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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I can do the plastering myself?

126 replies

CochonDinde · 18/01/2020 20:14

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
CochonDinde · 19/01/2020 11:23

That's bloody fabulous Smile

OP posts:
spongejack · 19/01/2020 11:25

Not sure that opinion counts @WeeSleekitTimerousMoosey GrinGrin it's the wrong answer!

user1471525753 · 19/01/2020 11:28

Definitely give it a go. I had a go over Christmas at plastering two walls in our house, having never done it before & they came out just fine. (It probably took me three times as long as a professional but everyone who has seen it can't believe I did it) Look on YouTube for some advice & make sure you've got all the stuff you need before you start. What's the worse that could happen, you have to pay someone to skim over the top?? Go for it Smile

mummmy2017 · 19/01/2020 11:34

By the time you buy the tools, have to move mix it right clean up the mess extra it is worth just paying to have it done in one day that have a week's work ahead.

independentfriend · 19/01/2020 11:36

Normal/base plaster is OK (remember to score it whilst it's wet to give the finishing plaster something to stick to more easily). Finishing plaster is really, really hard - it doesn't stay as a workable consistency for very long, so think this is something where it's worth paying a professional to do it.

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 19/01/2020 11:40

I do most of my own building, plumbing, electrics, built my own kitchen and put in all the appliances, build my sheds from scratch, laid all my wooden floors, tiled the bathrooms, but plastering? No bloody way! Pay the money and get a professional in. Make sure they’re an actual plasterer and not just a builder.

MsAwesomeDragon · 19/01/2020 11:45

The previous owners of our house thought they were great at DIY. They had a go at plastering. It did not go well. Unfortunately, they still carried on and plastered the whole bloody house themselves. Not a single wall in my house has a nice smooth finish, but we can't afford to get the whole lot replastered just for a cosmetic reason. The hallway is the biggest problem, and we're hoping to get that done this summer, but the roof needs doing as well so that may take the money put aside for plastering.

TheGreatWave · 19/01/2020 11:46

My BIL is a carpenter by trade and will turn his hand to most things. Apart from plastering.

Good luck though.

caringcarer · 19/01/2020 11:55

We have BTL and tenants left huge hole in wall. I tried to get plasterer but was told 2-3 week wait so decided to do it myself as more tenants waiting to move in before beginning of Sept for school start. I went on to UTube and watched a few clips. I made hole bigger to get rid of lose, got chicken wire to hold first coat. Let it dry then did second coat. Finish coat need s lots of water on to make very smooth. It turned out fine and once painted no one could tell where large hole 2x2 foot had been. I later tacked a whole wall and it was also fine but it took me about 5x longer than plasterer would have took. I would not start with whole wall or whole room though. Do a smaller hole first and see how it looks and go on UTUBE.

hiphiphoorayback · 19/01/2020 15:33

You asked for advice and have been told overwhelmingly to steer clear and get a professional but you have decided to go for it anyway. Not entirely sure why you asked for opinions to begin with confused

Why shouldn't op have a go ffsConfused
I have seen my DH do it no probs and all this years of practise is nonsense quite frankly.

If you try in the garage wall a few times, watch some youtube vids, get prepared have someone to help, why not! My DH did say you have to be quite strong as the mixing, finishing and holding your arm over your head doing the ceiling is hard work. I really don't think I would be able to do it.

whatdoyouthinkyouknow · 19/01/2020 16:47

Plastering is a skilled job. I was always told you'd have to have a few houses to practice on before being any good.

That said my friend who was penniless at the time, purchased a softer ready mixed plaster. She put it on the best she could, then sanded it flat afterwards. It took her months but she did get a decent result in the end.

Personally I'd shop around for quotes and save up for a plasterer.

orangejuicer · 19/01/2020 16:58

Not rtft but my DP is v handy with DIY. He went on a plastering course and did most of our house but there are some areas he would get a professional in for e.g. the ceiling.

spongejack · 19/01/2020 17:27

If you try in the garage wall a few times, watch some youtube vids, get prepared have someone to help, why not! My DH did say you have to be quite strong as the mixing, finishing and holding your arm over your head doing the ceiling is hard work. I really don't think I would be able to do it.

Because everyone in the world always has a garage to "practise" in! Grin

Saoirse7 · 30/04/2020 09:50

Any update OP from how you got on?

Therollockingrogue · 30/04/2020 09:54

Do it if you’re a perfectionist and you’re great at baking cakes, doing your make up and painting walls . Don’t otherwise.

nowaitaminute · 30/04/2020 09:56

🤣🤣🤣🤣 go ahead OP....and send us the finished picture!!

Yabu...sorry

Doobedoobedoobe2020 · 30/04/2020 09:57

No. Don’t do it. My dad built our entire four-bed family home from the ground up (with some help from his mates) but he did the whole thing- wiring, plumbing, tiling, foundations etc. He’s an extremely talented and handy man (and that’s not even his day job!) but the only thing he refused to do was the plastering as it’s so hard to get right

CaroleFuckinBaskin · 30/04/2020 10:04

Yep, we are proper DIYers for almost everything here, but one thing we would never even attempt is plastering a wall/whole room!

Therollockingrogue · 30/04/2020 10:12

In my experience women often make better plasterers than men

Frage · 30/04/2020 10:14

I've done plumbing, tiling, any kind of decorating, general DIY, minor electrical things etc - but I definitely wouldn't do plastering!

XH was a builder and he did all the trades except plastering...

Therollockingrogue · 30/04/2020 11:00

you need excellent prep, exceptional tools , and you need to be familiar with the products you’re using ...

Crazycrazylady · 30/04/2020 12:50

I've tiled and laid wooden floors perfectly . I've installed sinks but Feck me plastering was damn hard and looks no where near as good as the professional finish.
Don't do it.

Fromthebirdsnest · 30/04/2020 12:57

You would be better getting tapered edge plaster board and then filling the edges that's far easier and when we built a garden office for my husband he did it and it looks perfect , but it it far easier than doing actual full plastering .. X I love diy .. I've been doing a lot of diy since lockdown it really passes the time x

Mollymalone123 · 30/04/2020 13:26

I’ve done prep for wall and like others have said - my husband is a builder and wouldn’t dream of doing plastering.You could end up paying twice-once to do it yourself and once got the skilled plasterer to skim over 😂

Winterwoollies · 30/04/2020 14:26

You try to do it yourself and your house will look like it’s been built from wattle and daub. Awful. Do not do it.

Plastering is an insane skill and well worth paying a long-trained and skilled contractor for.