Gypsum is one of the three main building materials, and gypsum mortar has become a mainstream plastering material on construction sites.
Lightweight gypsum mortar is a green plastering material specifically designed for interior walls and a high-performance interior wall base leveling material.
Gypsum plastering, with its excellent physical and mechanical properties and workability, has gained widespread market recognition and adoption, making it an excellent choice for developers, contractors, and construction companies. It is widely used in interior wall plastering projects.
As a new type of interior wall plastering material, lightweight plastering gypsum is poised to completely replace traditional cement mortar. This is evident in the dominant position of lightweight plastering gypsum in interior wall leveling applications in developed countries. In the United States, Germany, France, Spain, and Turkey, lightweight plastering gypsum accounts for 90% of the market share, while cement mortar accounts for less than 10%. In the United Kingdom, lightweight interior wall plastering gypsum accounts for 96% of the market share.
Five Advantages of Lightweight Gypsum
High Construction Efficiency: Cement mortar plastering is a complex process with a low price, while gypsum plastering, while expensive, is simple to apply. As a result, many plasterers have switched to plastering.
Low Cost: While the retail price of stucco plaster may appear expensive, in actual construction, the overall cost is no more expensive than traditional plastering materials. For example, a stucco plaster layer can be less than 3mm thick, while cement mortar requires a thickness of at least 20mm.
Low Waste: Stucco plastering results in less dust, reducing material waste and cleanup efforts.
Suitable for Winter Construction: Stucco plastering is more suitable for winter construction than cement mortar, significantly saving on insulation costs.
Environmental health: Gypsum mortar is more sensitive to air humidity and temperature, and has good environmental humidity and temperature regulation capabilities; it has a low dry density and good heat insulation and sound insulation effects; it can release a large amount of crystallization water at high temperatures and has good fire resistance; the alkalinity of gypsum mortar is lower than that of cement mortar, which helps protect human health.
Lightweight Gypsum Construction
Base Treatment
Fill any height differences between the masonry wall and the structural wall, clean any contaminants from the wall, and thoroughly water. Apply a primer if necessary.
Applying Plaster Cakes and Reinforcement
Determine the thickness of each plaster cake based on the wall's flatness and verticality. Use adhesive plaster to bond the reinforcement strips as markings. For floors under 3m high, two horizontal markings are generally provided, while for floors over 3m high, three are generally provided. Lay rubber sheets on the floor near the wall to collect any fallen plaster.
Preparing the Slurry
Using an Electric Mixer: Directly add the strong-resistant plastering gypsum to clean water (water-to-powder ratio of approximately 75:100 by weight). Use a high-powered electric mixer to mix continuously for at least 2 minutes until thoroughly mixed. The mixed material should be used within 20-45 minutes. Mix frequently and remix after each use. Adding water to the thickened slurry is strictly prohibited. Before plastering, promptly clean any dust, formwork debris, and debris from the wall surface.
Base and mid-layer plastering
Before hand plastering, the flatness and verticality of the finished ribbed surface must be checked. Use a ruler and a straight line to check.
For the first coat, it is recommended to apply and press the plaster plaster vertically from bottom to top. For the second coat, it is recommended to apply and press the lightweight plaster plaster horizontally. Both coats must be applied and pressed vertically to ensure a good bond between the lightweight plaster and the base wall.
Edge sealing of internal and external corners, door and window openings
Strictly follow the construction drawings and on-site technical briefing requirements. Strictly control the dimensions of door and window openings. Plastering of external corners on interior walls, columns, and door openings requires clean lines and corners to prevent damage.
Surface Plastering
When the middle layer of gypsum plaster mortar is 60-70% dry, apply a professional gypsum plaster top layer mortar. Apply from top to bottom, compacting as you go. Ensure the top layer mortar adheres firmly to the middle layer.