When your child, dog, or guest accidentally puts a hole in the wall, it is frustrating. You may look at the wall and wonder how you can fix it without spending money on a skilled labourer to replace the sheetrock. Plastering and filling patches is a lost art that is relatively simple.
You can find many articles and how-to videos on the art of plastering. Once you are ready to get started, you may quickly realise you do not have any tools. You drive down to your local construction or tool store and notice it is very expensive to buy tools separately. Plastering tool kits are a wonderful option. They save you money and include the basic tools needed to plaster your wall for repair. Plaster tool kits are not all the same. Here are the top four items you should look for when you are purchasing a plaster tool kit.
- Heavy-Bristle Paint Brush
You will need a heavy paint brush to dampen the surface of the wall to allow for smooth application. A thick paint brush will also help to clean areas the trowel cannot reach. You will want to look for a plastering kit that includes a heavy-bristled 4-inch paint brush.
- Spackle Knife
A spackle knife is one of the most important plastering tools for any size plaster job. You may think a spackle knife is too small, but they help to remove uneven surfaces before the repair. You will take the spackle knife and run it across the cracks around the hole or damaged area. It will chip off the old plaster. If you do not chip off old plaster, the new plaster can fall off or chip once you are finished.
- Hawk
A plaster hawk is a flat surface. It has a handle attached making it easy for you to carry wet plaster. You will use the plaster hawk to get mud onto a trowel. It can be difficult to butter and clean your trowel, so you will want to ensure you have a drop cloth or other material protecting your floors during your plaster project. A hawk is typically square. Generally, a 12-inch by 12-inch plaster hawk is perfect for any sized repair.
- Trowel
You will need a trowel to apply plaster to the surface. A trowel will also help you smooth the plaster once applied. Professional plasters often have many different-sized trowels. When you are searching for a plaster kit, one 12-inch plaster trowel should suffice. If you can, you should sand the corners to lessen the likelihood of lines left on the wall.