Sponge is great for DIY. A professional plasterer doesn't usually need to sponge as we should be able to lay the plaster evenly and are quick enough to keep up with the drying and not falling behind. In my opinion, is is not worth ever sponging plasterboard walls. On really old walls or bonding it's great if the wall is going off too fast and you need to bring it back to life. There's absolutely nothing worse than falling behind on a gone off wall, and sponging is by far the best way to recover. I think a sponge should be situational, not an always use method. TIP. I find the best way to clean the sponge is to half dunk it in your water bucket and scrape out the plaster with the bucket trowel then flip it around. Tends to keep all the water spray from cleaning inside the bucket.
Hi, often come across your videos as always like see what’s new & how others plaster. Been sponging for about 10 years. My personal opinion as to why you’re looking to stop using it, is that you’re using it wrong imo. The walls way to wet no need to spray it up. Let the wall/ceiling pick up until it leaves firm’ish finger marks. Dip your sponge in a bucket & squeeze it off on the side. Same motion & then take the lines out with your steel/carbon. If you can use a speedskim it’s far to wet. Leave to pick up until it’s faint finger lines wet trowel & then a hard trowel. Smooth flat Matt plaster. If I’m in a customers house I will use a plastic over it a few times to shine it so they walk in & say wow. But we all know it paints the same regardless how shiny it is. Hope this helps 👍🏼
Jami is spot on with his method and what he says.. been plastering for 36 years and without doubt the sponge float for skimming is the best and easiest way…. Lay on, when firm sponge, take glut off with marsh stainless and Finish with flexi trowel when on the set!!! Simple as, with no flapping about.
Hi Blane I’ve learnt my sponging methods from Gaz from plastering force. His method always leaves the walls flat. Sometimes I use the traditional method but for me it never turns out as well, especially when you give it the ‘ light ‘ test. When trowelling the sponge lines out you can see exactly where the dips are so you can fill these to make the wall even flatter. Atb
He is the master of the Sponge - he's a very good spread to be fair! I have to agree that it does leave very flat walls which is a massive bonus! Thanks for watching my friend 👍
The light test has been catching me out lately mate, especially when you know you’ve done your best to keep it flat 😭 think I’ll have a go at sponge if it actually does make the finish flatter and looks good when the customer turns up with a fluorescent light and shines it down the wall 🤯🤯😂😂
u dont have any idea how much i learned from you like how to . to add first coat and the 2nd one wich should be lighter than the first one . dont stop keep it going 🌷
Totally agree the only time I use a sponge float is on old lime plaster on big sets If it starts drying at different times. Other than that there’s no need
48 birthday weeks away . Been at it since I was so young I care not to mention. 30 years and so so so many ways to achieve smooth flat or at least relatively flat . More or less my approach is reducing how many times and how early or late in the set we approach it. Timing is key as much as it all (right plaster right mix right prep etc ) is . Only trade I am aware that maybe a bricky might understand but literally the plaster is in charge. A carpenter can literally stop cutting when ever they fancy and same applies to other trades but not plaster . Learning how to react respond to plaster as it behaves on many multiple backgrounds and multiple different plasters etc. Experience and having all the trowels floats sponges blades etc give the plasterer options to play with. Way forward is to show flat smooth as a goal and then offer the multiple ways of getting that result and know however ya get there ya got there knowing the goal ... result 👍 or been at this long enough to know what it's going to look like depending on background and quality of prep . Also managing customer expectations is a big part of this game . No one can make silk purse out of a pigs ear or that holy grail unlimited budget then anything Is possible . . ... your honest approach to these vids apprieciated here 👍
this man knows what he is on about this is a trade and a hard one at the best of times even lads who have done the 4 years training still always pick up tricks along the way every job has its own problems to be sloved trust me the older lads at this game have endless amount that talent and skill if your going into it for a living dont go near the younger lads its all money with them the older lads will pass on what you need to know to call your self a plasterer if you want a top class finish on any type of wall trust me the older plasterers by far the best then the money will roll in not before have mastered the trade and it is a trade dont be fooled because it will fall back on you big time
Hi Blain, thanks for sharing all of your tips! I have been plastering on and off for 20 years and suffer with tendinitis in both arms and I have wrist issues but over the last year my arms feel as good as they have been for a very long time thanks to a few rehab gadgets that I use religiously on a daily basis, so I have got a couple of tips for you to prolong your career.... buy yourself a power ball gyro and a Armaid massager, they have literally changed my life, the range of movement you feel and the extra strength from my grip has made plastering so much more pain free and enjoyable. Check a couple of reviews out on TH-cam, I couldn’t recommend them highly enough. All the best.
Hi mate! Thank you for watching - I really appreciate it. Sorry to hear about your tendonitis but well done for finding a solution...and thanks for sharing it! I'll have a look at these now. Anything to help with the joints is good with me ha!
Like all plasterers I have tried so many different ways to plaster a wall. I’m always trying to find a way to make my life easier and get the best finish I can. I personally think you don’t need to trowel your work so much if your using a sponge float. If you get the timings correct you shouldn’t need to use any water. This works really well with roughly a 25m2 to 30m2 sets, It also allows you to keep that up all week. Cleaning the sponge is a pain in the ass 🤦♂️ Great videos for beginners 👍🏻
Love the content, great channel. Would be interested in another nightmare video like your rendering one. Be interested in your thoughts of plaster blistering/bubbling when finishing or when you get a dodgy bag, what can happen & how to deal with it, good prep etc.
Blain I’ll tell u where the sponge floating has rearly helped me in them rearly restricted areas cubby holes etc or where there’s electrical sockets everywhere ( people seem to want loads of em now and s close together) I’ve found it a great help in these situations
You’re probably good enough to get an excellent finish on any surface without a sponge, but for amateurs like myself who either can’t afford a plasterer or enjoy the challenge of “having a go” they’re the best way of getting a half-decent result. At least it was for me.
Mate I’ll be honest. I don’t plaster anymore. Absolutely hate it 😂. But I did it for over 10 years. And I still couldn’t get it nowhere as good as I could with a sponge float. It just comes back so much better. Sometimes it can depend on the surfaces
Love the Nela flexis. They have only been in Oz for the last 8-9 years but make your last trowel so much easier. Learnt early on not to ever drop them though and always store with the plastic strips on the edges.
Iv seen someone pour multi finish all across the wall straight from the bucket about 1/3rd up from the bottom. Bouncing the bucket off the wall gently perfect mix so it sticks. Naturally if falls a little but catch it with the 1.2m speed skim before it hits the floor and go straight up up across the wall. The speedskim holds loads of plaster so after you have enough left to go sideways after. Literally cover a wall in l 5 minutes per coat and it's perfect. Trowel up with a plastic flex after and done.
If you're going to sponge float. 1st coat .second coat use same gear just tidy it up .then sponge. I don't soak the wall ,just dip the float in the bucket,less mess , then use the speed skim . Then the steel trowel. Flexi near the end . Wickes .sponge float will last a long time if you clean it straight away. Wot are you doing in Hastings.🤔
I started plastering in 2004 when I was 17, I was mostly labouring back then obviously but I was taught to always sponge float or 'scrub' as we called it London way, to me there's not a great deal of difference, but it can help especially if the wall is picking up too fast, great vid👍
I definitely won't go back from sponge floating now. Have done it for a while took some getting used to but love it. I've just started using a speedskim only got the 600 but like it so far. I do first coat,speedskim, second coat, permashape then sponge, permaflex then one trowel agin with permashape after that it's ready for a hard trowel with flexi again and looks beautiful . I haven't tried speedskim on second coat yet so will have to give that a go
As a painter and decorator for over 30 years u would think most of the plasterers these days have just came off a 3 day course the standards are a joke these days nothing like it 20 years ago great video m8 keep up the good work
What you on about, there’s always been good and bad plasterers, I’ve been a spread over 30 years myself, a lot of the problem is the meterage many plasterers are expected to crank out day in day out for a respectable wage. Too much is taken from them and something has to give in a lot of cases. When I was learning my old boss used to say “ anyone can be a good plasterer, but you have to be fast and good” he was just that, but I suppose some lose the good, when they have to be fast
I only use a spongefloat on high suction backgrounds, brings the plaster back to life and allows me to get more on the walls with each set. Best method is first coat speed skim, Second coat speedskim, permashape trowel then flexi trowel till finished
Great vid same reason the mess and extra bucket of water needed for clean up but it's good if liven the plaster up if for some reason it's going off to quickly keep the vids coming best out there
I might not plaster for 6months and then I’ve got to do a house. Can’t be arsed with the all the different ways. I just use my marshaltown preworn a bucket and and some plaster, 99% it turns out nice and flat. F-off home 👍🏻
lol, Would love to see this you tube vlog. I been wanting to tackle my spare bungalow bedroom, I ended up buying a Marshaltown permashape 14, Nela black edition, speed skim and plaziflex.. my head is exhausted with all the you tube videos and different methods. All I'm worried about now it "shit trowels are not broken in"
@@snappyfish up until about 10 or 15 years ago it was just the one trowel most people had Marshall town or tyzack and no one moaned about the finish then these new plastic trowels etc can make the final stages of trowelling easier but you got to time it correctly so if unsure stick with the Marshall town
Love the videos really helpful and really well explained do you have a specific video on wet corner plastering feeling a bit more confident to move onto more than one wall at a time now after your tutorial videos keep up the good work 👍
I will tell you the #1 problem with this , speaking from experience …. If you knock down the sponges grain with a speed skim that’s all well and good but small areas such as around the pipes, in the internals, around the cables will be missed . As Blaine says he waits a phew minutes before giving this wall a trowel so by the time you have sponged then speedied then started troweling the inevitable areas the speedskim just won’t properly get in it WILL BE TO LATE! . This may work with 1 small wall but it’s super dodgy if you have 3-4 walls on the go at once . There has to be a happy medium between using a huge clunky speedskim that misses things and a flexible trowel that as he rightly says isn’t really appropriate untill the last stages of troweling up 🤷🏻 . All I know is you need to get that grain off ASAP and in 1 go without missing anything .
I tend to still use the sponge on bigger sets when I’m on my own.It does give a marginally flatter finish.The Speedskim one of the best bits of kit you can have in your bag
You mentioned the bubbles that appear sometimes when your'e plastering on bonding. I would like to learn more about why this happens and if there are ways of preventing it, and when it does happen what do you do to fix it. That would be great (maybe your have already covered it in a previous video I missed )
It's because the grain in the Bonding allows air to get trapped between coats. When you start to flatten the plaster it moves and forces the air to form bubble below the plaster. The best thing is to wait a bit longer between coats - this allows the first coat of plaster to dry a little bit. Hope this helps
started using rough carpet nailed to a piece of wood for improvers a long time ago 😀 same as a sponge float it gave the improvers a chance to get a reasonably finish with the plaster I moved to building many years ago plastering is to much hard work its a young mans game . As for sponging I do still use a sponge if I have to do a bit but mostly just a trowel. Double down your plaster once its on ( neatly ) that's the secret leave it for 15min depending on amount and suction heat sparingly flick water, trowel with a semi open trowel leaving the fat on, no plaster should come off, leave for 5 mins steel trowel with very minimal water, the trowel should be open a bit more depending on hardness of surface. Quick plastic trowel finish or if its to hard steel trowel more open. The most important stage is the first trowel keeping the trowel flatter but pressing the fat over the surface is key if you tilt the trowel to much you will get tiger stripes as the plaster is always shrinking back till black they will be hard to remove. if this happens cover with fat. It takes more skill to do but as you have found its a lot cleaner & dryer you just have to stay on top of it more. Good luck
Hi Blane. Since watching UR earlier vids have taken on the speed skim and float process! For the past 6 months this has made my job a lot easier! Thank you for this. Been plastering for 36 yrs now but this idea has served well. PS. Though all plasterers, worth noting; I am now 58 yrs and all my joints hurt, real time! This trade WILL sadly systematically take a great toll on your body in the long term. You decide?
That's great to hear, especially coming from an experienced plasterer like yourself. I appreciate you watching my friend! Sorry to hear about the wear and tear - it is a very hard trade to endure so it's probably something we all need to think about! Thanks for the comment. It's great hearing from you!
@@PlasteringForBeginners Indeed. I think a lot of new younger plasterers have been enjoying your vids over time. You are offering solutions and alternative means of application that will help many but with no gain to yourself except sharing the knowledge. We thank you for this! PS. I do believe it is the ceilings that get us in the end. It is an unnatural extension for people to repeat over their heads. It will eventually kill your lumber region. Sadly awaiting major spine fusion op as a direct result of so many years wear and tear. My advice is get into this trade while UR young; There is good money to be had. Earn it, pay off your mortgage , but get out before 50yrs!
I really appreciate that! It's very kind of you to say so thank you. Sorry to hear about your back though...that's terrible! Hope it goes well and I wish you luck my friend. Hopefully people reading will think about it a bit differently...me included!
Don’t see the point in using a speedskim on a wall with sockets and pipes?? A nice long wall or ceiling they’re sound. The sponge is ok on re-skims as it can fetch it back easier if it starts to go off. Certainly wouldn’t be going over any gauge 4&5 times especially with a different trowel every time, 3 times is enough.
Never really got on with sponge floating, I got my timings wrong with it once and it cost me, i sponged a big ceiling by the time I went to face it, it had pulled out and was a struggle, each to their own, my father taught me back in the day, he showed me a few different methods that I still use today, one method is to flatten with a 8 inch splash brush, a method I still use occasionally. All the best mate 👍🏻
After you flatten it with the speed skim you can leave it a lot longer. No need to trowel at it. Then sponge it up and flatten it in. When you time this right 1 wet rub should have the wall in pretty good shape. Another wet rub and a dry rub with a flexi and it should be perfect. Timing is key.
Yeah, the Speedskims do need breaking in. But I wouldn't swap mine now - I love it! Refina have the edge with their handles though. You can't beat the Ergo grip.
Hi ya, interesting video. Like yourself, I've used a sponge to help on patchy or very old repaired walls and found it works a treat. If you keep the water spraying to a minimum theres not much mess but cleaning the sponge can leave you with more dirty water to deal with at the end of the set/day. I was taught the traditional way and prefer it but always open to ways to make life easier :)
I worked with a guy who used to apply his two coats. Leave the second coat for ten minutes, sponge it, flatten it, water rub then a cross trowel. The guy would get it perfect everytime to be fair.
@@PlasteringForBeginners also just want to say im a big fan of your channel and i always pick up great tips from guys like yourself, plaster force and skim fast. keep up the great content 🙂
I really didn't like speedskim. It looked bang on until painted and then looking against the light I wasn't happy with it. Especially with a silk paint finish. 1st coat, flat, 2nd coat, flat, spray/sponge, superflex trowel, superflex cross trowel. The sponge allows the superflex to come in early imo and kind of brings it closer to the finish and everything dries at same speed and colour. Agree about the mess. I'm pretty clean and rarely drop actual plaster at all but my dust sheets are very much a sponge victim. It's all fatty water dropped on them rather than anything else
In my opinion. Use board finish on all surfaces instead of multi. Honestly board finish trowels up nice on all surfaces. Multi is to gritty and grainy. And multi goes off quicker than board finish I think. Board finish is more a creamier mix. That’s in my opinion anyway. But great videos. Your work look top quality 10/10
I've heard a lot of people mention Board finish - I'll be honest, I struggle to get it down my end! I'll look into it though. Thank you for the suggestion and thanks for watching...I really appreciate it!
Hi Blaine Just been watching why did I stop sponge float plastering was it worth it. Starting of your video. You mentioned you was using hardwall plaster. And by the looks of it you was using multi-finish plaster than sponging. I didn't quite understand that bit. Can you query that for me many thanks love your videos
The even matt finish doesn't really matter as long as its flat its going to get painted anyway with a roller that gives a textured finish, I've worked with painters who hate a glass finish because they have to sand it to give it key... when it's flat stop troweling !
Hi Blaine, good video. I noticed some inefficiency in your cross trowelling. You walk across with the brush, then walk back and trowel across. Try brushing under the trowel as you walk across. Save you time, but more importantly half the walking and energy used, as you start from each corner, not the same corner.
I use a super flex to trowel up now. Been in the game 30 years myself. I only use it to make life easier because Im still on pricework housebashing a lot of the time. But you’re right. All these bullshit gadgets and I know many spreads who can average 80 plus metres a day with just a 14 inch marshaltown. 2 coats and trowelled to a finish. The end. If you’re a good spread really you need nothing else
I have been plastering not often enough for 10 years and am still not very good, sometimes goes well, but frequently mess it up. When things start going tits up a sponge float is your friend.
Can't beat the old ways it's the same in any trade if it's not broken don't fix it keep it real if you're good doesn't really matter how you apply it as long as the finish is good that's the key great vids thou
I find that using the sponge kills any chance of tiger stripes. A few years ago there was never any tiger stripes using the old method but I wonder of the ingredients are slightly different or something
I’ve seen you flatten after the sponge float in another video with the metal speed skim, which one do you prefer for this? I notice you only use the plastic one for flattening at other stages. Big fan of the videos!
It was very good but I'm just cautious of using the Flexi Spat so early in the process which is why I switched to the plastic Speedskim. But I must admit that it was nicer using the steel one though!
I always sponge finish because I can throw more walls on and get a nice finish but does add about 25 minutes onto finishing time but would never use on my own house
Sponge floating only makes logical sense when one coating (experienced spreads). A quality finish is a quality finish. Can see why beginners would use it but if you’re apply two “traditional” coats of plaster a sponge isn’t beneficial.. One thick 3/4m coat. Clean edges, speed skim/flat. Spray, sponge, trowel ad normal. I sacked sponge off a long time ago but tiny flat areas one coat/sponge can make things slightly quicker
Sponge float, it's got me out of many holes, but for domestic, if the house is lived in,To Messy, + ceiling work on stilts Dangerous. Time spent cleaning, real 🏐 Ache, Keep UP the Good Work. 🖖
Never use a sponge I use the 18inch plastic ox float now Even for polishing Any nicks I just use a bit of 120 sand paper along the edge to stop scratch lines Totaly changed the way I plaster now
Quick question about PVA I never seem to have much luck with it for sealing bonding or hard wall have you ever use SBR and if so was that any good for sealing to help stop the finish drying up to quickly
It's all about suction control buddy. If the bonding/hardwall is bone dry I'd recommend rehydrating it before you pva. Otherwise it will just created a skin and not actually penetrate into the base coat
Have you not read the comnent from british gypsum about using a,sponge on plaster!!! Basically they've said don't do it and why would you. You're making more work for yourself and are having to have more tools!!!!
Steel trowel and timing gets it flat and smooth no plastic no sponge no flexi trowel change water every trowel up and always clean angels with nice one inch brush done finish done
My Background is- i am a spread here in Australia,been off tools for quite some time but looking at going back for my last 10yrs to retirement-here years ago we only set(skim) walls with Lime putty mixed with hardwall gypsum and skimmed first coat very tight then come straight over again with our 2mm of plaster mix and flattened with a long timber float in long sweeps the same as trowel action then start the trowelling process(no speedskims in the 80's and 90's)do you use the same gauge for 1st and 2nd coats on your wall?-we have only just started to get thistle multi and another brand called Proroc here in australia but we rarely do re skimming of walls like you do there in UK.
That's handy to know...I worked in Australia but I never did internal plastering so its interesting to hear your background! Is BG Multi a big thing in Oz now then?? Yeah, you can use the same mix for the 1st and 2nd coat but often mix 2 separate mixes because it gives me more time and allows me to plaster more. Just depends on the job pal. Thanks for watching 👍
@@PlasteringForBeginners -i think a big thing in Western Australia where nearly all housing is rendered and skimmed-where here most houses are Plasterboard (drywall like the U.S)
I have given the proroc a go recently. It's pretty good- getting used to it. I stopped using the lime/hardwall years ago. Much prefer the westox plastalite multifinish but the proroc is easier to get and a bit cheaper.
@@dismaldog 2 coats, same mix. I'm a builder, so I'm not doing it every day. Don't bite off too much at once. Usually only a bag at a time. With the proroc you have heaps of time from my limited experience.
Hello Blane, enjoyed your vid and comments thank you. I'm a DIY plasterer and use the Speedskim with plastic blade for finishing, but was wondering what you would use where space is tight and you can't manoeuvre your trowel in? Any mini trowels on the market you would recommend, say 75mm in width and 150mm in length? Cheers matey
I'm just a chippy but do a lot of plastering, I needed a towel such as and found a ragni one in toolstation I think it was, they been around for years and don't make bad tools... 8x3" so 200x75 if any good.. just looked it up and wickes have them on sale for about £7 hope that helps? If it's to big then grind a bit off but spray plenty of water to keep it from getting hot and pre finish the edge for a better application and finish 👍
HI mate! Thanks for watching. I have a Refina Midget trowel - it wasn't expensive but I recommend giving them a good sand down before using it. They are never pre worn and they take forever to break in so a good sand down before use is crucial.
@@PlasteringForBeginners Hello Blane, sounds like the one that Adam has recommen ded, so ( as I said to Adam a few mins ago) will def take a look on the TS website and get one. Oh well, that's Xmas sorted! Cheers matey, all the best
@@petesshed I've been plastering about 20 years although a chippy, you'll find as time goes on you'll experiment and watch others and gain more experience... I've used all sorts of things that have come to hand over time, really good tools are things like jointing knifes "6 (for taping and jointing plasterboard) filling knifes with like 4", small pointing and gauging brickies trowels and even various size flexible prep caulkers work a treat for getting in those tight spaces..
1st coat speed skim 2 coat speed skim wait for it to dry a little bit sponge 🧽 . Flatter With super flex and then last trowel it a refina plastic trowel. Paint finish! Defiantly quicker and more forgiving. I use a cheap £1 sponge works great. Main thing though like you say it’s saves you from bubbles from bonding! Sponge tears the bubbles and fills, literally a life saver
@@florincardos9918 car washing sponge, you don’t need a expensive sponge float as when plaster drys inside its fooked. I like the small whole in the sponge also ruffs the service up less.
You're compromising the strength of the plaster by sponging - once the plaster is dry run the back of your hand over the wall if a chalky residue comes off then when it's painted that will lift off and it will look like 50 000 leagues under the sea. Sponging brings up the fat which creates the illusion of a lovely light pink uniform.finish - it's exactly that an illusion. Also it breaks the bond between the 2 coats of plaster. It should only be used on plasters that are a backing coat as well as finish coat ie universal one coat as it brings up the fines from the background , also knauf mp75 - which is basically why it has become.a thing in this country because all the east europeans were using knauf mp75 in their country's with the sponge then they've tried using exactly the same methods to bg finish plasters. The products are chalk and cheese and should be treated as such.
Personal think you dont need so speedskim after the sponge, just rigid trowel. Sponge takes minutes to clean and we get 12 months out of ours... Think both ways paints well but think sponged finish dries more even...
That's fair enough mate...thanks for the suggestion. Maybe I'm buying the wrong sponge floats then because my most recent Refina one just feel apart ha!! I do have to admit though that the finish from the sponge is very consistent and the finish is always good. I can't argue with you there mate!! Great hearing from you. Hope you're well 👍
Blain been having trouble with bubbles (there driving me mad if I’m honest ) especially where u go over patched up areas du reckon sponge floating on these areas could resolve this problem if u get time ide appreciate some advice mate
I'm must admit I'm loving it. They break in a lot faster than stainless steel and I think the finish is actually better using Carbon Steel. I'll be posting a video soon about it so look out for it 👍
Blaine on site I’m now seeing everyone sponging be what shocked me more is they are just flattening with flexi so lay on wIth premashape then just flatten flatten and flatten with flexi and I will be honest mate the finish once It’s mist coated has been bloody good I was shocked to say the least
@@PlasteringForBeginners all good thanks bro I’m off the tools I’m Now quality control manager for a large construction company I couldn’t keep going in the game mate all the years of plastering and heavy weights taken its toll Keep the posts coming mate I’ve passed your vids to a few people 👍👍
When you sponge float you don't need to use a spray if you have a 30 metre gauge on wet your sponge flick a small amount of water onto the wall ( not the floor) sponge 15 m turn back and use your Mt to take the lines out sponge your next 15m and do the same. You have now got on top of your gauge and the process of finishing you're walls ,ceilings is so much less work than the traditional way . I really don't see how you can have water everywhere and as for " I don't like cleaning the sponge" is it really that awful. Using a spray is where in my opinion you're making it messy and it's something else to carry about.
Thanks for the update pal. "I don't like cleaning my sponge" is just a bit of tongue and cheek mate...I was laughing. Just trying to lighten the video up a bit. But my point was that when you rack it up there's a lot of extra steps when you compare it to traditional methods. However, it's handy to know that you don't use a sprayer - thanks for sharing and thank you for your insights. I appreciate it 👍
Hi j from Cornish plastering I’ve always gone traditional, I have tryed sponging and it’s ok but I find its not worth the extra cleaning and adding extra things in the process , i always use sponge on hardwalling and bonding
For me sponge float plastering is a lot more messy cleaning a sponge out after you have been using multi finish as a bloody nightmare cheesy to just cleaned my skimming trowel ok if you are doing a lot of patch ting
@@CompetitiveEllisy if he means Steps we don't use 'system' because we aren't a bunch of mongs trying to pretend it's something special. 5 steps Trowel Spread Spatula Water and sponge Spatula Water and trowel Simple you mong
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Sponge is great for DIY. A professional plasterer doesn't usually need to sponge as we should be able to lay the plaster evenly and are quick enough to keep up with the drying and not falling behind.
In my opinion, is is not worth ever sponging plasterboard walls. On really old walls or bonding it's great if the wall is going off too fast and you need to bring it back to life. There's absolutely nothing worse than falling behind on a gone off wall, and sponging is by far the best way to recover.
I think a sponge should be situational, not an always use method.
TIP. I find the best way to clean the sponge is to half dunk it in your water bucket and scrape out the plaster with the bucket trowel then flip it around. Tends to keep all the water spray from cleaning inside the bucket.
Hi, often come across your videos as always like see what’s new & how others plaster.
Been sponging for about 10 years.
My personal opinion as to why you’re looking to stop using it, is that you’re using it wrong imo. The walls way to wet no need to spray it up.
Let the wall/ceiling pick up until it leaves firm’ish finger marks.
Dip your sponge in a bucket & squeeze it off on the side.
Same motion & then take the lines out with your steel/carbon. If you can use a speedskim it’s far to wet.
Leave to pick up until it’s faint finger lines wet trowel & then a hard trowel.
Smooth flat Matt plaster.
If I’m in a customers house I will use a plastic over it a few times to shine it so they walk in & say wow. But we all know it paints the same regardless how shiny it is.
Hope this helps 👍🏼
Theme for the insights mate. I (and I'm sure everyone else reading) really appreciates it! Cheers pal 👍
Jami is spot on with his method and what he says.. been plastering for 36 years and without doubt the sponge float for skimming is the best and easiest way….
Lay on, when firm sponge, take glut off with marsh stainless and Finish with flexi trowel when on the set!!! Simple as, with no flapping about.
@@ianbrown7895 spot on that mate. Good to hear a plasterer say glut instead of fat haha I've always known it as glut
Hi Blane I’ve learnt my sponging methods from Gaz from plastering force. His method always leaves the walls flat. Sometimes I use the traditional method but for me it never turns out as well, especially when you give it the ‘ light ‘ test.
When trowelling the sponge lines out you can see exactly where the dips are so you can fill these to make the wall even flatter.
Atb
He is the master of the Sponge - he's a very good spread to be fair! I have to agree that it does leave very flat walls which is a massive bonus! Thanks for watching my friend 👍
The light test has been catching me out lately mate, especially when you know you’ve done your best to keep it flat 😭 think I’ll have a go at sponge if it actually does make the finish flatter and looks good when the customer turns up with a fluorescent light and shines it down the wall 🤯🤯😂😂
u dont have any idea how much i learned from you like how to .
to add first coat and the 2nd one wich should be lighter than the first one . dont stop
keep it going 🌷
Thank you so much and well done! Keep up the plastering 👍
Totally agree the only time I use a sponge float is on old lime plaster on big sets If it starts drying at different times. Other than that there’s no need
48 birthday weeks away . Been at it since I was so young I care not to mention. 30 years and so so so many ways to achieve smooth flat or at least relatively flat . More or less my approach is reducing how many times and how early or late in the set we approach it. Timing is key as much as it all (right plaster right mix right prep etc ) is . Only trade I am aware that maybe a bricky might understand but literally the plaster is in charge. A carpenter can literally stop cutting when ever they fancy and same applies to other trades but not plaster . Learning how to react respond to plaster as it behaves on many multiple backgrounds and multiple different plasters etc. Experience and having all the trowels floats sponges blades etc give the plasterer options to play with. Way forward is to show flat smooth as a goal and then offer the multiple ways of getting that result and know however ya get there ya got there knowing the goal ... result 👍 or been at this long enough to know what it's going to look like depending on background and quality of prep . Also managing customer expectations is a big part of this game . No one can make silk purse out of a pigs ear or that holy grail unlimited budget then anything Is possible . . ... your honest approach to these vids apprieciated here 👍
this man knows what he is on about this is a trade and a hard one at the best of times even lads who have done the 4 years training still always pick up tricks along the way every job has its own problems to be sloved trust me the older lads at this game have endless amount that talent and skill if your going into it for a living dont go near the younger lads its all money with them the older lads will pass on what you need to know to call your self a plasterer if you want a top class finish on any type of wall trust me the older plasterers by far the best then the money will roll in not before have mastered the trade and it is a trade dont be fooled because it will fall back on you big time
Hi Blain, thanks for sharing all of your tips! I have been plastering on and off for 20 years and suffer with tendinitis in both arms and I have wrist issues but over the last year my arms feel as good as they have been for a very long time thanks to a few rehab gadgets that I use religiously on a daily basis, so I have got a couple of tips for you to prolong your career.... buy yourself a power ball gyro and a Armaid massager, they have literally changed my life, the range of movement you feel and the extra strength from my grip has made plastering so much more pain free and enjoyable. Check a couple of reviews out on TH-cam, I couldn’t recommend them highly enough. All the best.
Hi mate! Thank you for watching - I really appreciate it. Sorry to hear about your tendonitis but well done for finding a solution...and thanks for sharing it! I'll have a look at these now. Anything to help with the joints is good with me ha!
Like all plasterers I have tried so many different ways to plaster a wall. I’m always trying to find a way to make my life easier and get the best finish I can.
I personally think you don’t need to trowel your work so much if your using a sponge float. If you get the timings correct you shouldn’t need to use any water. This works really well with roughly a 25m2 to 30m2 sets, It also allows you to keep that up all week.
Cleaning the sponge is a pain in the ass 🤦♂️
Great videos for beginners 👍🏻
Love the content, great channel. Would be interested in another nightmare video like your rendering one. Be interested in your thoughts of plaster blistering/bubbling when finishing or when you get a dodgy bag, what can happen & how to deal with it, good prep etc.
Blain I’ll tell u where the sponge floating has rearly helped me in them rearly restricted areas cubby holes etc or where there’s electrical sockets everywhere ( people seem to want loads of em now and s close together) I’ve found it a great help in these situations
Fantastic job you are my hero my friend thank you
Thanks mate. I really appreciate that 👍
massive help!
You’re probably good enough to get an excellent finish on any surface without a sponge, but for amateurs like myself who either can’t afford a plasterer or enjoy the challenge of “having a go” they’re the best way of getting a half-decent result. At least it was for me.
Mate I’ll be honest. I don’t plaster anymore. Absolutely hate it 😂. But I did it for over 10 years. And I still couldn’t get it nowhere as good as I could with a sponge float. It just comes back so much better. Sometimes it can depend on the surfaces
Love the Nela flexis.
They have only been in Oz for the last 8-9 years but make your last trowel so much easier.
Learnt early on not to ever drop them though and always store with the plastic strips on the edges.
Iv seen someone pour multi finish all across the wall straight from the bucket about 1/3rd up from the bottom. Bouncing the bucket off the wall gently perfect mix so it sticks. Naturally if falls a little but catch it with the 1.2m speed skim before it hits the floor and go straight up up across the wall. The speedskim holds loads of plaster so after you have enough left to go sideways after. Literally cover a wall in l 5 minutes per coat and it's perfect. Trowel up with a plastic flex after and done.
If you're going to sponge float. 1st coat .second coat use same gear just tidy it up .then sponge. I don't soak the wall ,just dip the float in the bucket,less mess , then use the speed skim . Then the steel trowel. Flexi near the end . Wickes .sponge float will last a long time if you clean it straight away. Wot are you doing in Hastings.🤔
I started plastering in 2004 when I was 17, I was mostly labouring back then obviously but I was taught to always sponge float or 'scrub' as we called it London way, to me there's not a great deal of difference, but it can help especially if the wall is picking up too fast, great vid👍
Exactly what I wanted to see thanks 😊
I definitely won't go back from sponge floating now. Have done it for a while took some getting used to but love it. I've just started using a speedskim only got the 600 but like it so far. I do first coat,speedskim, second coat, permashape then sponge, permaflex then one trowel agin with permashape after that it's ready for a hard trowel with flexi again and looks beautiful . I haven't tried speedskim on second coat yet so will have to give that a go
As a painter and decorator for over 30 years u would think most of the plasterers these days have just came off a 3 day course the standards are a joke these days nothing like it 20 years ago great video m8 keep up the good work
Yep I've seen these guys lol. I learned to plaster the old school way and am just adjusting to these new ways of doing it lol
What you on about, there’s always been good and bad plasterers, I’ve been a spread over 30 years myself, a lot of the problem is the meterage many plasterers are expected to crank out day in day out for a respectable wage. Too much is taken from them and something has to give in a lot of cases. When I was learning my old boss used to say “ anyone can be a good plasterer, but you have to be fast and good” he was just that, but I suppose some lose the good, when they have to be fast
But to be fair, yeah some are just shit lol
I only use a spongefloat on high suction backgrounds, brings the plaster back to life and allows me to get more on the walls with each set.
Best method is
first coat speed skim,
Second coat speedskim, permashape trowel then flexi trowel till finished
Great vid same reason the mess and extra bucket of water needed for clean up but it's good if liven the plaster up if for some reason it's going off to quickly keep the vids coming best out there
Very true my friend!! Thanks for watching and thank you for the support. I really appreciate it 👍
I might not plaster for 6months and then I’ve got to do a house. Can’t be arsed with the all the different ways. I just use my marshaltown preworn a bucket and and some plaster, 99% it turns out nice and flat. F-off home 👍🏻
lol, Would love to see this you tube vlog. I been wanting to tackle my spare bungalow bedroom, I ended up buying a Marshaltown permashape 14, Nela black edition, speed skim and plaziflex.. my head is exhausted with all the you tube videos and different methods. All I'm worried about now it "shit trowels are not broken in"
@@snappyfish just use the Marshall town mate it's piss easy
@@barrygreenwood6251 😬😄 Thanks
@@snappyfish up until about 10 or 15 years ago it was just the one trowel most people had Marshall town or tyzack and no one moaned about the finish then these new plastic trowels etc can make the final stages of trowelling easier but you got to time it correctly so if unsure stick with the Marshall town
This ladies and gentlemen is why the standards in uk are so low, cowboy, jc
Love the videos really helpful and really well explained do you have a specific video on wet corner plastering feeling a bit more confident to move onto more than one wall at a time now after your tutorial videos keep up the good work 👍
Thank you pal. I really appreciate that - I'll look into it. Thank you for the suggestion.
I will tell you the #1 problem with this , speaking from experience …. If you knock down the sponges grain with a speed skim that’s all well and good but small areas such as around the pipes, in the internals, around the cables will be missed . As Blaine says he waits a phew minutes before giving this wall a trowel so by the time you have sponged then speedied then started troweling the inevitable areas the speedskim just won’t properly get in it WILL BE TO LATE! . This may work with 1 small wall but it’s super dodgy if you have 3-4 walls on the go at once .
There has to be a happy medium between using a huge clunky speedskim that misses things and a flexible trowel that as he rightly says isn’t really appropriate untill the last stages of troweling up 🤷🏻 . All I know is you need to get that grain off ASAP and in 1 go without missing anything .
I tend to still use the sponge on bigger sets when I’m on my own.It does give a marginally flatter finish.The Speedskim one of the best bits of kit you can have in your bag
Yeah it does give you more time for bigger hits! They're brilliant aren't they 👍
You mentioned the bubbles that appear sometimes when your'e plastering on bonding. I would like to learn more about why this happens and if there are ways of preventing it, and when it does happen what do you do to fix it. That would be great (maybe your have already covered it in a previous video I missed )
It's because the grain in the Bonding allows air to get trapped between coats. When you start to flatten the plaster it moves and forces the air to form bubble below the plaster. The best thing is to wait a bit longer between coats - this allows the first coat of plaster to dry a little bit. Hope this helps
Try the refine blue sponge , much finer, easier to cleaner, less marks in the multi, it’s longer and slimmer 👌🏻
Thanks for that mate - I appreciate the feedback 👍
started using rough carpet nailed to a piece of wood for improvers a long time ago 😀 same as a sponge float it gave the improvers a chance to get a reasonably finish with the plaster
I moved to building many years ago plastering is to much hard work its a young mans game . As for sponging I do still use a sponge if I have to do a bit but mostly just a trowel.
Double down your plaster once its on ( neatly ) that's the secret leave it for 15min depending on amount and suction heat sparingly flick water, trowel with a semi open trowel leaving
the fat on, no plaster should come off, leave for 5 mins steel trowel with very minimal water, the trowel should be open a bit more depending on hardness of surface.
Quick plastic trowel finish or if its to hard steel trowel more open. The most important stage is the first trowel keeping the trowel flatter but pressing the fat over the surface is key
if you tilt the trowel to much you will get tiger stripes as the plaster is always shrinking back till black they will be hard to remove. if this happens cover with fat.
It takes more skill to do but as you have found its a lot cleaner & dryer you just have to stay on top of it more.
Good luck
That's great feedback. Thank you - I'm sure everyone reading appreciated your insights. Cheers pal and thank you for watching!
🙄
Hi Blane. Since watching UR earlier vids have taken on the speed skim and float process! For the past 6 months this has made my job a lot easier! Thank you for this. Been plastering for 36 yrs now but this idea has served well. PS. Though all plasterers, worth noting; I am now 58 yrs and all my joints hurt, real time! This trade WILL sadly systematically take a great toll on your body in the long term. You decide?
That's great to hear, especially coming from an experienced plasterer like yourself. I appreciate you watching my friend! Sorry to hear about the wear and tear - it is a very hard trade to endure so it's probably something we all need to think about! Thanks for the comment. It's great hearing from you!
@@PlasteringForBeginners Indeed. I think a lot of new younger plasterers have been enjoying your vids over time. You are offering solutions and alternative means of application that will help many but with no gain to yourself except sharing the knowledge. We thank you for this! PS. I do believe it is the ceilings that get us in the end. It is an unnatural extension for people to repeat over their heads. It will eventually kill your lumber region. Sadly awaiting major spine fusion op as a direct result of so many years wear and tear. My advice is get into this trade while UR young; There is good money to be had. Earn it, pay off your mortgage , but get out before 50yrs!
I really appreciate that! It's very kind of you to say so thank you. Sorry to hear about your back though...that's terrible! Hope it goes well and I wish you luck my friend. Hopefully people reading will think about it a bit differently...me included!
Don’t see the point in using a speedskim on a wall with sockets and pipes?? A nice long wall or ceiling they’re sound. The sponge is ok on re-skims as it can fetch it back easier if it starts to go off. Certainly wouldn’t be going over any gauge 4&5 times especially with a different trowel every time, 3 times is enough.
Never really got on with sponge floating, I got my timings wrong with it once and it cost me, i sponged a big ceiling by the time I went to face it, it had pulled out and was a struggle, each to their own, my father taught me back in the day, he showed me a few different methods that I still use today, one method is to flatten with a 8 inch splash brush, a method I still use occasionally. All the best mate 👍🏻
Too right on the mess and extra clean up of the sponge. Good method thou but the old ways the best way. Keep up the good work Blaine
Thank you mate. I really appreciate that!!
After you flatten it with the speed skim you can leave it a lot longer. No need to trowel at it. Then sponge it up and flatten it in. When you time this right 1 wet rub should have the wall in pretty good shape. Another wet rub and a dry rub with a flexi and it should be perfect. Timing is key.
Sounds good matey...maybe I'll give it a try like that next time. Thanks for the feedback. Really appreciate it!
Never been into speed skim I like the rifina blades I found speedskim finds the old contour and drags
Rifina are my favourite too.
Ive never got along with speedskims etc. I dont mind the spatulas. I find trowel for everything works best. Each to their own though.
Yeah, the Speedskims do need breaking in. But I wouldn't swap mine now - I love it! Refina have the edge with their handles though. You can't beat the Ergo grip.
Hi ya, interesting video. Like yourself, I've used a sponge to help on patchy or very old repaired walls and found it works a treat. If you keep the water spraying to a minimum theres not much mess but cleaning the sponge can leave you with more dirty water to deal with at the end of the set/day. I was taught the traditional way and prefer it but always open to ways to make life easier :)
I worked with a guy who used to apply his two coats. Leave the second coat for ten minutes, sponge it, flatten it, water rub then a cross trowel. The guy would get it perfect everytime to be fair.
Sounds like a good spread. Fair play to him!
@@PlasteringForBeginners also just want to say im a big fan of your channel and i always pick up great tips from guys like yourself, plaster force and skim fast. keep up the great content 🙂
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that - it's great to hear so thank you!! Keep up the good work ☺️
I really didn't like speedskim. It looked bang on until painted and then looking against the light I wasn't happy with it. Especially with a silk paint finish.
1st coat, flat, 2nd coat, flat, spray/sponge, superflex trowel, superflex cross trowel.
The sponge allows the superflex to come in early imo and kind of brings it closer to the finish and everything dries at same speed and colour.
Agree about the mess. I'm pretty clean and rarely drop actual plaster at all but my dust sheets are very much a sponge victim. It's all fatty water dropped on them rather than anything else
In my opinion. Use board finish on all surfaces instead of multi. Honestly board finish trowels up nice on all surfaces. Multi is to gritty and grainy. And multi goes off quicker than board finish I think. Board finish is more a creamier mix. That’s in my opinion anyway. But great videos. Your work look top quality 10/10
I've heard a lot of people mention Board finish - I'll be honest, I struggle to get it down my end! I'll look into it though. Thank you for the suggestion and thanks for watching...I really appreciate it!
Hi Blaine
Just been watching why did I stop sponge float plastering was it worth it. Starting of your video. You mentioned you was using hardwall plaster. And by the looks of it you was using multi-finish plaster than sponging. I didn't quite understand that bit. Can you query that for me many thanks love your videos
The even matt finish doesn't really matter as long as its flat its going to get painted anyway with a roller that gives a textured finish, I've worked with painters who hate a glass finish because they have to sand it to give it key... when it's flat stop troweling !
Hi Blaine, good video. I noticed some inefficiency in your cross trowelling. You walk across with the brush, then walk back and trowel across. Try brushing under the trowel as you walk across. Save you time, but more importantly half the walking and energy used, as you start from each corner, not the same corner.
Been in the game over 30 years still just using stainless Marshall town still bumping
I use a super flex to trowel up now. Been in the game 30 years myself. I only use it to make life easier because Im still on pricework housebashing a lot of the time. But you’re right. All these bullshit gadgets and I know many spreads who can average 80 plus metres a day with just a 14 inch marshaltown. 2 coats and trowelled to a finish. The end. If you’re a good spread really you need nothing else
Try 2 coats no flattering sponge trowel out line's brush bottom trowel second trowel brush trowel plastic finish
Sika SBR best stuff for priming any back ground for reskims
👍👍
was that both coats with hardwall ?
Have you tried using a styrofoam trowel instead of a sponge? It shouldn't collect the fat inside yet spread it.
I have been plastering not often enough for 10 years and am still not very good, sometimes goes well, but frequently mess it up. When things start going tits up a sponge float is your friend.
After laying down, flatten once, dont wet the wall just use a damp sponge and pass once like you was using a trowel to flatten.
as a complete noob, that sponge step seems right for me
messy, but can hopefully make up for my egregious errors(!) and lack of general skill
Can't beat the old ways it's the same in any trade if it's not broken don't fix it keep it real if you're good doesn't really matter how you apply it as long as the finish is good that's the key great vids thou
I have to agree with you there mate! Bang on
I find that using the sponge kills any chance of tiger stripes. A few years ago there was never any tiger stripes using the old method but I wonder of the ingredients are slightly different or something
I’ve seen you flatten after the sponge float in another video with the metal speed skim, which one do you prefer for this? I notice you only use the plastic one for flattening at other stages. Big fan of the videos!
It was very good but I'm just cautious of using the Flexi Spat so early in the process which is why I switched to the plastic Speedskim. But I must admit that it was nicer using the steel one though!
I always sponge finish because I can throw more walls on and get a nice finish but does add about 25 minutes onto finishing time but would never use on my own house
I think your right about the timings!! Cheers pal, thanks for watching!
Sponge floating only makes logical sense when one coating (experienced spreads). A quality finish is a quality finish. Can see why beginners would use it but if you’re apply two “traditional” coats of plaster a sponge isn’t beneficial..
One thick 3/4m coat. Clean edges, speed skim/flat. Spray, sponge, trowel ad normal.
I sacked sponge off a long time ago but tiny flat areas one coat/sponge can make things slightly quicker
Sponge float, it's got me out of many holes, but for domestic, if the house is lived in,To Messy, + ceiling work on stilts Dangerous. Time spent cleaning, real 🏐 Ache, Keep UP the Good Work. 🖖
I have to agree mate - especially the ceiling haha! Thanks for the support. I really appreciate it 👍
Sponge float is great for facing up render coat
Never use a sponge
I use the 18inch plastic ox float now
Even for polishing
Any nicks I just use a bit of 120 sand paper along the edge to stop scratch lines
Totaly changed the way I plaster now
Quick question about PVA I never seem to have much luck with it for sealing bonding or hard wall have you ever use SBR and if so was that any good for sealing to help stop the finish drying up to quickly
yes. make sure your primer coat has fully dried this will stop the suction
@@fixit3108 thanks will try SBR next time thanks for your quick response
It's all about suction control buddy. If the bonding/hardwall is bone dry I'd recommend rehydrating it before you pva. Otherwise it will just created a skin and not actually penetrate into the base coat
Have you not read the comnent from british gypsum about using a,sponge on plaster!!! Basically they've said don't do it and why would you. You're making more work for yourself and are having to have more tools!!!!
Sponge , take off , clean your edges , minimal water trowel & final trowel … never had any problems
Steel trowel and timing gets it flat and smooth no plastic no sponge no flexi trowel change water every trowel up and always clean angels with nice one inch brush done finish done
My Background is- i am a spread here in Australia,been off tools for quite some time but looking at going back for my last 10yrs to retirement-here years ago we only set(skim) walls with Lime putty mixed with hardwall gypsum and skimmed first coat very tight then come straight over again with our 2mm of plaster mix and flattened with a long timber float in long sweeps the same as trowel action then start the trowelling process(no speedskims in the 80's and 90's)do you use the same gauge for 1st and 2nd coats on your wall?-we have only just started to get thistle multi and another brand called Proroc here in australia but we rarely do re skimming of walls like you do there in UK.
That's handy to know...I worked in Australia but I never did internal plastering so its interesting to hear your background! Is BG Multi a big thing in Oz now then??
Yeah, you can use the same mix for the 1st and 2nd coat but often mix 2 separate mixes because it gives me more time and allows me to plaster more. Just depends on the job pal.
Thanks for watching 👍
@@PlasteringForBeginners -i think a big thing in Western Australia where nearly all housing is rendered and skimmed-where here most houses are Plasterboard (drywall like the U.S)
I have given the proroc a go recently. It's pretty good- getting used to it. I stopped using the lime/hardwall years ago. Much prefer the westox plastalite multifinish but the proroc is easier to get and a bit cheaper.
@@spbygga8123 -thanks mate,are you 2 coating the Proroc with same mix or seperate mixes?-or are you 1 coating maybe?
@@dismaldog 2 coats, same mix. I'm a builder, so I'm not doing it every day. Don't bite off too much at once. Usually only a bag at a time. With the proroc you have heaps of time from my limited experience.
I don't know anything about plastering I'm a spark couldn't you make your own float with a different grade sponge of your choice?
Hello Blane, enjoyed your vid and comments thank you. I'm a DIY plasterer and use the Speedskim with plastic blade for finishing, but was wondering what you would use where space is tight and you can't manoeuvre your trowel in? Any mini trowels on the market you would recommend, say 75mm in width and 150mm in length? Cheers matey
I'm just a chippy but do a lot of plastering, I needed a towel such as and found a ragni one in toolstation I think it was, they been around for years and don't make bad tools... 8x3" so 200x75 if any good.. just looked it up and wickes have them on sale for about £7 hope that helps? If it's to big then grind a bit off but spray plenty of water to keep it from getting hot and pre finish the edge for a better application and finish 👍
HI mate! Thanks for watching. I have a Refina Midget trowel - it wasn't expensive but I recommend giving them a good sand down before using it. They are never pre worn and they take forever to break in so a good sand down before use is crucial.
@@adamprice9214 Cheers Adam for the info. Might just add that to the list of bits I need from TS. All the best
@@PlasteringForBeginners Hello Blane, sounds like the one that Adam has recommen ded, so ( as I said to Adam a few mins ago) will def take a look on the TS website and get one. Oh well, that's Xmas sorted! Cheers matey, all the best
@@petesshed I've been plastering about 20 years although a chippy, you'll find as time goes on you'll experiment and watch others and gain more experience... I've used all sorts of things that have come to hand over time, really good tools are things like jointing knifes "6 (for taping and jointing plasterboard) filling knifes with like 4", small pointing and gauging brickies trowels and even various size flexible prep caulkers work a treat for getting in those tight spaces..
Sponges are for chancers and cleaning your car..
Haha fair enough!
sorry you miss RENDERING
@@richardharwood3082 yea forgot rendering but not a fan of sponge on that too really..
I thought traditional skimming was using a wooden float.. the sponge is dirty alright.. i know a few old boys that use a wooden float still..
1st coat speed skim 2 coat speed skim wait for it to dry a little bit sponge 🧽 . Flatter With super flex and then last trowel it a refina plastic trowel. Paint finish! Defiantly quicker and more forgiving. I use a cheap £1 sponge works great. Main thing though like you say it’s saves you from bubbles from bonding! Sponge tears the bubbles and fills, literally a life saver
From where are u buying that cheap sponge mate ?
@@florincardos9918 car washing sponge, you don’t need a expensive sponge float as when plaster drys inside its fooked. I like the small whole in the sponge also ruffs the service up less.
You're compromising the strength of the plaster by sponging - once the plaster is dry run the back of your hand over the wall if a chalky residue comes off then when it's painted that will lift off and it will look like 50 000 leagues under the sea. Sponging brings up the fat which creates the illusion of a lovely light pink uniform.finish - it's exactly that an illusion. Also it breaks the bond between the 2 coats of plaster. It should only be used on plasters that are a backing coat as well as finish coat ie universal one coat as it brings up the fines from the background , also knauf mp75 - which is basically why it has become.a thing in this country because all the east europeans were using knauf mp75 in their country's with the sponge then they've tried using exactly the same methods to bg finish plasters. The products are chalk and cheese and should be treated as such.
Thanks for the info 👍🏾
Personal think you dont need so speedskim after the sponge, just rigid trowel. Sponge takes minutes to clean and we get 12 months out of ours... Think both ways paints well but think sponged finish dries more even...
That's fair enough mate...thanks for the suggestion. Maybe I'm buying the wrong sponge floats then because my most recent Refina one just feel apart ha!!
I do have to admit though that the finish from the sponge is very consistent and the finish is always good. I can't argue with you there mate!!
Great hearing from you. Hope you're well 👍
@@PlasteringForBeginners i am well thanks blaine, booked well into January at the mo. 👍
The finish definitely looks better using a sponge float but it looks a lot more effort by yourself
Do you not use a tool brush?
I just use my 6" water brush pal 👍
Love a sponge float much better finish
Good to hear pal!! Hope you're well
Blain been having trouble with bubbles (there driving me mad if I’m honest ) especially where u go over patched up areas du reckon sponge floating on these areas could resolve this problem if u get time ide appreciate some advice mate
It’s definitely helped mate. Try leaving the first coat a bit longer before applying your second coat. This could help massively pal 👍
@Plastering For Beginners cheers mate I’ll do that stay lucky
Hi m8 how’s the Nela carbon going, I’m thinking of getting one and using it straight through once it’s sharpened up a bit and bin the flexi ?
You will struggle pal, they very good trowels but need a hell of a lot of breaking in.. Preferably on sand and cement..
I'm must admit I'm loving it. They break in a lot faster than stainless steel and I think the finish is actually better using Carbon Steel. I'll be posting a video soon about it so look out for it 👍
@@PlasteringForBeginners just as I thought m8 thx
Blaine on site I’m now seeing everyone sponging be what shocked me more is they are just flattening with flexi so lay on wIth premashape then just flatten flatten and flatten with flexi and I will be honest mate the finish once It’s mist coated has been bloody good I was shocked to say the least
That's mad isn't it!! Crazy stuff - if it works then it works. Thanks for the comment - hope you're well my friend 👍
@@PlasteringForBeginners all good thanks bro I’m off the tools I’m
Now quality control manager for a large construction company I couldn’t keep going in the game mate all the years of plastering and heavy weights taken its toll
Keep the posts coming mate I’ve passed your vids to a few people 👍👍
Might be an illusion but the 45 degree corner looks sketchy to say the least. Like a dogs back leg, bend the corner if you can’t keep it straight
Never sponge unless I get caught short time wise
👍👍👍
When you sponge float you don't need to use a spray if you have a 30 metre gauge on wet your sponge flick a small amount of water onto the wall ( not the floor) sponge 15 m turn back and use your Mt to take the lines out sponge your next 15m and do the same. You have now got on top of your gauge and the process of finishing you're walls ,ceilings is so much less work than the traditional way . I really don't see how you can have water everywhere and as for " I don't like cleaning the sponge" is it really that awful. Using a spray is where in my opinion you're making it messy and it's something else to carry about.
Thanks for the update pal. "I don't like cleaning my sponge" is just a bit of tongue and cheek mate...I was laughing. Just trying to lighten the video up a bit. But my point was that when you rack it up there's a lot of extra steps when you compare it to traditional methods.
However, it's handy to know that you don't use a sprayer - thanks for sharing and thank you for your insights. I appreciate it 👍
Hi j from Cornish plastering I’ve always gone traditional, I have tryed sponging and it’s ok but I find its not worth the extra cleaning and adding extra things in the process , i always use sponge on hardwalling and bonding
Grest hearing from you and I think I agree! It's good but I always find myself going back to traditional methods.
For me sponge float plastering is a lot more messy cleaning a sponge out after you have been using multi finish as a bloody nightmare cheesy to just cleaned my skimming trowel ok if you are doing a lot of patch ting
I think I agree pal. But it's great for patching like you say! Thanks for the comment.
A couple of my mates are sponge floaters, it's why I'm skint.
Sponge float only on external rendering
No it's not.
1 coat sponging is the way.
What’s your system?
@@CompetitiveEllisy 1 coat sponging like I said
@@MrMedicalUK I hope your trowel is sharper than you bud
@@CompetitiveEllisy .....pardon?
One coat on board sponged is simple stuff you nonce.
@@CompetitiveEllisy if he means Steps we don't use 'system' because we aren't a bunch of mongs trying to pretend it's something special.
5 steps
Trowel Spread
Spatula
Water and sponge
Spatula
Water and trowel
Simple you mong
Nice t shirt, hold up boring t shirt