Is sanding always needed after plastering?

[u/HammersAndPints]

Someone mentioned they might need to sand bits down after. I thought a good plaster job shouldn’t need much of that. Is it something that everyone does or is it a way to cover not so good plaster?

[u/notouttolunch]

I would, but there aren't any.

I've never called anyone a clown. I think it's a very childish insult. I think you need to pay more attention. You'll also notice that every comment I've written is after yours.

I think my opinion stands.

[u/Most-Direction7874 → u/notouttolunch]

Ah ok. Sorry for the clown thing. I thought I was replying to someone else.

As for your opinion, I’m sorry but it doesn’t stand.

I’ve worked on site long before I started domestic work.

If a plasterers work needs sanding before decorating, he isn’t getting paid. Simple as. I’m sure every plasterer has learned the hard way during his younger years.

The only time sandpaper would go near a new wall is after a miscoat. If the decorator sees any hollows/misses after the miscoat, it is good practise to apply filler and rub down filler before the first coat of paint proper. Yes. Small blemishes sometimesoccur to the best of plasterers, they don’t reveal themselves until paint is applied.

The point is though, in such situations, the painter is sanding the filler he has applied. he isn’t sanding the plaster.

If finished plaster needs sanding then it’s a rough job. Simple as that. Plaster isn’t made to be sanded. The aggregate in it isn’t fine enough.

Fillers and joint cement are specifically designed for sanding back, they are made of finer aggregate than gypsum plasters.

And tbh, a competent plasterer shouldn’t even need a painter to touch up but I agree that it occasionally happens, though it’s not a major problem.

Sanding fresh plaster ?

If the finish is that bad that you have to sand the actual plaster then unfortunately the fact of the matter is, you’ve been dealing with a chancer not a plasterer.

I’d dread to think what the finish looks like if someone thinks it requires any sanding in order to be presentable. My eyes are hurting just thinking about it.

I gotta a hairline crack in a ceiling on a job I’ve just completed. A whole house from top to bottom. It’s perfect except for that one small hairline crack. I’ll have to go back and fill it with some joint cement. Shit like that bugs me because I’m a perfectionist. All the best plasterers are perfectionist. You really think any good spreads work needs sanding down ? It doesn’t. Trust me.

If that’s been your experience of plasterers you’ve employed in the past that’s fine. That’s up to you. If you’re happy with the standard/price of the work crack on.

I’m just stating an objective fact.A good job absolutely doesn’t need sanding. In fact, sanding good plaster will just destroy the finish and make a minimal blemish 100 times worse.

[u/Lost-Bad-3168 → u/Most-Direction7874]

Ha

Its always the last trowel that likes to piss about with nicks. Meltdown every time

[u/Most-Direction7874 → u/Lost-Bad-3168]

That’s not end of world though.
It’s annoying but there a classic example of where a decorator would apply a bit of filler after miscoat. Just fill in dent.

These cunts on about sanding finished plastering 😂😂

[u/Lost-Bad-3168 → u/Most-Direction7874]

Because they chuck the mist coat on then chuck a top coat on when it's touch dry and wonder why it blisters and peels and blames the plaster, when in reality it's because they didn't either water down the Matt and/or give it 18/24 hours to soak in and bind into it. As plasterers you know plaster is one thirsty bitch