How to properly plaster brick walls with your own hands

Brick wall plastering may appear like a difficult undertaking, but with the appropriate method, you can confidently take on this project by yourself. Plastering correctly is an important skill, whether you want to apply a fresh coat of paint or just give your walls a smooth, new finish. Without hiring a contractor, you can accomplish professional-looking results by knowing the fundamentals and following a few simple steps.

It’s critical to gather all required tools and materials before starting. Among other things, you’ll need plaster, a mixing bucket, a trowel, a hawk, and a float. You’ll save time and aggravation when plastering if you set up your workspace and have everything easily accessible. Plaster will adhere more readily to a clean, slightly damp brick wall surface, providing a smoother finish.

There are several layers involved in applying the plaster, each with a unique application method. It’s important to proceed methodically, letting each layer fully dry before adding the next. To smooth out imperfections, apply a second coat after applying a base coat to even out the surface. The wall will have a final, polished appearance after applying a thin finishing coat. Though practice will make perfect, patience and precision are still necessary.

Brick walls look better after plastering, and it also adds a layer of defense against wear and moisture. As you begin your plastering project, keep in mind that your hard work will be rewarded with beautifully finished walls. Plastering can be a rewarding do-it-yourself project if you approach it with the right attitude and a little practice.

Step	Description
1. Surface Preparation	Clean the brick wall to remove dust and loose particles. Wet the surface lightly for better plaster adhesion.
2. Apply the First Coat	Mix plaster and apply a thin layer using a trowel. Ensure even coverage and allow it to set partially.
3. Add the Second Coat	After the first coat has set, apply a thicker second layer. Smooth it out evenly with a trowel.
4. Final Smoothing	Use a float to smooth the surface, removing any bumps or ridges. Let the plaster dry completely.
5. Finishing Touches	Once dry, sand the surface if needed to achieve a smooth finish, ready for painting or further treatment.

What plaster is best for plastering brick walls (facade and interior)

• cement-sand;
• with a lime base;
• gypsum;
• perlite.

Cement-sand mixture CPS

Brick walls are best prepared for painting and wallpapering by plastering them with a cement-sand mortar mixture. This is a general-purpose mixture of cement, water, and sand; frost-resistant additives can be added. The mixture is applied to exterior and interior wall surfaces to complete the work.

The qualities of the components that make up the plaster mixture determine its performance characteristics. Cement compositions based on grades M150–M300 are used for finishing work inside the premises, while a combination of types M400 and higher is used to treat external ones. You must use premium ingredients and closely follow the component ratio when creating plaster by hand.

• fire resistance;
• environmental friendliness;
• resistance to negative temperatures;
• long service life of up to 30 years;
• versatility of application;
• increased resistance to humid environments;
• plasticity achieved due to prolonged drying.

Because CPS is a heavy material, it cannot withstand vibration loads or building shrinkage.

• long drying time;
• use of physical effort during application;
• need to strictly adhere to work technology.

When plastering sand-lime bricks, it is not a good idea to use fine-grained sand in the mortar because it can cause cracks. Inclusions of tainted natural material do not guarantee the composition’s required strength or durability. River or washed sand from a quarry with a fraction of 0.5-2.0 mm would be the appropriate option.

These plasters are used to install reinforced concrete structures and lay walls; the coarse grain makes the plastered surface more uneven.

Limestone

Surfaces that are not exposed to the atmosphere, such as interior partitions, balconies, and loggias, are coated with mixtures based on lime. Building gypsum shortens the drying time and improves strength in the recipe. This kind of plaster is thought to be inexpensive.

• without additional components;
• with the addition of clay;
• lime-gypsum.

The mixtures take about 30 minutes to harden, and the plaster starts to set in 3 minutes. A properly diluted solution has the consistency of dough and is made up of lime and sand in a 1:3 ratio.

• fire resistance;
• vapor permeability;
• environmental friendliness;
• bactericidal;
• long service life;
• increased adhesion to various base materials;
• versatility of application, not requiring the use of equipment during application.

• poor moisture resistance;
• long-term development of design strength;
• reduced resistance to cracking due to vibrations;
• the need to use protective equipment during work.

Gypsum plaster

Surfaces within are finished using solutions based on gypsum. Because of its increased adhesion, the material is relatively easy to work with. The amount that can be mixed at once is limited by the prepared plaster’s quick setting, to which adding more water is forbidden.

• plastic;
• environmental friendliness;
• vapor permeability;
• low thermal conductivity;
• increased adhesion;
• light weight;
• fire resistance;
• gaining design strength within a week;
• ease of grinding and repairability.

• reduced resistance to moisture;
• short service life;
• possibility of damage by pathogenic bacteria;
• weak resistance to sub-zero temperatures.

Perlite

Perlite is a coarse-grained sand made of obsidian that has a dirty white color similar to fine gravel. The mixture is applied to the exterior wall. It is one of the "warm" materials and has the ability to provide more insulation against heat and noise.

• wear resistance;
• light weight;
• low thermal conductivity;
• fire resistance;
• vapor permeability;
• resistance to the appearance of pathogenic microorganisms.

The perlite mixture’s drawbacks include the development of dust and challenging mixing conditions.

• perlite, used as a base;
• binding substance – cement, gypsum or lime;
• filler, which refers to spongy building materials;
• polymer additives that increase plasticity, water-repellent properties and intensity of air filling.

What type of plaster works best for interior brick walls is a decision made by each property owner. Although it is simple to produce all finishing solutions on a construction site, obtaining a high-quality plastered surface can be achieved by using a ready-made mixture from reputable manufacturers. Given the inferior strength of lime and gypsum, cement-sand mortar is advised.

Preparing a brick wall for plastering internal surfaces and plastering the facade

The proper way to plaster a brick wall will need to be decided even in the planning stages of the project. The way the surface is prepped before the mixture is applied affects how long-lasting the finish is.

• a layer of old coating;
• oil stains from paint;
• a ​​surface poorly cleaned of wallpaper residues.

You must fix the wall before applying the composition. You can determine the proper way to plaster, mark out the area that needs to be treated, and estimate the amount of materials required by evaluating the evenness and examining the object.

1. Completion of construction and installation of the wall.
2. Cleaning of old coating, wallpaper and paint.
3. Sealing cracks that serve as a source of condensation, reduce sound insulation and increase heat loss.
4. Expanding masonry joints for strong adhesion of plaster to the surface.
5. Applying notches to create adhesion.
6. Coating with penetrating primer.

New wall

Even a freshly constructed brick wall requires preparation before leveling and surface plastering. The finishing mixture’s primary responsibility is to guarantee excellent adhesion and establish the necessary conditions for masonry.

• expanding masonry joints (deepening by 1 cm);
• applying scratches with a wire brush;
• treatment with bioprotection agents;
• removing residues of fat and old grease.

Old wall

Brickwork deteriorates and partially collapses with time. The old surface gets cracked and chipped, and the bricks come loose. The interior walls of the building get stained during operation, and screws and other fasteners are frequently driven into them. The old masonry must be prepared before finishing work can begin.

• the wall is cleaned of old finishing;
• weak mortar and brick chips are removed from the seams;
• large gaps are filled with cement mixture;
• loose bricks are replaced or pulled out, and after cleaning they are put back, seating them on the cement-sand mortar;
• large chips and cracks are cleaned of dust, after which they are filled with mortar using a reinforcing mesh;
• stains are washed and treated with special agents;
• remove foreign objects, and cover metal parts with oil paint.

The surface that has to be treated is dried, primed, and dust-free after the work is finished. Beacon installation, measurement, and, if required, the addition of reinforcing mesh complete the preparatory phase.

Your space can be transformed and you can save money by doing the DIY project of plastering brick walls yourself. You can accomplish a polished, seamless finish with the appropriate equipment and methods. To ensure adhesion, start by cleaning and prepping the wall before applying a base coat. Apply your plaster in thin, even layers after mixing it to the proper consistency. As you go, smooth it out and allow each layer to completely dry before applying the next. You can achieve exquisite plastered walls that improve the appearance and atmosphere of your house with perseverance and meticulous attention to detail.

Tool for working with plaster for house cladding

A skilled craftsman can finish a job with up to thirty different tools.

• trowel;
• electric drill (perforator) with mixer;
• "half grater";
• smoother and spray bottle;
• building level;
• usually a plumb line and tape measure;
• 2 different size rules with bubble level.

How to plaster a brick wall with your own hands – step-by-step instructions

Brick wall plastering is a coating that can be applied without the help of experts. After reading through some helpful tips on plastering a brick wall correctly, you should be able to complete the task with ease using just your hands.

How to prepare a solution for plaster

Plastering is thought of as a crude form of finishing, and it determines how even and smooth the wall will be.

1. Cement-sand mixture is mixed in a ratio of 1:3, adding a little water.
2. To prepare lime plaster, 1 part of slaked lime and 5 volumes of sand are poured into a bucket, to which water is added until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
3. Gypsum mortar is obtained by combining with water in a given proportion.

Primer

Because the porosity of the bricks varies, a primer that keeps moisture out of the bricks is required to keep the finishing mixture layers stuck to one another.

It is simple to determine the building material’s properties using water. If the liquid is absorbed right away, the brick’s porosity increases, so it’s preferable to purchase a mineral-based mixture and apply it in two layers. Bricks with medium porosity—which dries water in 5–20 minutes—typically use a universal primer in this situation.

If the moisture has dried out for an extended period of time, the building material has a high density, so a solution with more adhesion is more appropriate. A 0.2 mm layer of primer should be applied.

Reinforcement of the brick surface

Reinforcement, which consists of using special hooks on which a special mesh is attached, is used for finishing work on very uneven walls. Purchasing a plastic product that is resistant to corrosion is preferable. To stop rust, a unique varnish is applied to the metal mesh.

Marking and installing beacons for leveling the walls of a brick house

The length and height of beacons, which are unique metal profiles that range from 2.5 to 3 mm in length and 6 to 10 mm in thickness, are customized to fit the dimensions of the space. A fishing line is pulled in between the first two extreme ones that are installed. This is how all beacons are made, with a maximum distance of 1.5 meters between neighboring ones.

First, second and third layer

It is possible to spray using a liquid solution. Using a trowel or ladle, carefully pour the mixture onto the pre-wetted wall, making sure there are no spaces left. The base layer is composed of a thicker material and is no thicker than 1 cm. Using the rule, the mixture is smoothed after being applied to fill the area beneath the beacons. Plaster is applied to the surface multiple times to achieve greater thickness.

The third layer, which is 1.2-2 mm thick, is put on to provide a uniform surface for painting or applying wallpaper. The mixture’s density is comparable to that of spray, but fine sand—up to 1.5 mm—is added as a filler. The excess is removed and leveled after the coating is applied to soil that has not yet dried or become wet.

Final grout

When grouting freshly plastered surfaces, a trowel is used in a circular motion. At last, you can level the wall in preparation for painting and wallpapering with this step. If the surface was plastered under tiles, then this step is omitted.

Differences between plastering the walls of the house from the outside and from the inside

1. Cemented mortar is used to finish the surfaces outside the building.
2. Slopes of openings and corners of walls are covered with plastic parts before attaching beacons.
3. External walls are reinforced with reinforcing mesh in each case.
4. Plaster is primed 2 times before applying the final coating.

Other than that, brick wall plastering technology is the same.

What is the best way to plaster walls made of facing brick inside a house

Although brick is a strong building material, not every interior design or style will work well with it. You have to choose between plaster and facing brick even before construction begins. When it comes to internal walls, there is a greater selection of finishing mixtures than external ones.

• cement;
• lime;
• gypsum;
• clay and lime;
• lime and cement are suitable for processing.

Particularly designed gypsum compositions are used for damp rooms.

How can you whisper the facade of a brick house on the street

Although it is possible to use lime, cement solutions are typically used for external wall plastering. Salt-contaminated areas are cleaned using sanitized mixtures. The gypsum-based compositions don’t use. Decorative plaster is used to decorate the facades, depending on the desired effect. Cement mixtures with a composition of 1:3 or 1:4 are used to finish the basements.

Differences in brick plaster technology

1. Reinforcing the entire area of ​​finishing work.
2. Plastic parts with a net are attached to slopes and corners.
3. The thickness of one layer of the coating should not exceed 1.5 cm, and in total – 3 cm.
4. The base layer after drying is primed 2 times.
5. When finishing the basement, the coating is deepened by 5-6 cm below the ground level.
6. After grouting, the plane of the wall is smoothed with a cell.
7. A chamfer is created on the base or the husks are rounded.
8. Measures are taken to protect the surface from moisture penetration from the atmosphere or soil.

Other distinctions include the way that hardening conditions are established.

What to do if the leveling layer must be very thick

In order to achieve a very thick coating overall, multi-layer plastering with required reinforcement is used. For CPS, layers no thicker than 5 mm are applied one after the other. There’s no need to level the intermediate coating. The maximum allowed plaster layer thickness should not be more than 100 mm, but doing so raises the risk of delamination and crumbling. It is thought that coatings up to 50 mm are the best.

Nuances of plastering brick walls from the outside

A canopy protects the treated surface from sunlight and precipitation. Select a wind-free day when plastering exterior walls with cement mortar. The surface is covered with a film and, if needed, repeatedly moistened to prevent increased moisture evaporation in the heat. Plastering requires an ambient temperature of +5–+35 °C and a humidity level of ≤ 65%.

De-energize the electrical wiring and use masking tape to seal the frames and mounting socket and switch locations before plastering.

• it is recommended to include quicklime in the mixtures prepared independently;
• the addition of porous substances (pumice, sawdust) increases the thermal insulation properties of the composition;
• drying the plaster layer with a hair dryer or other methods is prohibited, because it can contribute to cracking.

Manual and mechanized plastering indoors or for outdoor work on brick – which is better

There are numerous methods you can use to plaster a brick wall by hand. Apart from applying the solution by hand, automated technology is also employed, which is best suited for handling a sizable surface.

1. The surface is prepared in the same way as the manual method.
2. A plastering machine is installed near the wall, which is connected to the water supply and electricity network.
3. A dry mix of the selected brand is loaded into the hopper.
4. The material is fed into the mixing chamber, where it is combined with water and mixed. The continuity of the process helps to obtain a mixture of uniform consistency.
5. Through a special nozzle installed on the feed hose, the wall is covered with plaster mortar at an angle of 90° .
6. After closing the beacons, the process is completed.
7. The final coating is applied manually.

Advantages of machine application

It is possible to obtain plaster with a higher air bubble content by mechanical mixing. The procedure results in nearly two times the amount of material saved because it decreases the weight of the solution while simultaneously increasing its volume.

• one-time application to a large area eliminates the "scale effect";
• reducing the time of work execution by more than 2 times and improving the quality of the wall plane;
• the possibility of simultaneous puttying and plastering of an area of ​​up to 200 sq.m per shift;
• reducing the cost of work.

Decorative plaster on a brick wall

Choose the desired effect and the combination that makes it possible to achieve it before applying the decorative composition. For instance, "pebble" compositions are inappropriate for Venetian plaster, and textured compositions are inappropriate for producing a bark beetle.

• travertine;
• bark beetle;
• lamb;
• rain;
• fur coat;
• mosaic;
• sgraffito or pebble.

Frequently used for interior design are wet silk, faux brickwork, Venetian and imitation wood, and craquelure.

Doing your own brick wall plastering can be a satisfying and economical project. Your space will look and feel better with a smooth, long-lasting finish that you can achieve with the right supplies and preparation. Recall that for the plaster to adhere properly, you must take the time to properly clean and prepare your brick surface.

As you work, keep an eye on the plaster mix’s consistency and apply it evenly. The correct tools, like a trowel and hawk, will make the work easier and help you get results that look professional. Take your time curing the plaster; a slow, even drying will guarantee a sturdy finish and keep cracks at bay.

Plastering is a skill that gets better with practice, despite the fact that it may seem intimidating at first. Initial flaws shouldn’t deter you; they are a necessary part of the learning process. You can become an expert in the method and be proud of the work you’ve done on your house if you have perseverance and patience.

Ultimately, plastering your brick walls yourself will save you money and give you the satisfaction of creating a better living area yourself. You’ll soon have exquisitely plastered walls that you can enjoy for years to come if you carefully follow the instructions and take your time.

Video on the topic

Cement sand plaster, part 2

Plastering brick walls.

What will happen if you PRIME a brick wall before C/P PLASTER?

How to plaster walls from old brick

Plastering brick walls indoors.

Hopper bucket. DIY cement plastering