially if you are a novice.
A Hawk
A plastering hawk is a board you use to put the plaster on before applying it to the walls. You can get plastering hawks in various sizes, so you will need to choose a hawk you can comfortably hold when you are applying plaster to your walls. You will need a decent size hawk that has a smooth and clean surface, which makes the job of plastering easier.
A Mixing Bucket
You are also going to need a mixing bucket to mix your plaster and other jobs. Ideally, you will want a bucket with a capacity of around 15 litres, and you must keep the bucket clean, removing any dirt and debris from it after using it, so it is clean for the next job.
A Plasterer’s Float
A plasterer’s float is the tool you use when the final layer of plaster has been applied, and it is this tool giving the plaster a smooth flat finish. Without this tool, your finished plaster will not look nice, so you must have one of these in your arsenal.
A Scarifier
You use this tool once you have applied a coat of plaster to your walls, and it helps prepare it to take the second coat. The scarifier is like a big metal comb that creates lines in the plaster to allow the second coat to stick to the walls. Without using one of these tools, your plaster will not stick, and it will look like a mess.
