Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 23, 1999 07:26am | #1

   *
   Tape the drywall, we use durabond 90 and mesh tape. While doing the taping make random strokes with the durabond in the field to help hide the joints.

   Get some 80lb. bags of Gypsolite (accept no substitutes) plaster and mix in a 5 gallon bucket with a paddle. Apply off a hawk with a pool trowel and find a texture you like. Do not bear down hard, just float the aggregate. If it is fresh drywall there is no need for a bonding agent. Do the ceilings first of course and work from the corners out on the walls. Use a bull nose on the corners for a softer look but you must go around the rounded corners at one shot to the next 90 degree corner as there is no way to blend in a dry/wet joint gracefully. We only do one coat here---

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 24, 1999 03:24am | #2

   *Okay, the real people are probably gonna think that this is the height of tacky, but it worked great for a kitchen in which my daughter wanted to have an old plaster look. It was done over real plaster walls, which were in basically good condition, but needed some patching (which we did before we started):We bought some of that texture paint, in "Sand Finish," from Home Depot (comes only in five-gallon buckets). My daughter and I did the work, and after much experimentation, we ended up using a rubber tile float! It gave us the look we wanted, which wasi notsmooth, but kind of a rough, hand-plastered look. We were told that this stuff could be applied with a roller, then smoothed out, if desired, but that method seemed to make extra work, and the consistancy was such that it wasn't that hard to trowel on. If we had to do over again, we would have probably used the smooth-finish texture paint, as the sand texture was really not necessary for the finished look we wanted. She then painted the walls with one coat of pale yellow latex, and I am now in the process of doing a darker wash over this color, in order to have that aged look. I like it the way it is, without the aged look, but it's her kitchen. ; )Hey, panelmal, I'm always willing to learn new stuff, so I was glad to see your post on this! I have a couple of questions: What exactly is Gypsolite? Is it pure plaster, like plaster of paris? Is it a good patching medium for real plaster walls? And what's a pool trowel? Thanks!Patty

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 24, 1999 05:25am | #3

   *Gypsolite I had not heard of -- try typing it into Altavista -- here's one hit.pool trowel is kind of oval shaped -- no corner to dig in. meant for ... troweling pools? Really nice for working in the field of a wall.Um, Patty, what is a wash, anyway? You sound like a regular Debbie Travis.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 24, 1999 10:37am | #4

   *Andrew, I gotta get me one of those pool trowels! Sounds nice for avoiding those "the corner dug a hole" spots! A wash is one of those popular decorator wall finishes where you dilute the paint with water and sponge/frottage/wipe/brush it over the base coat; you can do this more than once to the base coat, if you want more "depth." I avoid these jobs, as: I don't enjoy it; it's tedious and labor intensive; someone is usually looking over your shoulder, armed with suggestions; and, finally, I will have to quadruple my medication if I have to look at another washed/combed/glazed wall. ; ) All my walls and trim are linen white. If I do this stuff at all, it's because blood is thicker than water; that means I have three daughters who love to bring me the latest decorating magazine, point to a particular photo, and say, "Hey, Mom! You can do that! Yes, you can! You arei sogood at this stuff! Please? Pretty please?" I admit it - I'm a sucker! Plus it's a good way to learn a new technique (but don't tell them that!). Now, who is Debbie Travis?I found a link on http://www.scenicexpress.com for something called GypsoLite Blending Compound; this is a site for those who build model landscapes (they have some really cool fake trees, too!), so it might be the same thing. I e-mailed them for more info, as I thought maybe it was something I could use in re-gilding old plaster-base picture frames, instead of mixing up a bole (don't even ask about that - I'm still learning about it, and it's kind of boring anyway).Hey, aharvey, I'll trade you some plaster wall texturing for some patching! ; )Patty, who has the habit of digressing

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 24, 1999 10:43pm | #5

   *Debbie Travis / Painted House -- the cheery woman who gives my wife all these ideas. I'm painting the walls one those 6,000 very pale yellow (off-white?) colors, the trim semi-g Behr Victorian Linen (a super color, IMHO) -- she can mess with them later if she likes!

2. 
   Guest_ | Apr 26, 1999 08:07am | #6

   *I do a hand knock down that looks like plaster this way. Use ordinary topping or all purpose. Thin to a normal finishing consistency. Apply with a 12" knife held pretty flat to the surface. It is easier with a 6" knife, but not as quick. It will take some practice but you will be able to get it to skip over the surface and apply the mud in a uniform texture. When the mud dries to the point where it won't smear, knock it down flat with an 18" knife. With some practice you'll be able to do the whole process very fast.

3. 
   Guest_ | Apr 26, 1999 05:19pm | #7

   *Patty, The patching plaster I use is custom made up of spackling compound mixed with some Gypsolite, which by the way is a true plaster manufactured by Gold Bond that has perlite in it. It is not plaster of paris. Trying to patch plaster with plaster is not easy as it doesn't cold joint well as I mentioned before. The spackling compound spreads like butter and the added plaster provides the texture. Is good for small to medium patching.

4. 
   Guest_ | Apr 26, 1999 05:35pm | #8

   *I'm guessing that Gypsolite is the same thing as Structolite, a perlited plaster product from USG that is probably more widely available.

5. 
   Guest_ | Apr 26, 1999 07:02pm | #9

   *80 lbs of it in my basement in fact about $12

6. 
   Guest_ | Apr 26, 1999 07:04pm | #11

   *Mike, do you put something between drywall & mud to improve adhesion? Or does it just stick fine as is?

2. 
   aharvey | Apr 26, 1999 07:04pm | #10

   *
   My girlfriend and I really like the look
   of what I've been told is a plaster "sand coat". How do we get this without doing real plaster, and if that's the only way, what's involved? I'm a pretty good drywaller, if it matters. TIA