Professional advice on how to remove decorative plaster from walls

If during renovation it becomes necessary to remove decorative plaster from the walls, then this can become a real problem for an unprofessional craftsman. After all, it cannot be removed as easily as wallpaper.

To remove the coating, preparatory work is required, as well as the availability of special tools.

Read the article about how to remove decorative plaster from walls.

Preparation

Before starting work, it is necessary to clarify the location of the wiring. Damaging electrical wires is unsafe as it can cause fire and electric shock.

Preparatory activitiesthat must be completed before removing the decorative plaster:

1. Floors and furniture remaining in the room must be covered with plastic film. To prevent flying solid pieces from damaging the coating, it is recommended to lay corrugated cardboard or other material that can soften the impacts under the film.
2. Windows and doors are covered with stretch film, securing it on the sides with masking tape. This is necessary to protect against dust, splinters and splashes.
3. All lighting fixtures are removed from the walls, switches and sockets are unscrewed.
4. Before starting work, the room is de-energized.
5. It is not necessary to remove the chandelier; it can be wrapped in film.
6. Window sills are covered with paper, for example, old wallpaper. To prevent them from falling, they are fixed with a weight.
7. To prevent dust from spreading into other rooms, the cracks in the doorways are closed.
8. Prepare garbage bags. They must be not only roomy, but also durable, since the plaster is quite heavy.
9. If you have to work in the dark, you need to take care of the availability of portable lamps.

When covering windows with polyethylene, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of opening them for ventilation.

How to delete?

To remove decorative plaster, you can use various tools. The most accessible of them are a chisel and a hammer. Grinding and vibrating machines and hammer drills are considered simpler and more practical to use.

Chisel and hammer

If the plaster layer is held tightly, use a chisel and hammer.

Algorithm of actions:

• the chisel is placed at an angle of 45 degrees to the coating;
• they hit it from above with a hammer, systematically breaking off a piece from the wall;
• This way they work on the entire wall.

To make dismantling faster, the plaster is “divided” into squares or strips using a chisel.

Grinder

A grinding machine allows you to increase the speed of work. You can choose a tool that runs on mains power, gasoline, a battery, or a compressor.

The continuous operation time of the grinding machine is 15 minutes, after which the instrument must be allowed to cool. If this is not done, it may burn out.

A sanding machine is used to remove a thin layer of coating. For processing, use a diamond or flap abrasive disc.To clean the walls from plaster residues, use a brush attachment.

The sander is easy to use. It is brought into working condition, leaned against the wall and the surface is systematically worked on.

Hammer

You can get rid of a thick layer of decorative plaster using a hammer drill or a drill with a chipper. This tool is suitable for removing thick and unsanded coatings.

It will be problematic to work through the entire wall with a hammer drill, so it is used mainly in those places where the layer of plaster is especially thick.

Mode of application:

1. Drill a groove in the wall, holding the hammer drill perpendicular to the surface.
2. When the base becomes visible, work is stopped.
3. Tilt the tool so as to form an angle of 30-45 degrees.
4. Bring the impact blade to the groove and begin to knock down the plaster from top to bottom.

Roughing spatula

If the layer of plaster is not too dense, it can be removed with a scraping spatula.

Use the tool as follows:

• lean the spatula against the wall vertically;
• tap its handle with a hammer, making indentations over the entire processing area - they should reach the base;
• tilt the spatula at an angle of 45 degrees and clean the wall, moving from top to bottom.

Vibrating machine

A vibrating grinder is a device with a rectangular-shaped working surface. Sandpaper is attached to it, which acts as sandpaper.

When turned on, the sole of the machine makes forward vibration movements, due to which the plaster will be cleaned from the wall.

The tool is wise to use when it is necessary to remove a thin layer decorative covering. It would be good if the device is equipped with a dust collector.

How to remove a Venetian?

Venetian decorative plaster is distinguished by the fact that it is applied in a thin layer. It will not be possible to chip it with a chisel or hammer, as this will damage the wall. This type of coating can only be removed by sanding or manual scraping.

To make your work as productive as possible, It’s better to get several attachments at once: an emery wheel and a wire brush. A useful tool in the set will be a scraper, which is represented by a rounded steel plate on the handle.

In general, the principle of removing Venetian plaster is no different from that used to process any other thin-layer coating. The main thing is to control the pressing force.

When is it better to repair rather than remove?

Plaster does not always need to be completely removed. It can be left partially, if some area needs repair or renovation, or there is a need to redo a poorly applied composition. This will save time on dismantling and money on finishing materials.

Sometimes partial removal is performed in areas where rust has appeared. Before starting work, the area must be delineated.

What should you not do?

Recommendations that should not be violated when removing decorative plaster:

1. Impact tools are not used to remove thin-layer coatings. It will not be possible to work with them carefully, which will damage the wall.
2. If the plaster layer is thick, do not use a sander, as this will take a lot of time and lead to the formation of a large amount of dust.
3. You cannot start work without personal protective equipment.
4. Do not leave the device turned on for more than 15-20 minutes.
5. Do not perform work in a room with electricity connected.

Helpful information

Tips to help you remove quickly and safely decorative plaster from the wall:

1. To make work easier, the wall can be moistened with hot water. It will not only reduce the amount of dust, but also slightly soften the frozen layer.
2. The walls need to be wetted constantly until all the plaster is removed. This will simplify cleaning and speed up the work.
3. When removing plaster, you need to take care of your own safety. The use of gloves, a respirator and construction glasses is mandatory.
4. If the coating is applied not only to the walls, but also to the ceiling, you need to take care of a stable base. It is better to use a construction ladder as an elevation rather than a stool.

Conclusion

Removing decorative plaster from a wall in an apartment is not difficult. To do this, you can use a handy tool in the form of a hammer, spatula or chisel.

To remove a thick layer, use impact technology, and for cleaning thin Venetian plaster, a grinding or vibrating machine is more suitable. The main thing is to observe safety precautions when carrying out work.