AR 17-53 BUILDING MATERIALS

AND CONSTRUCTION - IV

MODULE I - WALL FINISHES (12 hrs)

Module 1 and 2

• The major materials and methods used to finish both the interior and exterior wall, ceiling, and floor surfaces of a
building will be discussed.
• Interior walls should be resistant to wear and be cleanable; floors should be durable, comfortable, and safe to walk on;
ceilings should be relatively maintenance-free.
• Exterior wall surfaces, such as stucco and wood siding, must serve effectively as barriers against the penetration of
water into the interior of a building.
• Rigid finish materials capable of spanning short distances may be applied to a supporting grid of linear members. More
flexible finish materials, on the other hand, require a solid, rigid backing. Additional technical factors to consider include
the acoustic qualities, fire resistance, and thermal insulation value of a finish material.
Surface finishes have a critical influence on the aesthetic qualities of a space.
• In the selection and use of a finish material, we should carefully consider its color, texture, and pattern, and the way it
meets and joins with other materials.
• If a finish material has modular characteristics, then its unit dimensions can be used to regulate the dimensions of a
wall, floor, or ceiling surface.
 MODULE -I
• Plaster: Lime plaster and gypsum plaster. Fire resistant plaster, X-Ray
shielding plaster and acoustic plaster. Plaster over masonry and ceiling.

• Paints and varnish: Characteristics of an ideal paint and varnish.

Classification – various types of paints. Painting process. Defects in painting
works. Process of varnish.

• Wall cladding : stone cladding, tile cladding, Wooden cladding and metal
cladding. Stucco finish and other finishes.
• Sketches : Stone cladding, Metal cladding
MATERIALS FOR FINISHES

TYPE OF WALL
•PLASTERING •PAINTING •TILING/CLADDING
FINISHES

Type of
background for Claybrick Blockwork concrete
plastering work

Boards Metal Lath

Plaster

• Plaster refers to any of various mixtures applied in a pasty form to the surfaces of walls or ceilings in
a plastic state and allowed to harden and dry.
• The most common type of plaster used in construction is gypsum plaster, which is made by mixing
calcined gypsum with water, fine sand or lightweight aggregate, and various additives to control its
setting and working qualities.
• Gypsum plaster is a durable, relatively lightweight, and fire-resistant material that can be used on
any wall or ceiling surface that is not subject to moist or wet conditions.
• Portland cement plaster, also known as stucco, is used on exterior walls and in areas subject to wet
or moist conditions
PLASTERING

Plastering is a process of obtaining Plaster is the word used to describe the

smooth surface on the rough surfaces material that is spread(plastered) over
of walls, roofs, columns and ceilings etc. irregular and coarse textured wall and
for long lasting purposes and to meet ceiling surfaces to provide a smooth
its estimated design life period. level finish.

The coat formed on the rough surface is

Also plastering make the rough surfaces called plaster when applied inside of
smooth thereby make it good looking the building and it’s called as rendering
and attractive. Also it helps in when applied outside of the building
preventing damp proofing. i.e. at outer wall exposed to direct
environmental condition.
Neat plaster is a gypsum basecoat
plaster having no admixture except hair
or other fiber, used for on-the-job
mixing with aggregates.

Ready-mixed plaster is a mill-prepared

plaster mix of calcined gypsum and an
aggregate, such as perlite or vermiculite.

It requires only the addition of water.

The addition of perlite or

vermiculite reduces the weight and
increases the thermal and fire
resistance of the plaster
 METHOD OF APPLICATION

Internal Wall Finishes ~ these can be

classified as wet or dry.
The traditional wet finish is plaster
which is mixed and applied to the wall
in layers to achieve a smooth and
durable finish suitable for decorative
treatments such as paint and
wallpaper.
OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS OF A GOOD PLASTER:
• Objective:
• Protection of surface against environmental condition and rain water as well as sun light.
• Protection against insects and fungus etc.
• Provides aesthetically beautified construction – true, smooth & finished surface.
• Defective construction is patched and a little strength is gained.
• Plastering provides a base for other finishing such as white and color washing, distempering, painting etc

• Requirements of a Plaster:
• It should stick to the back ground and should not spall off during bad weather.
• It should be inert and should not chemically react with reinforcement or other decorative finishing or floorings.
• It should be economical and easily available.
• It should possess water resistance nature and should be environmental friendly as far as possible.
• It should be durable, hard and possess good workability.
Types of plasters
• Hard finish refers to a finish coat of lime putty and Keene’s cement or gauging plaster, troweled to a smooth,
dense finish.
• Gauging plaster is a specially ground gypsum plaster for mixing with lime putty, formulated to control the
setting time and counteract shrinkage in a finish coat of plaster.
• White coat refers to a finish coat of lime putty and white gauging plaster, troweled to a smooth, dense finish.
• Veneer or thin-coat plaster is a ready-mixed gypsum plaster applied as a very thin, one- or two-coat finish over a
veneer base.
• Acoustical plaster is a low-density plaster containing vermiculite or other porous material to enhance its ability
to absorb sound.
• Molding plaster, consisting of very finely ground gypsum and hydrated lime, is used for ornamental plasterwork.
• The final appearance of a plaster surface depends on both its texture and its finish. It may be
troweled to produce a smooth, nonporous finish, floated to a sandy, lightly textured finish, or sprayed on for a
rougher finish.
• The finish may be painted; smooth finishes will accept textile or paper wall coverings
 1.Plasterer’s trowel:- Tools to scoop
the plaster and apply it on the wall.
Tools used in plastering:-
2.Scraper:- To roughen the plaster
surface for preparation of finishing
plaster (sometime worker use their
trowels to roughen the plaster applied)
3.The hawk:- To hold or acts as a
small reservoir for the plaster, while
plasterer apply plaster to the wall.
4.Large bucket:- For mixing of plaster
to take place.
5.Angle bending:- for much easier and
neater corner.
6.Mixture:- For mixing purpose, better
if it is a electrical motorized mixture for
best mixing process.
 General Plastering Materials

Special Plastering Materials

 Lime plaster
• Plaster material is fine paste made of cement and sand or lime
and sand or surkhi, gypsum and sometimes cement, lime & sand.

• When cement forms the binding material the plaster is called

Cement plaster and when lime forms the binding material is
called the lime plaster.

• Used in internal surfaces of walls, very smooth compared to

cement plastered surfaces.

• The process of making and applying lime plaster is slow and

complicated hence, lime plaster has almost become outdated.

• Mortar for lime plaster is usually prepared by mixing sand and

lime in equal proportions, to improve the strength small quantity of
cement is added to it.Fresh water and clean sand should only be
used.
 SPECIAL PLASTERING MATERIALS
• Fire resistant plaster

• Acoustic Plaster: This is plaster of gypsum mixture with plaster to obtain a sound proof plastering
which is applied as finishing coat in two layers of 6 mm each. The sound insulation property is due
to honey combing of the coat on undergoing chemical reaction. These are used therefore in the
interior walls of auditorium, picture halls and conference halls etc.

• Barium Plaster: Barium sulphate is used for plastering in barium plaster with cement and sand.
This is X-ray resistive and hence protects the pathologists and others working in the X-ray room
frequently.
Barite plaster/ Barium plaster
• Has been largely used as shielding material in installations
housing gamma radiation sources as well as x-ray
generating equipment, in order to minimize exposure to
individuals. Is employed as final coat to x-ray rooms.

• Barite plaster is a compound of cement, sand, barium

sulphate and water mixed in a controlled proportion.

• The basic ratio of cement to water determines plaster

strength.

• The knowledge of the physical and chemical characteristics

of both the barite mineral and barite plaster as well as the
degree of radiation attenuation provided are very important
when dealing with shielding calculations for both medical
and industrial installations.
Barite plaster/ Barium plaster
• Effective protection against X-ray radiation

• Lead-free application - eliminates use of lead and a safer alternative to other lead-based systems

• Sound resistance

• Fire resistance

• Plasterboard® must be jointed with Jointing Compounds to provide lead equivalent joints.

• Applications

• Medical Facilities, Dental Clinics, Areas exposed to X-Ray radiation

Heat Resistant Plaster
• Fire resistant plaster consisting of

1. a mix of vermiculite-perlite grains, with gypsum as a binding

agent and additives.

2. fibrous (including mineral wool and glass fiber)

3. cement mixtures either with mineral wool or with vermiculite

4. gypsum plasters, leavened with polystyrene beads, as well

as chemical expansion agents to decrease the density of the

finished product

5. Heat Resistant Plaster is a replacement material for gypsum

plaster where the temperatures are too high for gypsum

plaster to stay on the wall.

 Heat Resistant Plaster
Heat Resistant Plaster is a fully blended fine powdered material which is mixed with water to a trowellable/
floating consistency.
Heat Resistant Plaster should be used on walls and chimney breasts where the temperature is likely to
exceed 50°C particularly around the so-called “hole in the wall” type fires and stoves.
It is recommended that the plaster is used in combination with Heat Proof Screed.
USES
▪ Around log burning stoves.For use with “cassette” or “hole in the wall” fireplaces.
▪ On walls and chimney breasts where the temperature is likely to exceed 50⁰C.
▪ Any domestic application where high temperature resistance is needed.
CHARACTERISTICS / ADVANTAGES
▪ Easy trowelable formulation.
▪ Temperature resistant up to 500°C.
▪ Works on most common solid materials. Is compatible with all backing plasters (important where the
plasters meet going from fire rated areas)
Heat Resistant Plaster
APPLICATION :
• Always use clean fresh water and follow the surface
preparation guidelines. Use a drill mixer attachment
as it is not possible to mix this product by hand. Mix,
in a step-wise manner, approximately 1 part water to
2.5 parts Heat Resistant Plaster by volume powder
until a smooth trowelable consistency is achieved -
normally within 10-15 mins of mixing.
• Allow the mix to stand for 5 to 10 minutes
(dependant on the ambient temperature).
• The product can then be floated within
approximately 1 hour of application (dependant on
ambient temperature and humidity).
• Smooth off and allow three days minimum to cure
naturally before heat is applied.
• LIMITATIONS
• ▪ Low temperature/ high humidity will impair drying.
• Do not apply when the ambient temperature is
below 5°C or RH exceeds 90%.
 ACOUSTIC PLASTER

• Acoustic plaster is plaster which contains fibres or aggregate so

that it absorbs sound.
• Early plasters contained asbestos, but newer ones consist of a
base layer of absorptive substrate panels, which are
typically mineral wool, or a non-combustible inorganic blow-
glass granulate.
• A first finishing layer is then applied on top of the substrate
panels, and sometimes a second finishing layer is added for
greater sound attenuation.
• Pre-made acoustic panels are more commonly used, but
acoustic plaster provides a smooth and seamless appearance,
and greater flexibility for readjustment.
• The drawback is the greater level of skill required in application.

Spray applied, coarse, mineral based

acoustic plaster system
ACOUSTIC PLASTER
• Is a low density plaster containing vermiculate or other
porous material to enhance its ability to absorb sound.
• Acoustic plasters are aesthetically favorable because it
allows for seamless smooth application compared to panels
that show visible joints.
• Some acoustic plasters contain aggregate, but better
systems incorporate fiber.
• Acoustic plasters are generally applied at a thickness
between 1/16” and 1.5”.
• Acoustic plasters consist of a base layer of absorptive
substrate panels, which are typically mineral wool, or a non-
combustible inorganic blow-glass granulate.
• A first finishing layer is then applied on top of the substrate
panels and when dried, produces a first layer of sound
attenuation.
• A second finishing layer may also be added to create a
second system of sound attenuation.
ACOUSTIC PLASTER

Hand applied, synthetically bound, extremely smooth acoustic plaster finish

 Cement Plaster:

• Cement plaster is a mixture of suitable plaster, sand,

Portland cement and water which is normally applied to
masonry interiors and exteriors to achieve a smooth
surface.

• For Internal wall - ratio of cement plaster 1:6 (cement:

sand)

• For external wall it can be 1:4

THICKNESS

• Internal brick wall - 12mm

• External brick wall - 19mm to 20mm

• Concrete beam/column/ceiling - 6mm (ratio 1:3)