Plastering and

Pointing
Plasterin
g
• 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
 Objects of
•plastering
To protect external surfaces against penetration of rain water
and other atmospheric agencies
• To give smooth surface in which dust and dirt cannot lodge
• To give decorative effect
• To protect surfaces against vermit
• To conceal inferior materials or defective workmanship
TYPES OF MORTAR FOR
PLASTERING
• LIME MORTAR
• may be either fat lime or hydraulic lime
• Fat lime yields good putty after slaking; preferred more
• Hydraulic lime contains particles which slake very slowly; slow slaking may
cause blisters
• Mix proportion(lime: sand)- 1:3 to 1:4 for fat lime
- 1:2 for hydraulic lime
• Addition of “gugal” can improve the binding properties of lime mortar
• Mixing of chopped hemp can improve adhesive and tensile properties of lime
mortar
• CEMENT MORTAR
• Being non-absorbant, it is best for external plastering work
• Preferred in damp rooms and damp climates
• Stronger than lime mortar
• Does not possess sufficient plasticity
• Mix proportion (cement: sand)- 1:4 to 1:6
• Mortar should be used before initial setting takes place
• Sand used should be clean, coarse and angular
• LIME-CEMENT MORTAR
• Contains properties of both lime mortar as well as cement mortar
• Addition of lime imparts plasticity resulting in smooth plastered surface
• Mix proportions (cement: lime: sand)- 1:1:6, 1:1:8 or 1:2:8
Preparation of background
• Joints should be raked to a depth of 10 mm in brick masonry and 15
mm in stone masonry for providing key to plaster
• Mortar droppings and dust should be removed with wire brush
• Unevenness is levelled before applying mortar
• Surface should be washed with clean water uniformly to produce
optimum suction; excess soaking with water may cause sliding of
mortar before it sets; less moisture may cause strong suction which
withdraws moisture from mortar and makes it weak
POINTIN
G
• Finishing of mortar joints in masonry
• Pointing consists of raking the joints to a depth of 10-20 mm
and filling it with better quality mortar in desired shape.
• What raking means?
• MORTAR: pointing is done with following mortar mixes:
 Lime-mortar- 1:2 mix (lime: sand/surkhi)
 cement mortar- 1:3 mix (cement: sand)
• PREPARARTION OF SURFACE
 New work- joints raked down to depth of 20 mm while mortar is still soft;
surface and joints cleaned and thoroughly wetted
 Old work- loose pointing and superfluous mortar on surface and joints
removed;
surface and joints cleaned and thoroughly wetted
METHOD OF
POINTING
• Surface prepared, cleaned and wetted
• With the help of small trowel, mortar placed in joints in desired shape
• Mortar pressed to bring perfect contact between old interior mortar
of joint and new mortar
• Care should be taken that mortar does not cover face edges in case of
first-class brickworks
• Surface is kept wet for atleast a week or till it sets after application