To think I can do the plastering myself?

[CochonDinde]

I'm fancying getting my downstairs rooms re-plastered. I'm fairly handy when it comes to DIY (single mum too so no partner to assist), but admittedly plastering is never something I've done. AIBU to reckon I can have a crack? Or am I likely to balls up my house? Anyone here do their own plastering?

Plastering is practically an art form, I can't even get perfect frosting on a cake, and I'm a very good baker so I would leave a big job for a professional!

Having watched the guy we used, it's an art form. By all means prep the room and so on but the actual plastering, no. Get in an expert.

It's a skill, so I suppose like any it depends on how much of a natural you are. I'm reasonably handy and have done ok skim jobs, they just took me far longer than it would take a pro. But I only got away with the first few attempts at walls because it's a very old house and the walls weren't perfectly straight to start with. Plus I practiced on the tack room wall. Which would look shit in a house because I cocked it up.

It's like anything...can you do it yourself? Yes probably...the issue is the finish. If you don't mind..then go for it.

My dh is a builder and the problem is that many people think they can do the work, but it is nothing at all like the professional finish that he does, that is built on years of experience and graft.

Unless you're unusually gifted, or have loads of time and money and can afford to redo it a few times (and have an ever shrinking room!) don't.

Plastering is a trade in it's own right, painter&decorators and builders rarely also do plastering work in my experience, they'll hire in a plasterer to do it!

The things you can do yourself to make it cheaper are - if it's papered then strip this off, remove all fixtures including radiators + light fittings and clear the furniture!

Filling a crack/chip etc is relatively easy. Skimming a room and having a good finish is not!

If you want to do it yourself, it would be a good idea to go on a course and learn how to do it properly.

Not necessarily years of experience, as I said, my DH practised a couple of times in the garage and the walls look better than the one room we had done by a pro, so it all depends on the individual.

God no. You have to move so quickly and get the plaster just right. It's worth paying someone to do it but doing the decorating yourself.

I was partly encouraged to give it a go myself after a colleague getting a 'professional' in and then having to take a sander to the wall!

My husband had to do plastering as part of his work (far too remote an area for there to be plasterers, so the work defaulted to him). He did a lot of houses, and as a result makes excellent cakes (I've never seen smoother icing!).

This is what he says about it: "You can absolutely do this. It will look shit and it might fall off, but you can do it if you want to". I'd save the money and use it to pay a professional- it will be cheaper in the long run.

My ex was a plumber/electrician and pretty good all rounder for all sorts of DIY. He did plastering once. It was shit. He didn't bother again!

I need a load doing in my bathroom, I was quite tempted to try myself until I remembered my ex's attempt. So it will have to wait till I can afford a professional.

Nope. Plastering is one job you need an expert to do.

Difficult job and even more difficult to rectify if you balls it up! My step dad is trades and will turn his hand to pretty much anything... except plastering!!

Bloody hell my DH must be a genius then! I may get him to sideline in plastering I wasn't that impressed when he did the whole house!

Mrs Cochon said she would do the plastering herself

Plastering is an art, I've tried it and cocked it up in spectacular fashion. Cost me twice as much getting it sanded down and replastered, I would consider myself to be fairly handy.

Ex watched a YouTube video, boughts bits at B and Q then did a great job plastering. Start with a small wall- ceilings and hallways are really hard

Give it a go!

I've done my own plastering and it's been ok, although I'm not good at the transition between wall and ceiling but luckily coving hides a multitude of sins! I'm sure a professional could do it slightly better, but I can do 'good enough'. I hate dealing with trades too, so doing it myself made lots of sense.

I did have nightmares though about all the plaster falling off the one wall I did where i had to do the bonding coat as well. Eight years on it's still there

If you're going to skimp on plastering it will be noticeable. That's why a decent plasterer is more pricey. Worth their weight in gold.

Argh I'm torn. I love doing work myself, but if it's likely to cost more to rectify than to employ a plasterer from the outset then I guess I'll just do that. I suppose what's tempting me is people told me years ago not to tile myself and it actually looked spot on (albeit would have been easier to rectify if I'd have went wrong)

Well done to those that have done decent plastering jobs! Are you all free next weekend?

If its plastering forget it, if its skimming you could try.....use fastest and sand. Good luck

I think you could do, I don't see why not. My friend's husband plastered their livingroom when they moved in (he watched YouTube vids beforehand to find out what to do and It was hard he said, physically tiring). I honestly don't see why you can't have a go?

I do my own plastering, just had a go. What’s the worst that can happen. Go for it! You’ll be fine, you can always go over it, or get someone to help.