Melbourne Plastering

FAQs

 

If you have a question regarding plastering or renovation you may find the answer here…

 

 

1. What are battens used for?

 

Battens are used for four main reasons:

 

1. In an old house with uneven and out-of-level ceiling joists they are used in conjunction with height adjustable fixing systems to     level ceilings normally by laser level;

 

2. Most new houses these days have truss roofs that span the entire width of the house.

 

3. Battens used on these ceilings have a stabilizing effect, i.e. putting less load on plaster joints; and,Battens are sometimes             used to suspend a ceiling lower than original, or underneath rafters or purlins;

 

3. Battens are used to ensure plasterboard is fixed at 450mm centre spacings, i.e. sometimes joist or truss spacings are left              wide knowing that battens are going to be fixed underneath them.

 

 

2. Why is there little mounds or lines running across my ceiling?

 

In plastering terms these are called “peaks”. They are normally caused by ceiling joist shrinkage and movement that in turn compresses or loads plasterboard joints. To prevent this happening all plaster ceiling joints should be back-blocked.

 

3. What is square set?

 

There is a trend in many contemporary homes of today not to have cornices, i.e. this is where the wall junction simply meets the ceiling. However to achieve good looking square set, walls and ceilings must be straight and sound taping techniques applied. 

 

 

4.Will new plaster improve the value of my old house?

 

Plaster covers approximately 70% of the surface area of your home. In Mark’s opinion there is simply no point in renovating other parts of your home such as installing a new kitchen and floor coverings etc. if your plaster is in poor condition. New plaster in old homes can, if installed correctly, transform a home.

 

Tip! If you have quotes from several plasterers check the fine details carefully. Inclusions such as the use of battens, square set and back-blocking can affect the price differential between quotes.