In order to properly carry out repairs at home, you need to acquire all the necessary high-quality tools. When working with a plaster solution, when leveling walls, forming textures and creating a decorative coating, it is very important to act with high quality and confidence.
There are several classifications of tools for such work. They are used for surface preparation, application, leveling and decoration.
All tools can be divided into basic and additional.
The main ones are those that are used directly to work with mortar, plaster, and the auxiliary ones are those that are used in the preparatory or final stages.
Surface preparation tools
A plastering hammer with a pick or a hatchet will be needed for surface treatment before plastering. With this tool, protruding irregularities are beaten off during the preparatory processes, notches are made so that the plaster mortar better grips the surface. There is also suchtool like a bush hammer. This is a metal hammer weighing no more than 1.5 kilograms. On its ends there are teeth in the form of a pyramid. Use the tool to apply the decorative compound on cement binder and during the preparation of other surfaces.
Makovitsa
This is a large brush that is used to apply the primer for complete penetration of the substance. This helps to secure the surface layer of the wall.
Plumb bob
During the process, it is very likely that you will work in two directions. A plumb bob will help you hang the walls and determine the plane of the plastered surface.
Level
It is necessary for the installation of beacons in horizontal planes, helps to check the surface. The level is made of metal or wood.
Square
It is necessary for placing beacons: sloping, angular. Without it, it will not be possible to set an even angle within 90 degrees. It is made of metal or wood.
Strong thread
It is best to take a nylon thread. A structure called a spider is made from it. It helps to clearly observe all the planes and levels of the wall.
Bucket
It can be used in volumes from 0.75 to 1 liter. Needed in order to throw a solution of plaster on the surface. Using a ladle, the solution is applied to the surface between the spaced beacons. The most practical would be a bucket made of steel, aluminum or other alloys. Their advantage is that the solution will notstick to walls.
Plaster spatula
It will not only help to apply the solution to the surface, but is used to line the solution in those places where it is still not enough. The tool looks like a steel sheet 20 cm long and no more than 1.5 mm thick. The handle has a knee up to 50 mm high and a wooden handle. Consider the length of the tool, because the smaller it is, the easier it is to do the job.
Shovel for plaster
This is a multifunctional plastering tool, it can dispense materials, mix the mixture, level, smooth, remove excess mortar, clean tools and so on.
Falcon
This is a rectangle made of wood or duralumin, the size of which is 400 by 400 mm. A handle is installed perpendicularly in the center. It is made from plastic or wood. You might think that it is physically easier to use duralumin models. However, the solution will stick to such a surface, and this greatly interferes, and it is necessary to periodically clean the surface of the tool. The falcon is needed for a solution tray to eliminate various defects.
It is used in conjunction with a plaster spatula. Sometimes it is necessary to simultaneously hold a large portion of a decorative or ordinary mortar, in such cases a falcon is used.
Spatula
It is needed in order to apply and level the plaster, smooth the already treated surface, as well as apply a decorative mortar or putty. Every hardware store will offer youdifferent versions of this tool. When choosing, it is important to inspect the handle, the material can be made of rubber, plastic, wood and a variety of combinations. Choose this plastering tool for yourself.
You should also pay attention to the following points:
- The working part must be perfectly flat. If you notice waves, then this is evidence that poor quality material was used during manufacture.
- The spatula should certainly be comfortable to use.
- The price must match the quality of the product.
Trowel
There are several types of decorative plaster trowels for plastering. The following can be distinguished:
- A trowel that is used to spread mortar over a surface.
- Venetian trowel for decorative plaster, which helps when working with a decorative composition. It is needed for applying plaster and for forming stains from it, since in the work you need to use circular motions or stroking, which is why it got the name "stroker".
Rule
This is a flat rail made of aluminum or wood, necessary for tightening plaster, as well as for lining internal corners. Of course, you can use a regular spatula with a wide working area. But if you want to do everything efficiently and quickly, then it is better to take the rule. This tool will help you distribute the mixture along the edge of the beacons. The rules differ in the shape of the profile, their length andfunctionality. In hardware stores there are tools with a length of 0.5 to 3 meters. The plastering tool is most often made of aluminum alloy, resulting in a lightweight tool that will serve you reliably for a long time.
With the help of the rule, it is determined how smooth the surface is as a result. To do this, attach it to the wall: if there is no gap between the blades and the base, then the work was done with high quality, no modifications are required.
The principle of working with the rule is very simple: as soon as the bulk of the mortar has been applied, the tool must be installed with both ends on the near beacon, and then the tool should be pulled along them. The excess solution is then removed. If necessary, in places where it is not enough, you can add the right amount of solution.
Grater
Wooden lath, high quality polished. In no case should it have knots or creases. This is a simple and cheap plasterer's tool, which is needed to prepare for the subsequent stages of work with plaster, as soon as the initial work is over. As a result, flaws may remain, so you will need to overwrite all detected defects.
To fix the resulting shells or bumps, the surface must be moistened with water or a liquid plaster solution, evenly distributing it. Graters come in a variety of sizes and are made from materials such as plastic, rubber, metal or polyurethane.
Use only when the solutionlost water, but not yet completely hardened. You can perfectly align the wall with the help of smooth rotations in a circle.
Rollers
If you want to get an elite texture, then in stores you can pick up a variety of rollers made of rubber bands, films, polyurethane or fabrics. Their cost varies in the range of 1000 rubles. One of the most practical models would be the rubber roller, which is very easy to clean and has many interesting patterns.
Stencil
If you want to create something original for your walls, you can take a ready-made stencil from a film or plastic or make it yourself.
You can take plain paper or plastic, plexiglass and cardboard. Apply the necessary drawing on it or print it on a printer. Attach the stencil to the work surface with masking tape, apply plaster from the center of the figure along the perimeter.
What are auxiliary tools?
Such plastering tools include:
- Shovel, as well as a container in which the solution will be kneaded.
- Brush with natural bristles. It can be of various sizes, shapes and materials. It is needed to wet the surface, which was prepared for grouting and dried up during the work. She helps to wash tools and so on. In general, there is no need to buy a new brush. You can use wide brushes that are no longer suitable for their original purposes.
- Nail brush. This is a piece of board or grater withnails. Their ends protrude from the surface at a distance of up to 10 mm. The distance depends on how deep the texture you want. The nails are placed within 50 mm of each other in a checkerboard pattern.
- Cutoffs. These are small spatulas with a thin solid web, their length can be varied. You can do without this tool, but it will help you cut cracks in plaster, grease the mortar in the most inaccessible places.
- Atomizer. It is required for wetting surfaces that have been prepared for plastering. You can either use a regular houseplant sprayer or make your own out of an old shampoo.
Automated tools
The presented plasterer's tools were handmade. However, there are special machines for such work. They also have their own classification:
- Automatic. The main purpose is to work inside large rooms. The principle of operation is to spray the solution along the surface. It is used to prepare the composition, transfer it and apply it to the surface.
- Plaster station. Necessary for spraying the mixture along the wall. The principle of operation is that a loose mixture is placed in the bunker, water is dosed through the pump and everything is stirred inside the chamber. The solution passes into a special sleeve, and then spraying occurs with the help of a mortar gun. Torch size can be adjusted. It should be noted that this tooluse not only for plastering, but also for filling, painting walls or pouring floors.
- Grinding machine. It helps smooth uneven surfaces. It is used for grouting cement screeds, puttied surfaces and so on. There are electric and pneumatic models.
- Street organ. It is a cross between automated and manual tools. Helps to apply plaster during the final stage of work.
