Construction Engineering

Lecturer 13
 SURFACE FINISHINGS

The art of treating the surface of building

materials with a suitable covering material to
make them weather resisting and decorative is
called surface finishing.

The covering materials used for surface finishing

are called surface finishers which are plasters,
paints, washes etc.
 PURPOSE
• To protect the surface from the effects of
weathering agencies.

• To provide a smooth surface.

• To provide pleasing appearance to the surface.

 IMPORTANT TECHNICAL TERMS
• Background :- The surface to which first coat of plastering is
applied is called background.

• Dubbing out:- The filling of hollow spaces of the back

ground before applying the plaster is called dubbing out.

• Finishing coat:- The final layer of the surface finish is called

finishing coat.

• Hacking:- The process of making the background rough to

act as key for plastering is called hacking.
 Important Technical Terms (-ctd-)
• Gauging:- The mixing of various constituents of plaster is
called gauging.

• Rendering coat:- The first coat of plastering is called

rendering coat.

• Under coat:- The layer providing base for the application of

remaining coats is called under coat.

• Floating:- The process of providing a finishing coat with a

float is called floating.
 Important Technical Terms (-ctd-)
• Peeling:- The removal of the plaster from the
background is called peeling.

• Blistering:-The local swelling of a finished plastered

or painted face is known as blistering. This is due to
lack of adhesion of the plaster or paint with the
surface.

• Cracking:-The development of angular fractures or

cracks in a plastered surface is called cracking.
 Important Technical Terms (-ctd-)
 Chalking:-The dull and powdery appearance of a painted or
plastered surface is known as chalking. It indicates
insufficient or inferior binding material used in the paint or
plaster.

 Crazing:-The irregular development of hair like cracks on a

plastered surface is termed as crazing.

 Dado:-The special treatment provided to plastered walls at

their lower level usually in bathrooms is called dado. It is
provided up to one meter height from the floor level. It
may be consisting of rich cement mortar, glazed tiles etc.
Important Technical Terms (-ctd-)

 Skirting:- The special treatment provided to plastered

walls at their lower level usually in drawing and living
rooms of a building is called skirting.

It is provided up to 15cm height from the floor level.

It is usually consisting of the material which is used for

providing margin or boarder of flooring.

It is provided to protect the walls from water in case of

washing of floors
 PLASTERING

The art of covering the surface of

masonry work with a suitable material is
called plastering.
 PLASTERING
• A fine paste of mortar made by mixing cement with
sand or fat lime with sand or surkhi in addition to
sufficient quantity of water is called plaster.

• When cement is used as a binding material, the plaster

is called cement plaster and if lime is used as the
binding material, it is called lime plaster.

• An ideal plaster should be smooth, non absorbent and

washable. It should not be affected by weathering
agencies.
 PLASTERING
• The finished surface of walls constructed in bricks or
stones are generally so coarse textured that they
provide unsuitable finish for the internal walls of
most of the buildings.

• These surfaces are rendered smooth by the

application of one or two coats of plaster. The
ceilings are also rendered smooth with plaster.
 PLASTERING
• The object of external plastering is to cover the
surface to enable it to resist the effect of weathering
agencies. However, a good brick work made of
sound, well burnt bricks or neat stone masonry
constructed of durable stones does not require
external plastering.

• The object of internal plastering is to provide a

smooth surface in which dust and dirt cannot lodge
and to form a smooth surface for applying white or
color wash, distemper or paint.
 TYPES OF PLASTERING

1. CEMENT PLASTERING

• The mix ratio of mortar in case of cement

plastering depends upon the nature of the work
to be plastered.

• For rich plastering work at sensitive places (e.g.

in side bathrooms etc.), 1:3 cement plaster mix
is used. For general plastering of walls 1:5 to 1:8
cement plaster mixes are used.
 CEMENT PLASTERING (-ctd-)

• Preparing the surface

Before applying the plaster, the surface
should be prepared properly.

• The joint of masonry are properly raked to a depth

of 10 to 15 mm to provide key to plaster.

• The surface is then thoroughly wetted with water,

washed well and kept wet for six hours.

• When the surface is ready, plaster is applied.

 CEMENT PLASTERING (-ctd-)
• Applying the plaster
• Cement plastering may be applied in one or
two coats.

• In case of plastering of single coat, the mortar is dashed against

the prepared surface into a uniform thickness with the help of
trowel.

• Wooden screeds 7.5 cm wide and of required thickness of the

plasters are generally fixed vertically 2.4 to 3 m apart to act as
gauges guides in order to keep the plaster to the required
thickness. Careful plumbing should be done in fixing of these
screeds.
 CEMENT PLASTERING (-ctd-)
• Surplus mortar is removed with the help of mason’s
straight edge and then the mortar is pressed well
with a wooden float so that mortar may fill in the
joints of the masonry.

• The surface is then finally polished with a trowel or

iron float.

• The thickness of this coat should not be more than

16 mm.
 CEMENT PLASTERING (-ctd-)
• In case plastering is to be done in two coats the first coat is
applied as described above with the only difference that it is not
polished.

• Before applying the second coat, the first coat is allowed to set
but it would not become dry and it is also roughened with a
scratching tool to provide key to the second coat.

• The second coat is then applied in a thin layer not exceeding 3

mm in thickness within 48 hours.

• It is then well trowelled and rubbed perfectly smooth with the

help of a steel float. It is then allowed to set for 2 days and cured
for more than 7 days.
 CEMENT PLASTERING (-ctd-)
• Suitability

• This type of plastering forms an ideal coating for

external finishings.

• It is also used for internal renderings of common as well

as important buildings.

• It is specially suited for damp conditions i.e. bathrooms,

etc.
 2. LIME PLASTERING
• The proportioning of the ingredients of a lime
plaster is adopted according to the number of
coats to be applied.

• If the plaster is to be applied in one coat, 1 part

of lime to 1.5 parts of sand is used.

• If two coats are to be applied, the proportion

for the first coat is same as above while the
second coat consists of two parts of lime and
one part of sand.
 LIME PLASTERING (-ctd-)

• If three coats are to be applied, the proportion

of the third coat consists of 4 parts of lime to
one part of sand.
• Thickness of the lime plaster varies from
15mm to 20mm.
• Preparing the surface
The method of preparing the surface is same
as described in case of cement plastering.
 LIME PLASTERING (-ctd-)

• Suitability

This type of plastering is suitable for internal

renderings of buildings. But it is not commonly
adopted these days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=AOxPsK6MZzA
 3. MUD PLASTERING
• The wall surface is first prepared as described in case
of cement plastering.

• The mud plaster is then evenly dashed against the

wall surface with a wooden float.

• After 24 hours, the surface is tamped. The function of

tamping is to compact the layer and to drive it deep
into the joints. It also helps to avoid developments of
cracks due to hollows.
 MUD PLASTERING (-ctd-)
• After tamping, water is sprinkled slightly and the
surface is polished with a steel trowel.
• Suitability

This type of plastering is done on walls of

temporary sheds and country side buildings.
 4. STUCCO PLASTERING
• This is special type of plaster.
• Stucco is the name given to a decorative type of plaster
which provides an excellent finish like that with marble
lining.
• After preparing the surface, stucco plastering is applied
in three coats.
• Each coat should be permitted to dry thoroughly before
applying the next coat.
 STUCCO PLASTERING (-ctd-)
• For internal surface, the first coat also known as scratch coat
consists of lime plaster 12 mm in thickness.

• The second coat or brown coat consists of rich lime plastering in

10 mm thickness.

• The final coat or finishing coat consists of a mixture of very fine

lime and white ground stone ( marble or quartz), 3 mm in
thickness.

• It is carefully polished with a bag containing moist chalk in the

first instance and then chalk and oil.

• The surface is then finally finished by rubbing it with only oil as

to make it smooth and bright.
 STUCCO PLASTERING (-ctd-)
• For external surfaces, the first and second coats are
10 to 12 mm thick and the finishing coat is 3 to 6 mm
thick.

• The proportion of ingredients for the first two coats

is 1 part of cement to 3 parts of sand with 10% by
weight of hydrated lime.

• The finishing coat consists of 1 part of cement and 2

pars of sand in which some coloring pigment is
added or colored cement is used.
 STUCCO PLASTERING (-ctd-)

• Method of applying this plaster is same as

described in case of cement or lime plastering.

Suitability

This type of plastering is suitable for external

as well as internal surfaces of buildings to
provide an excellent finish.