The quality of decorative finishes to a large extent depends on the leveling of the wall surface and the absence of visible defects. The process of final plastering, sealing cracks and potholes is carried out by applying putty, which must be correctly selected and a working solution is prepared to perform the work.
Types of putty sold
The modern market of building materials offers several types of putty mixtures, both dry and ready to use, for sale. Dry formulations are usually packaged in paper bags or bags. Ready-to-work materials are served in closed plastic buckets or other airtight containers. They are more expensive than dry powders and therefore they are bought for small amounts of work.
By the type of the basic basis for cooking, the following types of putty mixtures are distinguished:
- gypsum;
- water dispersion;
- oil-glue;
- cement;
- acrylic;
- polyvinyl acetate (PVA).
Due to low cost and excellent quality, gypsum mixtures are the most popular material for leveling walls. However, they cannot be used in rooms with high humidity.
Water dispersion the compositions are more expensive, but allow you to create the perfect matte surface of higher strength. Oil and glue base and cement compositions are used in rooms with high humidity. The negative qualities include a long setting process and an increase in repair time.
Acrylic mixtures are intended for the decoration of building facades, as well as for rooms with possible changes in temperature and humidity. The material has proven itself in restoring old coatings and repairing large cracks. Based formulations PVA are universal and have an antifungal effect. Sold only in ready-to-use form (we compared polymeric putties with gypsum here).
General recommendations for putty
When leveling the walls, it is necessary to properly prepare the working solution. Depending on the composition of the dry mixture, the process of dilution may vary. However, there are general rules for all types of putty:
- be sure to observe the proportions of the components indicated on the package;
- quick-drying mixtures should be kneaded in a small amount, which you can develop before the start of setting;
- with a mechanical method of preparation, the dry mixture should be poured into water, and not vice versa;
- manual mixing involves pouring water into a filled dry putty;
- after kneading, leave the putty for 10-15 minutes to settle, then mix again and get to work;
- Preparation of the solution for the subsequent layer can only be done after the previous putty has dried and the soil has been soaked.
Primer is made for each putty layer. Drying time of the soil - at least 6 hours.
Breeding proportions
At one time, it is recommended to knead as much putty that you can work out in 30-40 minutes. The fact is that after an hour the solution may begin to set, and you will waste money on the purchase of materials. An exception in this matter are cement-based mixtures, in which the start time of solidification is 6 or more hours. Putty drying time depends on the density of the solution, as well as the temperature and humidity in the room.
The exact proportions of the dry mix to solvent ratio (usually water) are indicated on the packaging. However, depending on the characteristics of the room and the state of the wall surface, the density of the solution may be slightly changed. It is convenient to use more liquid compositions when applying a thin layer, and thicker ones for a thicker one.
Usually the accepted ratio for the preparation of gypsum putty is 10 liters of water per 25 kg of dry mix, although sometimes the manufacturer recommends other proportions.
Putty preparation procedure
Kneading can be done manually or used for this electric drill with a construction mixer nozzle. The optimal tool rotation speed is at 600 rpm. In this case, the spraying of the solution will be minimal, and the quality of mixing is high.
The finished solution should be uniform, plastic and pliable when laying it on the wall. The presence of impurities and lumps is not allowed. The consistency of the mixture should resemble thick sour cream.
Mixer kneading
To prepare the working solution with a power tool, you will need a clean bucket without dried residues. Fill it with на of the volume of water. After that, pour the dry mixture inside so that it exceeds the water level by 1/3, if the material manufacturer did not give other recommendations for the ratio of components.
Wait a minute until the dry putty has completely fallen into the liquid and begin mixing with the mixer. Pay attention to the cleanliness of the nozzle. It should not contain dried particles that can contaminate the finished material. After obtaining a homogeneous mass, let the solution settle for 10-15 minutes, repeat mixing and proceed with puttying.
Manually
Putty can be prepared without the use of a power tool. Therefore, you need to know how to spread the putty for the walls manually. To do this, pour 6-8 trowels of the dry mixture into a dry clean bucket, add a small amount of water and mix well. After this, add more powder and continue kneading, gradually adding water until the desired consistency of the solution is obtained.
Nuances of putty breeding
The process of preparing putty mortars from dry building mixtures should take into account the granularity of the solid components and the basis on which they are produced.
Starting lineups
A feature of starting putties is a higher granularity of the material, mechanical strength and the absence of cracks even with increased layer thickness. The prepared solution must be left to stand for about 10 minutes, and then mix again. This is necessary for the complete wetting of coarse-grained components and to obtain a homogeneous mass.
Finishing putty
How to breed finishing putty for walls? When working with such a mixture should increase the mixing time, both the first and second. The solution is applied in a very thin layer and therefore the presence of even the smallest lumps is unacceptable. This is guaranteed to be achieved only as a result of mechanical mixing with a mixer.
Depending on the base material
Carefully read the instructions for preparing the putty mixture on the packaging. Manufacturers of building materials indicate the optimal proportions of the components, but they are not always suitable for special types of finishes. Putty preparation technology should take into account:
- base material - gypsum, cement or polymers;
- granularity of components;
- type of the processed surface.
Usually accepted proportions:
- for dissolving 1 kg of gypsum mixture - 0.8 liters of water;
- 1 kg of cement composition - 0.4 l of liquid;
- 1 kg of dry polymer material - 0.5 l of water.
A very fluid consistency leads to sagging, and too thick leads to cracks. The content of lumps and impurities is unacceptable.