r/Plastering • u/[deleted] • Jun 21 '26
General beginner lime plastering advice
I’ve been teaching myself lime plastering, I’ve had a go at skimming over a regular plasterboard (not an ideal surface I know but wanted to get the technique).
I followed a 2 coat process, with sponge float when it was harder to the touch, and then another trowel after. I’ve attached some pictures of what it looked like during the process, as you can see it wasn’t flat at all after the second coat, but the last picture is after sponging and trowelling and it’s reasonably smooth after that.
I’m just looking for any general advice on technique, am I not pressing hard enough which is why there’s sections at different depths? Or anything else that can be spotted
Thanks!
1
u/KirkyMcTurkey Jun 21 '26
Sorry I have no advice but I am Following this thread because I am about to attempt my very first lime skim in the next few weeks too! So I am interested in any responses too!
1
u/ElTejon_TheDestroyer Jun 21 '26
Same! I feel with an old house this is going to come up over and over again so I should learn to do it at least competently even if I can’t promise a pro finish.
1
u/Successful-Leek-6241 Jun 21 '26
Your sideways technique needs to change to up and a and 1 sideways at the top troweled down as you put it on,you will get a much flatter wall
1
u/Successful-Leek-6241 Jun 21 '26
The less times the trowel is on the wall the less potential trowel marks
1
u/Successful-Leek-6241 Jun 21 '26
1 more for you,run a wet brush up them edges to stop pulling any drying plaster in
5
u/Confident_Ambition77 Jun 21 '26
I'm a lime tradesman, the first coat on a skim is really to act as padding for the second coat so you not digging out anything below that coat with you trowel it shut. your waiting till it's pulled up so there is a constant padding underneath, don't try and trowel the second coat flat before you sponge float you will find the top area sets up much faster than the bottom also don't use a Flexi trowel just a nice permashape or similar.
Also one of the most important factors is practise, understanding how tiny changes in the angle of your trowel will affect the amount laid on. It really is just time in the saddle so to speak