Steph’s lounge has been in need of TLC, for some time. With the flooring being setup for change, I decided to begin the task of updating the paint and adding a false wall to the chimney breast. The house’s age means that the walls are very uneven, so this was a good option and I could hide the wires for neatness.
I have plastered small dips and panels, but never a whole plasterboard section. I am more bothered at getting the mix right, so that it sticks and makes a reasonable surface for adding the TV and modern fireplace too. The job stages include:
- Clearing the wall of wires and dust.
- Add a drywall frame to fasten the board in too.
- Add the holes for a double socket, single socket, aerial line. and HDMI cable.
- Skim the wall with plaster to create a smooth surface.
- Undercoat and paint it.
- Add the TV back on.
- Fix the painted surround back on. (Blacked.)
- Add the modern fire unit.
What a list! It looks scary, like that. So, how did the plastering go? Let’s review the process after the fact:
I begin: The bucket is half filled and the gypsum poured in. Using my drill and mixing paddle, I churn the sludge into a paste, adding a little more as I go.
Then: Once I cut the socket holes out, I started add the plaster to the board. It was a little sloppy, at first, but did stiffen up, in time.
Frustrated: The trowel would stick flat to the board and mess my finish, up. This was so annoying!
Eventually: I got it covered to a ‘rustic’ state. It is far from a pro-job, but it was my first coverage!
In Summary
This was hard to do, at first, but soon became a puzzle to complete. You could easily over do the perfection, if you are so inclined. Fortunately, I’m not! I like it tidy, but serviceable, so this has done the trick. With a gentle sand down, I can rectify some of the blemishes, but ultimately, I want there to be some ‘hand-made’ elements.
This will now be left to fully dry for a week or so, before adding the paint. It would usually take, at least, four weeks, but we have a dehumidifier to help pull the moisture out of it. For now, I must continue with the rest of the work. This has been a moment of learning, and though I don’t really find it an interesting thing to do, I can see that more plastering will not bother me, too much.
