Just got back from a well deserved vacaton trip to bro’s in CO. The last day I was there we finished his garage using the D Mix system. The outcome is great. I’m a fairly competent finisher and was anxious to try something new.
Standard 2 car garage. We used a little less than 2 5’s of jc. We mixed 1/2 bucket of mud w/1 gal. primer and 1 12″ dw pan of plaster of paris. Covered about a wall and a 1/4 9′ high. He rolled and I finished. 3/4 roller and a 12″ knife. I came after him and semi smoothed then dropped back and finished. This gave the mix enough time to set for smooth finish.
The whole thing took about three hours between the 2 of us and turned out very nice for a garage. Some shrinkage at the screws (this was on new dw – taped the flats w/mesh and the angles w/paper).
Thanks to all for the tips.
Replies
He rolled and I finished. 3/4 roller and a 12" knife.
What type of roller?
Some shrinkage at the screws
Next time hit the screws with a "heavy on the plaster paris" first coat.
Your method was good. To get the same results from regular 3-4 coat job..
you will need to go back 3-4 times???
Not only that, but you have a better job...even on your very first try.
Good job.
Dino: But look at his proportion of PoP. A full mud box of PoP? Should have turned to concrete on contact w/ the wall.DonThe GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
Don...my stomachs starting to bounce! I was thinking the same thing!
What happened to the coffee cup?
Here we go again!
blue
Ps this is hilarios!Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
and 1 12" dw pan of plaster of paris
Blue. Don. Is only a typo. 1 1/2" ???
Edited 3/24/2005 10:25 pm ET by YCFriend
Yc, that wasn't no typo. The guy simply ignored the Dunkin donuts instructions and like a wildcat, just did his own thing.
I'm surprised that the stuff didn't explode!
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
Blue: Got my 20 guage - just a'waitin' fer them cats! I'll herd them.Don't ya just love it?!DonThe GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
No No No
I only used a 12" drywall mud pan of PoP not a mud box???
Set time was perfect...no explosions...no cats.
Thanks for the concern
I'm a fairly competent finisher and was anxious to try something new.
Don't drive them crazy. The DD cup of coffee is for the beginners. After they learn the basics they can mix the D-Mix to suit their needs and skills.
More plaster of paris.less primer,more joint compound? Is all up to your skills.
you must be a pro if you only used a 12" drywall mud pan of PoP.
Good job.
We used to do hot patch repairs with lightweight mud and casting plaster and a splash of cement bonder (similar to white glue). About 5 parts mud, 2 or 3 parts c. plaster and 1/2 part bonder. One coat patches up to an inch deep and NO shrinkage. A little too fast for whole wall finishing.
So, What is your take on the mix?
I like it and will use it again. Probably play with the ratios a bit to dial it in.
"semi smoothed and then dropped back and finished"
How did you finish? Like traditional plaster - by sprinkling some water and rubbing out with a trowel?
sounds like what he had was pretty much regular plaster, just thined with joint compund insted of the fillers normally found in plaster. I have made up some hot mud like that on site out of structolight , Gyp powder and jointcompound and it behaved much like Diamond plaster, I guess the PVA in the mix acts as a whetting agent and also thins the mix so that it can be applied with a roller.
Something i saw my plasterer (SP) do to insure an even coat on a skim job was use a notched trowel to lay out the material on the wall and then he came back with his trowels to smooth.... man this guy was fast, He had one hoddie mixing, one laying out the gauged plaster with the notched trowel and him following with the finish trowel. He would finish a wall and set the hoddie a mixing and the assistant a cleaning while he once overed the wall he just completed, then off to the other walls.
james
James,
The notched trowel is a good idea.
I'm trying to smooth some very rough old plaster walls and have tried the d-mix on a few areas to date. I'm pretty happy with the results considering my limited finishing experience, but have yet to achieve the level 5 finish with the first pass. I resorted to applying the first coat, smoothing, and then applying a thin second coat to achieve satisfactory smoothness.
Perhaps I could "rework" the areas before they have set, but I have been unable to do so without having the material lift off the wall. I think the troweling technique might be worth a shot to ensure consistent apllication of the mix.
Scott
Maybe not so traditional - wet sponge in one hand to 'splash' the wall w/a little water and a 12" drywall trowell in the other to smooth. Came out pretty smooth and with the mix ratio I was able to finish before it set up too much.