Hello, I'm having my lounge reskimmed. It's a flat with a solid ceiling. There are about six long cracks in the existing plaster on the ceiling.
In other rooms where there were cracks the previous plasterer gauged them out then sealed/filled them before applying tape and plastering over, which seemed to me to be a proper job. However the three plasterers who have come to give me a price all say they will just put tape over and plaster over that and you don't need to fill the cracks. So is it necessary to fill the cracks or not?
Also the last plasterer has said he will use sheets to protect the carpet but they will be dusty as they get dusty even after one use which is obvious. My carpet is a very light colour so will the plaster dust stain the carpet. Obviously it will be dry and can hoover up but I'm just worried about staining.
Thirdly I've just been reading about one/two coats. Should I ask whether they do two coats? I don't know the process, perhaps it's just a rough first coat then almost immediately a second smooth coat?
Many thanks,
Simon
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
First one. Yes you just tape the cracks. The tape they use is called scrim tape, and this is the proper way to do it.
Second. No the dust will not stain the carpet, as long as the carpet is covered so no wet paster can land on it then it will be fine.
Thirdly. Always two coats. one coat is for cowboys.
hope this helps you. i think if you use this site you will find a good plasterer. good luck
No need to rake out the cracks just scrim tape over them carpets will be fine if covered correctly and no wet plaster gets on them and always two coats for better finish one coat will always show indentations and trowel marks. Hope this helps
Answered6 July 2017
0
Anonymous user
About the cracks...sometimes tape is not enought for cracks because plasterboard have old fitting system (for nails) or they are fitted wrong. Solution is fit a screws on both sides of crack before a tape. Just remember to hide a screw head inside the plasterboard.
Answered6 July 2017
0
Anonymous user
Yes just to echo what the other tradesmen have says , yes about the tape and always yes 2 coats, guys who claim to be quick and cheap are guys who are getting away with 1 coat. Your concern about your carpet is a common worry , me personally I use a sticky membrane called carpet protector. It's essentially just like a big wide roll of cellotape that sticks to the carpet really well and when properly put down will completely protect your carpet no matter how messy the tradesmen , on top of this i still throw down dust sheets though just catch n soak up the odd splash of water and fallen plaster. When the jobs done it peels off in big sheets quick and easy. It's also handy for rolling out to the kitchen/toilet where the tradesmen will be collecting water for the mixing. Bit late but hope it helps someone . Peter McGinty
