HOW TO MINIMISE THE DEFECTS IN

PLASTERING WORK?
MINIMISING DEFECTS IN PLASTERING
WORK
Defects in plastering work can be minimised by following the below mentioned techniques.

1. The brick and plastering work should be carried out by skilled masons in the best
workmanship manner.
2. Bond of brick work should be properly maintained.
3. Efflorescence is removed by rubbing brushes on the damaged surface. A solution of one
part of hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid and five parts of clean water is prepared and it is
applied with the help of brushes on the affected area. The surface is then washed with clean
water. It should, however be remembered that it is desirable to prevent efflorescence than to
cure it. Building material should be selected of superior quality and suitable methods of
construction should be employed.
4. Water should not be used to wash the surface so as to remove efflorescence. In that case,
soluble salts will be partly carried inside the surface and efflorescence will appear again. For
this purpose, the deposit is brushed off from the surface as it appears and the surface is
kept under observation for a further period of few days. After curing, if efflorescence
appears again it is removed with a dry brush and the process is repeated till all the soluble
salts are removed under the conditions of normal drying. It is advisable to postpone painting
till efflorescence ceases.
5. Bricks of superior nature should only be used for brick work.
6. Water free from salts should be used for brick work and plastering work.
7. The surface to be plastered should be well watered so that it may not absorb water from the
plaster.
8. Excessive trowelling should be avoided.
9. Damp-proof courses should be provided at convenient places in the building.
10. The overall construction should be such that penetration of moisture is prevented.
11. Fresh plastered surfaces should be protected from the superfluous quantity of water such as
rain and excessive heat such as sun.
12. The concrete surface which is generally plain and smooth should be hacked to form kay
when the concrete is green i.e. the moment the shutters are removed. However, this point is
generally neglected and the work of plastering is taken up in a hurry on the surfaces a it is
or with slight hacking. This will lead to peeling at later stage.
13. If the surface is not properly hacked, there are two alternatives to make the surface rough:
 Clean the surface by water so as to keep surface wet & an acid treatment with 1 part of
muriatic acid diluted in 10 to 20 parts of water applied on the surface. More than one
coat may be necessary. After this treatment the wall should be washed through with
water to remove all traces of acid.
 Sometimes, some surfaces cannot be roughened by acid also and the better method
would be a spatter dash key.
WHAT IS SPATTER DASH?

Spatter dash
It simply means a rich mixture of Portland cement and coarse sand thrown onto a background by
a trowel, scoop, or other appliance so as to form a thin, coarse-textured of continuous coating.
As a preliminary treatment, before rendering, it assists bonding of the undercoat to the
background, improves resistance to rain penetration, and evens out the suction of variable
backgrounds.

In this method a mixture of coarse sand (8mm and below) mixed to cement in the ratio of 1:1.5
and water equal to 0.5 part by total volume is dashed on the walling in an un-even manner.
Where sharp sand is difficult to obtain, crushed hard stone (with fine particles eliminated) can
also be used.

The water content will vary with the type of aggregate. The dry materials must be mixed
thoroughly & then water gradually added. The mixture must be continually stirred during use.
The spatter dash need not cover every piece of surfaces and it is an advantage if parts of surface
are not covered. The main object is to form a large number of small humps of mortar so as to
make surface as irregular as possible. The thickness of spatter dash may be limited to 10 mm.
On allowing 2 to 3 days with good curing; further work can be taken up. Of all the methods to
provide a key, the spatter dash method is to be preferred in practically all cases.

14. In brickwork, raking of joints on the finished side should be done as soon as the day’s
brickwork is over to provide effective keys for holding the plaster.