(Newswire.net — February 25, 2018) — Plastering walls and ceilings may seem like an ordinary everyday job. Little do we think about the artistry that goes into a wall that has been done professionally. Whether you do it for the commercial benefits of soundproofing or fireproofing rooms or the artistic flare with adding texture and customised moulding, plaster can never truly find itself out of style.
If you are thinking of doing a little bit of DIY work or are considering replacing your old plastering trowels but lack the experience of buying one there are a couple things to remember in selecting plasterer’s tools. It isn’t a matter of the bigger the plastering tool the better, or the heavier the better. The size of the trowel depends on the person, and it is best to find one that best suits you and your style.
The Brick Trowel
The brick trowel is also more commonly known as the mason’s trowel. This might be the most frequently seen tool. It has a pointed nose. This is used to spread the mortar or cement on bricks or concrete blocks, the technique is called “buttering”. A smaller version of the brick trowel is a pointing trowel; this one is for the small crevices. This fills in the cavity or for repairing and fortifying the damaged mortar joints.
The Corner Trowel
This looks very different; the trowel is in the shape of a corner. The handle is perpendicular to the trowel and is in the middle. The purpose is for the pressure to be evenly distributed to both sides. The corner trowel is used for shaping the concrete around the internal and external corners.
The Margin Trowel
The trowel has a flat nose and looks like a rectangle. This is used to work the mortar into tight spaces and corners. The shape allows it to evenly distribute more than the pointed tip of the bricklaying trowel.
The Finishing Trowel
The finishing trowel is large and rectangular. It is used to smooth the surface after the concrete or plaster has started to set. Large sweeping motions across the surface are used to level and get rid of possible air pockets in the plaster.
Since working with mortar, plaster, or concrete is a job that requires precision and meticulous attention to be done right, there are many other kinds of plastering trowel besides the ones listed above. You might be able to do the job with only one kind of trowel but remember that this requires a lot of layering. Keeping the plaster or mortar perfectly even cannot be done right by forcing a bricklaying trowel deep into the corners. It might do the job but what kind of job will that be?
When you make your next shopping trip, first list down the kinds of trowels you will need. Is it for a small repair job or are you plastering a new wall? After you have found what kinds of trowels you need, test the weight. Plastering is a job that requires a quite a lot of endurance, so trowel weight is important to be able to continue working comfortably.