Chapter - 5

Chapter - 5

Plastering

Plastering and Pointing

 Presentation Outline

5.1. Plastering

5.2. Pointing
 5.1. Plastering
• Plastering is the process of covering rough surfaces of walls,
columns, ceilings and other building components with thin coat of
plastic mortars to form a smooth durable surface.
• The coating of plastic material is termed as plaster.
• Plastering on external exposed surfaces is known as rendering.
 5.1. Plastering
Objectives of plastering:
• Plastering is done to achieve the following objectives
1. To protect the external surfaces against penetration of rain
water and other atmospheric agencies.
2. To give smooth surface in which dust and dirt cannot lodge
3. To give decorative effect
4. To protect surfaces against insects.
5. To hide inferior materials or defective workmanship
Requirements of good plaster:
• It should adhere to the background and should remain adhered
during all variations of the climatic changes
• It should be cheap and economical
• It should be hard and durable.
• It should be possible to apply it during all weather conditions
• It should be effectively check the entry or penetration of moisture
from the surface
• It should possesses good workability
 5.1. Plastering
Types of Mortars for plastering:
• The selection of type of plaster depends up on the following factors.
– Availability of binding materials,
– durability,
– finishing requirements and
– weather conditions.
1. Lime mortar:
• The lime used for plastering may be either fat lime or hydraulic lime.
• However, fat lime is preferred since it yields good putty after slaking.
• Hydraulic lime contains particles which slake very slowly as it comes in contact
with atmospheric moisture; such slaking may even continue for 6 to 8 months.
• If un slaked particles remain in such a plaster, blisters are formed during the
process of slow slaking. Thus, the plastered surface gets damaged.
• Hydraulic lime yields harder and stronger surface
• The mix proportion (i.e. lime: sand) varies from 1:3 to 1:4 for fat line and 1:2
for hydraulic line.
 5.1. Plastering
2. Cement mortar
• It is the best mortar for external plastering work an as it is
practical non absorbent.
• Much stronger than lime mortar
• The mix proportion (cement: sand) may vary from 1:4 to 1:6
• The sand used for plastering should be clean, coarse and angular.
• Before mixing water, dry mixing is thoroughly done.
• When water is mixed, the mortar should be used with 30 minutes
of mixing, well before initial setting takes place.
3. Lime - cement mortar:
• Have both the properties of lime mortar as well as cement mortar.
• Addition of lime to cement imparts adequate plasticity resulting
in smooth plastered surface.
• Mix proportions (cement: lime: sand) generally used are: 1:1:6,
1:1:8 or 1:2:8
 5.1. Plastering
Number of coats of plaster.
• The background over which plastering is to be done depend up on
the type of wall construction, such as random rubble (R.R)
masonry, brick masonry, and cement block work etc.
• Different thickness of plaster is required for different types of
backgrounds.
• Plastering is, therefore, can be applied in one, two, or three coats.

1) Single coat plaster

• This is used only in inferior quality work.
• It is applied similarly as two-coat plaster except that the
rendering coat, as applied for two-coat plaster, is finished off
immediately after it has sufficiently hardened.
 5.1. Plastering
2) Two coat plaster
The following procedure is adopted for two coat plastering:
1. The background is prepared by raking the joint to a depth of 20 mm,
cleaning the surface and well-watering it.
2. If the surface to be plastered is very uneven, a preliminary coat is
applied to fill up the hollows, before the first coat.
3. The first coat or rendering coat of plaster is applied, the thickness
being equal to the specified thickness of plaster less 2 to 3 mm.
4. Before rendering hardens, it is suitably worked to provide mechanical
key for the final or finishing coat. The rendering coat is trowelled
hard forcing mortar into joints and over the surface. The rendering
coat is kept wet for at least 2 days, and then allowed to dry completely.
5. The thickness of final or finishing coat may vary between 2 and 3 mm.
Before applying the final coat, the rendering coat is damped evenly.
6. As far as possible, the finishing coat should be applied starting from
top towards bottom and completed in one operation to eliminate
joining marks.
 5.1. Plastering
3) Three coat plaster
• The procedure for applying three-coat plaster is similar to
the two-coat plaster except that an intermediate coat,
known as floating coat is applied.
• The purpose of this coat of plaster is to bring the plaster to
an even surface.
• The thickness of rendering coat, floating coat and finishing
are kept 9 to 10 mm, 6 to 9mm and 2 to 3 mm respectively.
• The rendering coat is made rough.
• The floating coat is applied about 4 to 7 days after applying
the first coat.
• The finishing coat may be applied about 6 hours after the
application of floating coat.
 5.1. Plastering
Defects in Plastering
• The following defects may arise in plaster work.
1. Blistering of plastered surface:
• This is the formation of small patches of plaster swelling out
beyond the plastered surface, arising out of late slaking of lime
particles in the plaster.
2. Cracking:
• Cracking consists of formation of cracks or fissures in the plaster
work resulting from the following reasons.
– Imperfect preparation of background
– Structural defects in building
– Movements in the plaster surface itself, either due to expansion
or shrinkage.
– Excessive shrinkage due to application of thick coat
– Faulty workmanship.
 5.1. Plastering
3. Efflorescence
• It is the whitish crystalline substance which appears on the
surface due to the presence of salts in plaster making materials
as well as building materials like bricks, sand, cement etc. and
even water.
• This gives a very bad appearance.
• It affects the adhesion of paint with wall surface.
• Efflorescence can be removed to some extent by dry bushing and
washing the surface repeatedly.
 5.1. Plastering
4. Falling out of plaster
• Some portion of plastered surfaces come off (peeled) due to one
of the following reasons:
– Due to lack of adhesion with the background
– Excessive moisture to the background
– Excessive thermal changes in in the background
– Rapid drying of plaster coats
– Insufficient drying between each coat of plaster
 5.1. Plastering
5. Faulty workmanship
• Some of the effects of faulty workmanship include:
– Excessive trawling may cause the binder to come to the surface
– The interval between successive applications may be short
– The coat may be too thick
– Addition of water to hydraulic lime after initial set has taken
place may prove to be harmful.
6. Flaking
• Formation of very loose mass of plastered surface, due to poor
bond between successive coats.
7. Peeling
• Complete dislocation of some portion of plastered surface,
results in patch.
 5.2. Pointing
• Pointing is the process of removing semi-set mortar to a depth of
about 20mm and replacing it with fresh mortar.
• Pointing may contain a colouring pigment to further enhance the
masonry.
 5.2. Pointing
Pointing procedures
• Pointing is carried out as follows:
1. The mortar of the masonry joints to be covered by pointing is
raked out at least to a depth of 20mm.
2. The dust from the masonry joints is removed by the brushes
3. The surface is then washed with clean water and it is kept wet
for few hours.
4. The mortar is then carefully placed in desired shape in these
prepared joints. The mortar is placed by a small trowel and it
is slightly pressed to bring it into close contact with the old
interior mortar of the joint.
5. The finished surface is well watered for a period of at least 3
days , if lime mortar is used and 10 days, if cement mortar is
used
 5.2. Pointing
Types of Pointing
• The pointing can be carried out in a number of shapes.
• The choice of a particular type will depend on the nature of
masonry and the environmental condition.
• There are four types of pointing in brickwork
1. Flush pointing
2. Keyed or Grooved pointing
3. Recessed pointing
4. Weathered pointing
 5.2. Pointing
1. Flush pointing
• The pointing may be level as in flush pointing, which is made by
wiping over the finished pointing with the trowel or piece of
rough cloth.
• It is a suitable finish for sections of wall containing second-hand
bricks, which have lost the sharper edging required for a different
style of pointing.
 5.2. Pointing
2. Keyed or grooved pointing
• In this type mortar is first up flush with the face if wall.
• A semi-circular notch is formed by a tool know as pointer.
• This type of pointing gives as attractive appearance to the surface.
• This type is mostly used for superior type work, particularly for
vertical joints of walls.
 5.2. Pointing
3. Recessed point
• Recessed joints are not suitable for buildings in exposed
situations because they do not readily shed water.
• Only bricks with good frost resistance should be used with
recessed joints.
• A depth gauge (left) helps keep the recessed joint constant.
 5.2. Pointing
4. Weathered Point
• If weathered pointing is used, there is sloping outward from the
upper brick to the one below.
• From its name it is suitable for all walls, especially those exposed
to harsh weather conditions.
 5.2. Pointing
Types of pointing
The End!