Maybe you are not aware of it, but plastering is a kind of work that takes several years to master. If you have a wall that requires plastering, then doing it yourself may be tedious. Seriously, it is better not to try it, especially if you have never done plastering before. In this case, you need the service of professional plasterers and renders. You can use poly-filler and you need to do a lot of rubbing, so if you do not want to do this kind of task it is better to hire someone who does this job every day.
For huge walls with damp, missing chunks and bits of wall that are falling, then you really need the help of an expert plasterer. The best plasterers can be costly, but you will realize that the money that you have spent is worthy. It can offer a beautiful finish right after it has been painted and that is the time you will realize that you have done the right thing. They can create a velvety finish in your home as you see in many showrooms as well as luxury hotels and apartments.
The main purpose of rendering is to provide a great finish and waterproof wall to any property. You need to know that plastering and rendering are skilled trades and these skills can only be learned through experience. Even if you will hire a professional tradesman to do the work for you, you still need to know the basic principle behind plastering and rendering.
You need to know that the right amount of cement, lime and sand that you need depends on the purpose as well as the nature of the surface where you will apply the plaster. A plaster with pure lime is relatively weak and soft, so cement is used to boost its strength and hardness. This can also decrease the amount of time that the plaster needs to harden. As you increase the amount of cement, it will at the same time decrease the hardening time. It means that pure cement plaster without lime can offer maximum strength and quick hardening ability.
The only drawback of plaster with pure cement is that it takes away its workability and it is very difficult to apply. You need to become aware that the weather can affect rendering and plastering. The outcome of the finish will be influenced by the weather especially when it comes to external rendering. If you need to do an external rending, then it is better to start at the shady part. As much as possible you need to keep it unexposed to the sun so it will not affect the quality of the render. Plasterers and renderers avoid plastering during the winter season. The reason for this is that cold weather makes it difficult for the plaster to harden and it takes longer period of time to apply coats.
During very hot weather conditions, plaster can easily dry and you must keep it damp at least two days right after application. The weather makes plastering and rendering a very challenging job. Professional tradesmen look for moderate weather because this is what they need to achieve the best plastering result. In case they cannot find the right timing, then they need to be very patient and dedicated to their work.