Modern and Traditional Methods

1. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
PowerPoint
presentationModern and traditional methods
Unit 125: Applying setting coats to wall

2. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Assessment criteria
1.4 identify equipment and tools for applying setting coats
1.5 describe the importance of correct technique and
procedure when using tools
2.4 use correct techniques when applying setting coats
2.5 apply setting coat finish

3. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Traditional method
Traditionally, for a high class of work,
feather edge rules and cross grain floats
can be used when skimming.

4. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
• A clean feather edge rule can
be used to rule in the angles
of the first coat.
• The feather part would be
used to rule out from the
angle to ensure it is straight.
Feather edge rule

5. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Cross grain float
• A cross grain float can be used on the laying
down coat.
• A thin steel trowel will bend to uneven surfaces.
• The float is not flexible so will fill in hollows better.

6. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
• Spatulas with flexible fine graded steel blades
can now be used to aid flattening and finishing
skimming coats.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oDhchHq14o
Spatula
Plastic trowel
• More common now are plastic trowels.
• Used to provide a smooth finish to skimming
plasters.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIUJ-5NWK2Q

7. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Speedskim
• Plastic, flexible
straight edge
• Used to flatten in
plasters
• Aids setting times
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-bflgM2z0k http://www.speedskim.co.uk/

8. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Spray Finish
• Machine applied,
giving a greater
amount of area
applied in one go.
• Finished using any of
the aforementioned
methods.
www.british-gypsum.com/products/Thistle-Spray-Finish

9. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Mixing
• When applied to a dry, porous surface, the water is
sucked out by capillary action into the voids of the
floating coat.
• Therefore, it is best to skim on ‘green’ floating coats.

10. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Did you know?
• Blistering occurs when pockets of moisture are entrapped
and then replaced by air, as the water is sucked away. Time is
required to allow the air to escape and tighten back to the
surface.
• When trowelling up, sometimes the surface peels away in
small flakes (shelling). This is due to the plaster drying
without setting.
• Small cracks can appear on the surface (crazing). This is
caused by too much suction in the background.
• Indentations can appear on the finished surface (gauls/cats’
faces). This is caused by insufficient material being applied
during the laying down process.

11. Level 1 Diploma in Plastering
© 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Any questions?