Author Archives: byrnesurfaces

About byrnesurfaces

conserver and repairer of historic surfaces

how to plaster a wall (first coat)

Posted on January 21, 2017

start with a bare wall, loose material removed, brushed down and lightly wetted . apply plaster around the edge like a frame ; i got the left hand one flat then some horizontal ribs to project the levels to the … Continue reading →

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my Japanese plastering trowels

Posted on January 13, 2017

These are the only plastering trowels I use.  Starting at 9 on the clock: a medium sized Jigane laying on trowel,  next a little really flexible polishing trowel, at the top a larger jigane, recently used for laying on the … Continue reading →

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Renovating old domestic plaster surfaces

Posted on January 12, 2017

A testing job for my own recipe JBLime finishing plaster but one that any other lime plaster may well have not managed so easily. The walls are generally old lime plaster but have been painted with emulsion, wall papered and … Continue reading →

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Tricks of the trade 2

Posted on December 17, 2016

What is my most important piece of kit? The fantastic Japanese trowels I use? My handmade wooden hawk? My paddle mixer? no none of them. The most important piece of kit is my plasterers light because without harsh side lighting … Continue reading →

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Recipe for course stuff

Posted on December 17, 2016

My recipe for course stuff: 3 parts lime putty 1 part horse hair about 30mm long 6 parts sharp sand method: put the lime putty in a mixing tub such as a large trug, add the hair and stir it … Continue reading →

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update on silly ideas 1

Posted on December 17, 2016

On reflection it really was a silly idea in that it did work but was totally not needed. And this is the point. Despite the mix being 1 lime to 2 sand and the plaster being on average 20mm thick … Continue reading →

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Silly ideas that might work. no.1

Posted on December 12, 2016

I found one of these in my local store, I think it’s for rubbing horses down. The balls rotate as you move it around. The idea: now that my plaster is drying nicely ready for the top coat, but despite … Continue reading →

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