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Practical procedures for pressing plaster problems!
by Roger Faris
If you own an older house, you already know how a small project can grow into a big one. Preparing a room for painting is a minor home improvement with the potential to become a major ordeal. The first sign of trouble might be a slight bulge in the surface of the wall, or small crack which reveals layers of loose wallpaper. If you start to pick at these flaws, be prepared to enter a new world of trouble. To survive the experience you may need a crash course in wallpaper removal, plaster repair, and skim coating methods.
Fortunately, a Professor of Plaster lives in our community. From time to time we call on Steve Irish, of Lux Interiors, to step up to a specially constructed demonstration wall at the Phinney Neighborhood Center. He cheerfully holds forth on plaster wall theories and principles, while displaying tools and techniques with remarkable skill.
Steve begins with a description of how plaster walls are made. The clarity of his words and disarming laughter set the audience at ease. An introduction to a written outline of the class begins: "Plaster walls are made of lath and plaster. Lath is a thin wooden strip that is nailed across the studs. The first coat of plaster (scratch coat) is applied and pushed through gaps between the lath. The plaster that pushes through the lath forms a key on the back side of the lath which holds the plaster to the lath. A second coat of plaster (brown coat) is then applied. A third coat (finish coat) is then applied and worked to a smooth polished surface. Some houses only have two coats. A sandy or grainy texture is the two coat system; a smooth surface is the three coat system..." We students see that our man has a love for his subject. We sense that he is an Artist.
The lecture continues with a listing of villainous cracks, holes, loose plaster and wallpaper problems, as class members smile or sigh with recognition. Steve explains how natural and human forces cause the deterioration. We learn about broken plaster keys and natural weak spots such as corners, studs, windows, and doors. The students silently pledge to never again hammer on walls or allow roofs and window sills to leak. We gain new respect for the destructive power of earthquakes, foundation settlement, and remodeling projects. In spite of it all, our spirits remain high. It is just ten minutes into a two-hour session. Steve has provided copies of his outline, so we know that solutions are soon to be revealed. We are in the presence of a Scholar.
A plaster repair expert must take an oath which includes the injunction: First, do no harm! Steve explains and demonstrates how wood floors, carpeting, and furnishings must be protected. He leads us through the art and science of masking. He uses two kinds of tape (blue tape for finished surfaces; yellow for unfinished surfaces and carpets) to secure plastic sheeting in place. Dropcloths are also employed to absorb the drops of water which are inevitable during wallpaper removal. To prepare for situations where loose plaster is being removed and may come crashing down, it `s essential to provide adequate padding to protect the vulnerable floors. Steve invented a suspended canvas contraption to catch material being pulled down in preparation for ceiling restoration. He takes these precautions not merely to avoid lawsuits, but because he is a Gentleman.
The next part of the class explores the tools, materials, and methods for crack and hole repair. The participants sit straight on the edge of their chairs, or even stand to watch. Good questions come up, and notes are sometimes taken as the blizzard of information pours from the podium. We begin to understand and appreciate the role of Structo-lite, agricultural gypsum, hot mud, premixed mud, metal lath, fiberglass tape, and the like. This is clearly the beginning of the nitty-gritty. Our attention is drawn to the hands which grip the tools with such unconscious ease. Excitement builds and we watch with a sense of awe as our easygoing teacher, competent almost beyond contemplation, becomes Plaster Master.
The stage is now set for skim coating. This is no time to visit the restroom. Things are happening fast. Mud is mixed to the right consistency, placed on the hawk, then applied to the wall with bold strokes of the trowel. Steve skims the material on quickly, not trying to make it pretty until it has been applied to an entire wall. He leaves a perimeter of about three inches to be filled in after the large areas have set. His trowel moves up and down with overlapping strokes. High spots and tiny ridges are scraped off after the material has partially set. Subsequent coats are thinner and made more nearly perfect. You have to see it to believe it. Wild applause follows for our Man-About-Town, Steve Irish.
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