Guest Blogger: How to Apply Plaster to Your Ceiling

Guest Blogger #907, Entry #2131, March 21, 2013

As you might expect, plastering your ceiling can end up being a messy affair, but it is actually surprisingly simple to do – with a bit of training and some common sense, you’ll find it to be a pretty easy task! And on this plus side you’ll be saving yourself lots of money by doing it yourself instead of having to hire a professional plasterer.There are a number of ways in which you can apply the plaster – as you’ll surely have seen from looking at different ceilings in your time – so you have to decide which style you want to go for before starting out. With that in mind, you’re all ready to go, so let’s get it started shall we?

Image via: Neuhaus Design Architecture, P.C.

What Do You Need to Plaster your Ceiling?

First things first – the supplies. You won’t need very much, so don’t panic and take out a bank loan! Get down to your local builders’ merchants (or simply your garden variety B&Q, whichever is closer) and pick up some tape, of both the drywall and masking varieties, as well as a couple of putty knives, one large and one small. If you want specifics, we’d recommend a one-incher and a five-incher.

Next, you’ll need some plaster (obviously), and a trowel. The amount you need will depend on the size of the ceiling, so ask the staff for some advice. Get a stepladder if you don’t have one already, preferably one with a tool ledge. You could also do with a drop cloth to protect the floor from any dripping.

To fine tune your work, get some sandpaper, and make sure to wear some old clothes and safety goggles while you’re at it – it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Get Started Plastering!

First of all, before we get started, if you’re afraid of doing it yourself you can always hire a professional plasterer, or even go on a training course which give more confidence, but where’s the fun in that? It’s best to learn through practice!

Of course, the first thing you do is lay the drop cloth. Bin bags or tarpaulin will do the job in a fix. Use the tape to go over the edges where the walls meet the ceiling – doing so will stop you from accidentally getting plaster all over the walls. Do this with light fixtures and the like as well.

Next, inspect the ceiling with your fingers: if it’s smooth, you’re safe to get to work already. If not, this is where the sandpaper comes into play – work away at any lumps and bumps, otherwise you risk the plaster cracking and falling off.

Now you can start plastering for real! Load up your trowel and start spreading away, but take care to spread it evenly, or else your ceiling will look a mess forevermore. Pay attention to the thickness – luckily, it’s easier to apply plaster thinly instead of slapping it on and hoping for the best, but if you take things slowly you’ll make less mistakes.

Image via: Jason Arnold

When you’ve covered the whole ceiling, climb down off that ladder, pull off your goggles, step back and admire the majesty of your work. Beautiful, isn’t it? To finish off, crack out the sandpaper again and sand down any rough patches, but wait until it’s fully dry before attempting it.

Well done! That’s all there is to it. Your first few attempts might be a bit “iffy” so I’d recommend doing a “tester” area first. But you know what they say practice makes perfect to get practicing!