Plastering a Ceiling

[36TEAK36]

I have recently plastered some Walls at home (with great success), and now feel confident enough to tackle the Ceiling, but am looking for some advice please. The Ceiling was originally wallpapered, but I have removed the paper and now have the bare plaster ceiling to work with.

My problem is regarding bonding, and whether or not I need to do this before plastering.I have looked at various websites and seem to get conflicting information. Some say that bonding with PVA is not required on plaster, whilst others say that this is required.Some also say that if you do PVA, then you should let it dry before plastering, whilst others say make sure the plastering is done before the PVA is dry.

If anyone has any experience of plastering ceilings, any advice would be most appreciated.

Also, the ceiling had some minor cracks in it which I do not want to reappear in the future. I have filled these cracks with filler and have covered with mesh joining tape. I then covered the mesh tape with a layer of PVA. Have I done the right thing here, or is there a better way of dealing with these cracks?

[The Builder]

Go for it Teak ..................
If anybody needs persuading, then let them try to skim a ceiling without PVA. The old plaster will suck the water out of the skim before you can get it off the trowel. PVA reduces the suction so that the skim "dries" by chemical reaction alone ..........
It also regularises any differing backgrounds you might have ........ for instance, bare plasterboard, old skim, old lath & plaster .......... so that they all react the same.
Somewhere around 5 to 1 water to PVA. No need to let it dry out completely, but it must be tacky enough so that you don't bring it all off again with the skim. Everyone has their own preferred system, but you shouldn't go wrong with this method.
Sel-adhesive scrim cloth on the cracks............. no need to fill them. Put the scrim on just before you skim, so that the plaster can get into the cloth and the plaster is then "re-inforced" a bit like GRP fibreglass....... if you know what I mean.
How big is the area, and how high is the ceiling?

[AlBags]

I'd use Multi-finish on that, too .. not Finish.

[36TEAK36]

Thanks very much for the advice, it is most appreciated. One of the things I was concerned about was the old plaster sucking the water out, and it makes perfect sense to me now that I should PVA first.

The ceiling is around 4M X 4M and is just a standard height Ceiling.

[The Builder]

Ok Teak .......... ceilings are obviously a little more awkward than walls, especially for a first-timer. You need to give yourself plenty of time to get the first coat on before you "lay it down" (ie put the final coat on). To help you, let the PVA dry completely. The next day, put another coat on and carry on as I described above. That may be a bit over the top, and you might find the skim sliding around a bit as you put it on, but it will give you time to get the whole ceiling on in one go without it catching up with you.
As for ceiling height ............... one guy I use, wanders around with a pair of steps. I usually kick a milk crate around the room. Shorthouses often rig the whole room out with a raised deck ................ good luck to you :o)

[36TEAK36]

Thanks for you help Bulider, I will do exactly as you suggest.

I have a small step ladder, but I also have a milk crate which I did a 'test run' with at the weekend, and I found the milk crate much easier to use.

[jomifl]

I have found that spraying with water before the pva reduces the 'suction' of plaster and extends the workability of the skim also a quick spray if it starts to get unworkable through 'suction' can save the day. Any thoughts Builder?

[ceilingeastern]

If u need any plastering services freely contact Eastern Ceilings and Partitions http://easternceilingsandpartitions.com.au/services/

[LiamDS]

You could try a bonding agent like this (Febond Blue Grit)
https://www.solseal.co.uk/products/feb-febond-blue-grit-10l/
It can be rolled on, and proved an excellent key for plaster, especially on poor surfaces.