Plaster is a building material used for covering rough surfaces of walls, columns, ceilings and other building component with thin coat of plastic mortars to form a smooth durable Surface. The coating of plastic material (i.e. mortar) is termed as plaster. This process is known as plastering. Plastering on outside open surface is also known as rendering.
Mortar is lean mix of Binding Materials (Lime or Cement ) with fillers such as sand or crushed stones.
For good plaster, it is necessary that the plaster should have proper bond with the surface of masonry.
Plaster is manufactured as a dry powder and is mixed with water to make the hard but efficient paste before it is applied to the surface.
A form of plastering was used by the ancient civilizations, creating durable and weather resistant structures using mud.
Objectives of Plastering
- Plaster provides a smooth, regular, clean and durable finished surface with improved appearance.
- People use plaster to cover the bare stone or brick on the walls of houses, both inside and outside.
- Plaster can cover unsound & porous material.
- Plaster protects the surface from atmospheric influences.
- Plaster increases the strength of wall.
- Plasters have ability to increases the durability /life of wall.
- It can prevent the penetration of water from one side to other.
- It gives decorative
- Plaster provides a suitable plain surface for color wash/paints.
- Plaster provides fire prevention up to certain extent.
Classification of Plaster
| Based on Ingredients | Based on Types of Finishes | Based on Coat | Based on Popularity | Based on Proportion of Binding Material |
| Lime plaster | Smooth cast plaster finish | Single coat plaster | Neeru (Sanala) finish plaster | 1:1 |
| Cement plaster | Roughcast plaster finish | Double coat plaster | Sand faced plaster | 1:2 |
| Gypsum plaster | Sand faced plaster finish | Three coat plaster | 1:3 | |
| Clay plaster | Scrapped plaster finish | 1:4 | ||
| Mud plaster | Texture plaster finish | 1:5 | ||
| Stucco plaster | Pebble dash plaster finish | 1:6 | ||
| Cow Dung plaster |
Material Required for Plastering
- Fine sand/ coarse sand
- Aggregate
- Water
- Cement/ lime/ clay/ gypsum/ mud etc
- Admixtures
- Neeru (Sanala)
Thickness of Plaster
01. Internal Plaster:
- 6 mm to 12 mm thick plaster used on internal plaster, completed in one coat.
- 6 mm thick plaster is used for ceiling plaster to RCC slab. For wall plaster 6mm to 12 mm thick plaster is used.
02. External Plaster:
- 18mm-20mm thick plaster is used as external either rough or smooth-faced, and done in two layers.
Types of Plaster
The different types of plaster can be classified on the basis of ingredients used and the proportion of building materials.
01. Classification Based on Ingredients Used
(a) Lime Plaster
(b) Cement Plaster
Cement Plaster is also the type of plaster which is mixture of sand, Portland cement and water. It is particularly suitable for moist conditions. Cement plaster is normally applied in one coat, which is usually applied to achieve smooth surfaces on the internal and external surface of masonry. Various cement-based plasters are also used as proprietary spray fire proofing products.
(c) Gypsum Plaster
In Gypsum Plaster, gypsum is used as a binding material instead of Portland cement. It is available in ready to use format and does not need sand. It is used only on internal walls and ceilings. Again it cannot be used in wet areas like a toilet, bath, kitchen, wash area, etc. Gypsum plaster does not require curing which saves up on all that water. It can be applied on both smooth and rough surfaces.
(d) Clay Plaster
Clay plaster is a mixture of clay and sand that makes a beautiful, durable Surface. Clay plaster is made up from cheap and non-toxic ingredients. Clay has the natural ability to control moisture and heat from the surrounding air. Materials can often be found on local building site.
The techniques for mixing and applying are very simple and plaster is very indulgent, even for beginners. Clay plasters are only suitable for interior surfaces.
(e) Mud Plaster/ Cow Dung Plaster
This mud plaster is prepared from equal volumes of well tempered clay or brick earth and chopped straw, loose soil or hemp and cow dung. All these ingredients are thoroughly mixed and left for about 7 days with a large quantity of water. This is mixed again thoroughly till it comes to the desired consistency of mortar.
Mud plaster is bar oldest and very cheap. Usually mud plaster is done in construction on a large scale in rural areas for low cost housing. This type of plaster is still done on large scale. Mud walls usually do not have any foundation.
(f) Stucco Plaster
Stucco or Render is a material made up of aggregates, binder and water. Stucco is applied wet and it hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, and is used as an artistic material in the architecture.
Stucco may be used to cover less visually attractive construction materials, such as metal, concrete, cinder block, or clay brick and adobe brick. In stucco colored aggregate are used which gives it a beautiful look. The binders are generally chemical & the thickness of the layer is very less.
02. Classification Based on Types of Finishes
(a) Smooth Cast Plaster Finish
In this finish, smooth, leveled surface is obtained. The mortar for the finish may be made of cement and fine sand. Mortar is applied with the help of wooden float. Steel floats are not recommended for external renderings since they give a very smooth finish which is liable to cracking and crazing under exposure to atmospheric condition. Generally this kind of plaster is used to coat the internal walls.
(b) Rough Cast Plaster Finish
This plaster is a mixture of sand and gravel, which is covered on freshly plastered surfaces. Roughcast plaster finish is also known as “Spartan Dash Finish”. Mortar used to get rough cast finish consist coarse aggregate along with cement and sand. A large quantity of mortar is taken by trowel and it is dashed into the surface and leveled by using wooden float. Generally, this type of plaster finish is preferred for external renderings.
(c) Sand Faced Plaster Finish
Sand faced plaster is a layer of cement-sand mortar applied on brickwork and also serves as a damp-proof coat over the masonry. This type of plaster is used to give a finishing touch to a surface on walls and ceilings. To some extent, they also serve as a sound and thermal insulation material. Sand faced plaster is also used as a decorative touch to the buildings and provides a sustainable base for paint colors.
A sponge is used on the second coat when the second coat is wet. It works like a sand grain and makes the surface equal and uniform. Thus in this plaster, artificial micro cracks are provided to reduce the cracks.
(d) Scrapped Plaster Finish
Scrapped plaster is a finish in final coat. After being leveled, it is allowed to stiffen for a few hours. When it has set, it is scraped with a steel straight edge or saw blade to remove some 2 mm from the surface to produce a coarse textured finish. Various types of scrapped finished can be obtained by using different types of tools.
(e) Textured Plaster Finish
Textured finish is obtained from the stucco plastering. Textured plaster finish can be created with different tools on the final coat. This type of finish possesses all the advantages of rough cast finish.
(f) Pebble Dash/ Washed Stone Unit Plaster Finish
Pebble dash plaster is similar to roughcast plaster. It is a finish in which small pebbles or crushed stones of suitable size (usually varying from 6 to 20 mm) are used after first coat of plastering, Pebbles aggregate are dashed on to the coated surface, and press on them by using wooden float into the plastered surface slowly. After pressing cement slurry is cleared to give a look of only stones. Many times groves or pattern are created to give a better look. After hardening, they provide an aesthetic look to the structure.
03. Popular Plasters Widely Used for Building Constructions
(a) Neeru (Sanala) Finish Plaster for Internal Surfaces in Cement Mortar
Instant Neeru (Sanala) is easily available in the market. Prepare a paste of the Neeru (Sanala) by adding water, two hours before its application on a fresh plastered surface. Instant Neeru (Sanala) is very convenient and easy to use. Small quantity of cement can be added to Neeru (Sanala), to improve its bonding with plaster.
Quality of Neeru (Sanala) should be checked before applying it to the plastered surface.
Mortar for Neeru (Sanala) finish shall consist of 1 part lime putty and 1 part fine sand. The mixture shall be properly ground to a fine paste between two stones.
The surface of the undercoat on which the Neeru finish is to be done shall be left rough.
The thickness of the Neeru finish shall not be less than 3 mm thick.
(b) Sand Faced Plaster for External Surfaces in Cement Mortar
Sand faced plaster is a layer of cement-sand mortar applied over brickwork and it also serves as a damp-proof coat over the masonry. This type of plaster is used to give a finishing touch to a surface.
A sponge is used on the second coat when the second coat is wet. It works like a sand grain and makes the surface equal and uniform. In this plaster, artificial micro cracks are provided to reduce the cracks.
(c) Mala Plaster
Mala plaster is not a technical word and it is not described anywhere in any Code or any textbook. It is a word derived from local practice and tradition. Hence there is all possibility that every different location people defend it differently. However, it is a single coat plaster without any smooth finish. It has a rough finish but again not that much rough and textured like double coat sand face plaster. It is not used as a final finish, and it is used as a sub coat only. It mostly used for the surface where either POP putty or other putty is to be applied as a sub-base of painting as this putty needs a rough surface. It is left rough for providing a bond. Generally, thickness varies from 20 to 50 mm, and the proportion is as adopted for normal and internal plaster.
04. Classification Based on Coat
(a) Single Coat Plaster
The first coat is called a “scratch coat” and it applied to a thickness of 10mm, then it is scratched or screwed with a comb to give it a rough texture. This is also known as single coat plaster. External plaster is never done in single coat.
(b) Double Coat Plaster
The second rough coat is made of the same mixture, and it is called “brown coat”. Brown coat is applied directly to the approximate 10 mm thickness on the scratch coat but leaves the undesired. The sand also provides a rough plaster texture. This is also known as double coat plaster.
(c) Three Coat Plaster
Three coat plaster system starts with two coats or rough coats. The sand used in the rough-coat plaster is the most common. This is known as finish coat plaster.
05. Classification Based on Proportion of Binding Material (Cement/Lime: Sand)
Different grades of cement mortars, are generally used for plastering, masonry or flooring.
(a) 1:1 (1 Cement: 1 Sand)
Cement mortar ratio 1: 1 indicates that there is one part of cement/ lime and one part of sand. This is very rich mortar mix.
(b) 1:2 (1 Cement: 2 Sand)
Cement mortar ratio 1: 2 indicates that there is one part of cement/ lime and two part of sand. This is also very rich mortar mix.
(c) 1:3 (1 Cement: 3 Sand)
Cement mortar ratio 1: 3 indicates that there is one part of cement/ lime and three part of sand. This is also very rich mortar mix. This mortar mix is not used in general applications. It can be used as a repair mortar.
(d) 1:4 (1 Cement: 4 Sand)
Cement mortar ratio 1: 4 indicates that there is one part of cement/ lime and four part of sand.
In Plasterwork Generally 1: 4 used for external plaster and ceiling plaster, where plaster is 10- 12 mm thick.
(e) 1:5 (1 Cement: 5 Sand)
Cement mortar ratio 1: 5 indicates that there is one part of cement/ lime and five part of sand. These are used in both internal and external plaster. Thickness of internal plaster can be 12 mm and external plaster thickness can be 15mm to 18 mm.
(f) 1:6 (1 Cement: 6 Sand)
Cement mortar ratio 1:6 indicates that there is one part of cement/ lime and six part of sand. This ratio can be maintained for external plaster. Thickness of external plaster can be 15 mm to 20 mm.
The above are all volumetric proportions.In Western or European country, plaster is getting outdated as it is labour intensive wet process. Which is also time consuming and its look ultimately depends on the skill of Mason.
However, in India an Asian countries, it is most widely used a popular, as it is the cheapest and best material to protect and decorate bricks or stone works.
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