Finishing putty tool. Spatula for puttying walls - choose the right one. Selecting Tool Size

Almost no renovation in a house or apartment is complete without a small but irreplaceable tool - spatula. With its help, various solutions are applied, walls are puttied and surfaces are leveled.

In order for finishing work to be carried out efficiently, it is necessary to choose the right tool of good quality.

Varieties

Tools for puttying surfaces vary in shape and standard sizes, which are necessary for specific work.

Painting spatula

The trapezoidal product has a steel plate 0.5-1 mm thick, which has sufficient rigidity and bends well. The tool has plastic handle and a minimum blade width of 2 cm. It is intended for the following work:

marking the seams between plasterboard sheets;
puttying of surfaces and complex structures;
sealing any cracks and cracks;
leveling surfaces after applying putty.

Construction stores sell disposable household painting products with a working surface of 0.5 mm. It bends easily, so it is difficult to obtain a smooth surface with its help. Therefore, professionals choose high-quality steel spatulas with a thicker blade.

Tools for facade work

Special spatulas are used for puttying and leveling surfaces that have a large area. They are made of durable steel and have a wide working trapezoidal plate with a width of 30 to 60 cm. Using a rigid, durable and wide blade, the solution is applied directly to large plot surfaces. For ease of use, the handle is made of two-component plastic rubber.

During finishing work, facade and painting spatulas are used together. It is convenient to apply the solution with façade tools, and to distribute it over the wall or ceiling with painting tools.

To remove excess hardened putty, use special tool in the form of a scraper. It is distinguished by being made from special durable metal a rigid, thick blade, the width of which can be from five to seven centimeters.

Corner putty tool

To obtain an even internal angle between the joints of the walls and between the wall and the floor, use corner spatulas. The tool consists of two surfaces located at right angles to each other. It is quite difficult to use, which is why such spatulas are used mainly by professional builders.

In addition to those described above, there are types of spatulas that are designed for specific jobs:

Figured products are used for applying decorative plaster and liquid wallpaper. With their help, they give the walls a certain texture. Curly instruments are made from plastic.
Rubber spatulas have a working surface from 40 to 80 cm and are used for puttying small surfaces and processing tile joints. Products with a rubber base are convenient for applying sealant.
Notched trowels are used to apply construction adhesive. The teeth on a tool can be of different widths and shapes. To apply liquid glue, you should choose a product with small triangular teeth. Products with big teeth perfect for working with gypsum glue. It is recommended to use a notched trowel only on flat surfaces.

Criterias of choice

Construction stores offer big choice spatulas, among which you need to choose a convenient and high-quality tool for yourself. To do this, you need to listen to the recommendations of professionals:

For starting work, products with an iron or steel blade are best suited. To prevent the working surface from rusting, its surface must be coated with a special coating. After use, wipe the blade thoroughly and dry it. This product should be stored in a dry place.
For finishing work, a blade made of stainless steel is selected. If it is made of a different material, marks may remain on the walls.
Painting and facade tools must have elastic fabric. It should not be too rigid and at the same time should not bend from the slightest impact on it. It is inconvenient to apply the solution with a hard blade, and the mixture will simply fall off from a soft cloth.
In construction stores you can see drop-shaped, trapezoidal and triangular products. The most reliable and easy to use blades are in the form of a trapezoid.
On sale you can see spatulas yourself different sizes. They can be short or long. Experts recommend choosing medium-sized blades that are most comfortable to work with.
For applying putty Unsharpened canvas is used on the walls. The sharpened blade is designed for applying adhesive to the tiles.
The spatula must be carefully inspected. There should be no jagged marks on it, and the blade should be perfectly straight.

Having chosen a tool suitable for the job, you need to hold it in your hands. If holding it is uncomfortable, then you should refuse to purchase it.

Selecting Tool Size

During construction work You can't do it with just a spatula. On different stages You will need tools that differ in size and shape.

Wide tools with a thick plate are necessary for starting work. With their help, uneven surfaces are eliminated, seal the cracks, cracks and deep damage. Using a large blade up to sixty centimeters wide, the solution is applied in a thick layer and distributed over the surface.

Products with a plate up to twenty-five centimeters wide give surfaces smoothness and remove holes. They are used after the walls are leveled. After using medium-sized tools, ridges may remain, so sanding is necessary.

Spatulas with narrow blades Designed for filling small flaws on walls. With their help, the mixture is applied to hard to reach places x, where wide instrument It's inconvenient to work. Narrow blades are also used as auxiliary tool, which is used to remove excess solution from a wide plate.

Correct Application

Regardless of whether wallpaper, paint or decorative plaster is applied to the walls, at the first stage the surfaces should be leveled and all cracks should be removed. After this, the walls are plastered and degreased.

The next stage is surface priming. When the walls are dry, you can apply starting putty. During such work, it is necessary to use a spatula correctly. The primer solution is prepared from a dry mixture and water. You should get a homogeneous consistency, for which it is recommended to use a construction mixer. The prepared solution is taken from the container with a small spatula and applied to a wide one. The mixture is applied to the surface at an angle of 45 degrees. As soon as the excess solution on the large instrument begins to dry out, it is removed with a narrow blade. Otherwise, scratches will remain on the walls.

After the putty has dried, the surfaces are primed again and covered with paint, wallpaper or plaster. If decorative plaster is to be applied, then curly tools are used to obtain the desired effect.

For surfaces with a large area, it is better to use large tools, otherwise the mixtures will dry out during work.
For wall putty it is recommended to purchase dry mixes, since they are of better quality than usual.
Before applying putty, everything should be sealed cracks and crevices. This procedure will help avoid destruction of the walls.
All surfaces should first be cleaned of dust, old paint, and wallpaper. Only after this can the plaster be applied.
To speed up the finishing process, it is recommended to work with two spatulas.
For putty you should only choose quality mixtures, which are bred strictly according to the instructions.
All work must be carried out wearing a respirator.
After use, instruments must be cleaned of any remaining solution, washed and wiped.

The final result of the repair depends on the quality of the work and the correctly selected tools. That's why Special attention You should pay attention to the choice of spatulas for puttying walls, which must have the appropriate size, shape, quality and convenience.

November 15, 2016
Specialization: master in construction plasterboard structures, finishing work and installation floor coverings. Installation of door and window units, finishing of facades, installation of electrical, plumbing and heating - I can give detailed advice on all types of work.

If you decide to do the rough finishing yourself, then you will need good tool. Today I will tell you how to choose a spatula for putty, since the quality of work directly depends on this device. We will look at the main types of products and figure out what you should pay attention to when purchasing one or another option.

Types of tools and their features

Now let's look at the specific options, just read the information to decide which one is best suited in your case. Some are used more often, some less often, it all depends on the specifics of the work being performed.

Option 1 – painting spatulas

This type of product has a blade with a width of 2 to 15 cm and a handle and is used for two purposes:

As an auxiliary device when working with wide spatulas. This type of product is often called a spatula and is used to apply the compound and distribute it over wide blades;

For puttying hard-to-reach areas, seams and curved surfaces. Narrow spatulas are great for all of the above operations; they can be used to correct work in difficult areas and level the composition on small surfaces;

Now let's figure out how to choose the best option:

First of all, pay attention to the blade, it should be smooth; if the working surface is curved, then it is better to look for another tool. It is best to use trapezoidal spatulas; triangular products are less reliable and bend more during work (although if they are made of thick metal, then they can also be considered);

In amateur tools, the thickness of the metal on the blade is 0.5-0.6 mm; in professional tools, a sheet of 1 mm or more is used. Naturally, the second option is preferable, but if you need to decorate one room, then you don’t have to overpay and choose simpler and cheaper options.

The handle can be made of ordinary plastic, or it can be covered with special anti-slip rubber and have an ergonomic shape. Naturally, the price also varies greatly from this, the cheapest options cost from 30 rubles, and professional products can cost more than 1000 rubles. When choosing, pay attention to the shape of the handle - it should be short and wide, this is much more convenient to use;

It's up to you to decide which spatula is best in your case; if there is a lot of work, then more expensive professional options are preferable, but if the putty is one-time in nature, then you can get by with a budget solution.

Option 2 – façade spatulas

If you ask professionals which spatula is best for puttingtying walls or ceilings, they will definitely name a façade spatula. This type of tool allows you to quickly and efficiently distribute the solution on flat surfaces, but high quality work can only be achieved if you use high-quality devices.

The requirements here are much higher than in the first case, since the structure is subject to high loads during operation. Let's look at the main features of this type of tool:

The blade width can range from 200 to 800 mm, but I advise working with devices from 300 to 450 mm; this range provides fairly high quality work with normal productivity. Not even all professionals know how to handle options of 600 mm and above, not to mention those who first decided to putty walls with their own hands;

There are professional and amateur product lines, in the first case the tool has an ergonomic rubberized handle and a thick blade, in the second the handle is made of cheap plastic, and the working part is made of thin metal. It’s up to you to decide which spatula to use to putty the walls; a simple option is enough for a couple of rooms; for larger volumes, it’s better to get a more serious device;

The cost depends on the type of design and the quality of the materials used, the simplest options cost from 70 rubles, and professional devices will cost you 500 rubles and more.

Now I will tell you how to choose a quality product, since there are so many defects among façade spatulas that sometimes you have to go through dozens of options. All aspects are presented in the table.

Aspect	Description
Blade quality	For finishing putty, you need an option not with a flexible, but with a rigid blade, so that it does not repeat all the surface imperfections, but evenly distributes the composition. Pay special attention to checking the plane - the edge of the working part must be perfectly flat; very often options such as those in the photo above are on sale, especially if we're talking about about the low-cost product segment
Handle type	Rubberized options are much more convenient than conventional plastic ones, also great importance has the shape and size of a handle. It is most convenient to use a tool in which the handle is located at an angle
Workmanship	Here you need to pay attention, first of all, to how the handle and blade are connected; the fastening must be strong and reliable. If there is even the slightest play, then you should not buy such a spatula

If you bend a spatula during work, do not try to straighten it, it’s much easier to buy new tool, since it is impossible to align the blade perfectly.

Because this is the main thing work device, then I want to give some recommendations for work:

All mortar deposits and other elements that interfere with work should be removed from the surface. They not only degrade the quality of work, but can also damage the spatula;
It is important that the putty has an optimal consistency, in this case it is much better to apply and the quality of work is higher. Pick up best option for yourself, you will see for yourself which consistency is most convenient for you to work with;
The composition must be applied correctly; it is distributed along the edge of the blade using a narrow spatula, after which it is distributed in an even layer over the wall or. The photo below shows how to properly hold a spatula when puttingtying walls, and under the photo there is a diagram showing the application process. It's simple, and it takes a little practice to get good results;

Immediately after finishing work, be sure to wash the tool; if you do this later, you can scratch or even damage the blade.

Summarizing which spatula to choose for walls, we can draw the following conclusion: it is best to use a tool 300-450 mm wide with a rigid, even blade and an ergonomic handle.

Option 3 – corner spatulas

From my experience, I can tell you that it is the finishing of corners that causes the greatest difficulties for inexperienced specialists. Making an even wall connection or ceiling connection can sometimes be difficult, but if you use a special tool, then the work will pass much faster.

Let's look at the main features of such devices:

There are two types of spatulas - for internal and external corners. It is very easy to distinguish them: in the tool for internal corners, the handle is attached inside the structure, and in the version for external corners, the handle is attached from the outside; this difference is clearly visible in the photo above;
The tool consists of an angle-forming working part and a handle, the width of the working sides must be at least 70 mm;
As for the cost, it starts from 150 rubles and can reach several hundred per product. There is a cheaper tool, but its reliability is highly questionable.

Working part should be very rigid, if the sides bend, then you will not be able to form an even angle;
The handle must be securely fastened; take the tool in your hand; if it is uncomfortable, then it is better to look for something else.

Option 4 - Japanese spatulas

This type of tool is very different in configuration from traditional options, let’s look at its features:

The spatula is a rectangular plate, on one side of which a plastic handle-holder is attached. The products are very simple and reliable;
Most often, devices are sold in sets of 4 pieces and have a width of 60, 80, 100 and 120 mm. Each type is needed for certain jobs, but, as practice shows, the 100 and 120 mm options are most often used. As for the cost, the set is inexpensive - 120-200 rubles;
The blade of this tool must be elastic and flexible, this is very important, so it is worth checking how high-quality the metal is used and whether the structure is deformed when bent.

You can choose a normal tool based on the aspects described above, but we will figure out for which works will do this spatula:

Finishing arches and structures complex shape with convex or concave surfaces. This spatula is indispensable for any base with complex terrain;
Works in confined spaces – thanks to its shape and small size the tool can be used almost anywhere;
Applying a thin layer of putty - the composition can be dosed with such a device much more accurately than with traditional options.

Option 5 – rubber spatulas

If you think that a rubber spatula is not suitable for putty, then this is not so. This tool is indispensable when finishing planes of complex shapes, as well as when filling minor damage and cracks on the surface.

Also, such devices are suitable for applying compositions with a thick consistency; they stretch them over the surface in a thin, even layer. As for the features of the tool, they are as follows:

The sizes of devices can be very different, the width varies from 2 to 20, or even more centimeters. The specific solution is selected individually, depending on the specifics of the work being performed;

The manufacturing material can be rubber of different hardness; for work it is better to use denser options; it is inconvenient to apply the composition with too flexible spatulas;
Products can be with a standard handle, or without it - with a thickening at the base, similar to Japanese spatulas. Here again, this is more a question of convenience than functionality.

In terms of use, these tools are best suited for the following situations:

Applying putty to arches and other concave structures;
Sealing corner joints and other connections in hard-to-reach places;

When puttingty uneven surfaces where irregularities should remain, thanks to the tool it follows the contours of the plane rather than filling in the depressions.

Conclusion

Based on this information, you can easily determine which spatula you will need in a given situation. The video in this article will tell you in more detail some important nuances, and if you have questions about the selection and use of devices, write them in the comments, I will definitely answer.

In the process of repairing an apartment or house, a lot of tools are used. And perhaps main role This is where a spatula comes into play - without it, you won’t be able to simply and quickly remove old wallpaper or apply a high-quality putty solution. There are many types of these tools - let's look at what a spatula should be for puttingty walls.

What is a spatula?

Everyone has heard something about this tool, but not everyone knows what it is or what it looks like. Consultants in construction supermarkets have probably encountered such buyers more than a dozen times.

Spatula is a German word, which translated into Russian means “spatula”. The tool is a small spatula made of various materials with handle. The spatula is used to remove old wallpaper, putty, old paint, and to apply various solutions, including cement, to the surface. A spatula is needed for puttying walls, floors, installing tiles, grouting joints, and when laying bricks. Using this simple device, minor defects on delicate surfaces can be corrected.

In addition to the fact that spatulas are divided according to their application, they are also classified depending on the material from which they are made. Thus, there are metal, rubber, and plastic tools.

Types of spatulas

Even from the name you can understand that this tool It is intended for puttying, but it is used for a variety of jobs.

You should select devices according to the type of work, and at each stage you may need different types of tools. Let's look at what spatulas are needed for putty.

Facade spatulas

This tool is intended for application to the surface and subsequent leveling of mixtures for plaster and putty. In this case, the surface size must be significant - then the spatula will be as effective as possible. The difference between this type is increased strength. The blade has high rigidity and is made of anodized steel alloys.

The blade is fixed in an aluminum profile, which minimizes the risk of deformation and curvature during operation, increases the level of reliability and durability. The handle is most often soft, made of two-component plastic thermorubber - it allows you to work with the tool as comfortably as possible. The façade trowel can have a width from 150 to 800 mm. The cost of these products is higher than the price of other analogues, but this is due to high quality and higher loads during use.

Painting spatulas

This tool, unlike façade models, has a thinner blade. It is much more flexible and springy. The handle can be made of wood or rubber. Due to the flexibility of the working blade, you can not only conveniently apply putty mixtures to any type of surface, but also remove old wallpaper or layers of paint without a trace.

The scope of application of a painting spatula is the final stage of finishing work. They apply and level putty, seal cracks, and perform minor repairs to concrete walls.

However, due to the thinner blade thickness, this spatula has a lower service life during intensive use. In addition, the blade is not always made from of stainless steel. Often, in order to save money, manufacturers use ordinary steel, which further reduces their service life. Spatula sizes range from 20 to 450 mm.

Serrated

This tool has a narrow purpose. It is only needed for applying glue to various surfaces. The teeth on the canvas allow you to distribute adhesive composition as evenly as possible, reduce overconsumption, remove excess mixture. This ensures a strong grip.

The size of the blade and the depth of the teeth are selected according to the type of surfaces and materials. For tiles large sizes A spatula with a larger tooth should be used. The ceramics are placed on a shallower furrow.

Angular

This spatula for puttying walls is used only for leveling corners - internal and external. The blade is made of stainless steel, and both sides are at right angles to each other. A very popular instrument with internal corner. It is used when leveling joints between walls, as well as between the floor and ceiling.

But since right angles are not precisely maintained so often, the process of working with this spatula is not always convenient. Decorative corners are now being installed at the external joints. Therefore, the external tool has lost its relevance.

Rubber spatulas

These devices are made from durable but flexible types of rubber. They can be the most different forms and sizes. This spatula has no joints or joints, as it is made from a single piece of rubber. The working surface of the tool is thin and quite flexible. Thanks to it, you can apply putty mixtures to very delicate surfaces.

This spatula is convenient for grouting joints, filling scratches or dents on walls and floors. It can be used to apply putty in a thin layer. Spatula sizes can vary from 40 to 100 mm. They are sold in sets of three or five pieces. These sets contain the most popular sizes.

I use models with a wide working part up to 200 mm for working with liquid mixtures. They are convenient to use on large areas for finishing. These models are equipped with a handle made of wood or rubber.

Tools for decorative putty

Among the standard spatulas for puttying walls, a special group of tools can be distinguished - they are intended for decorative plaster. Often for working with decorative finishing materials use a trowel. This device has four sides - all of them are working. The tool allows you to conveniently apply decorative putty to the surface and make patterns. The device is equipped with a comfortable handle made of wood or rubber. A trowel is nothing more than a Venetian relief spatula.

You can create a relief on the surface using a special grater. It is used not only to work with these types of putty, but also with bark beetle. The second type of spatula is a spatula with a blade polished on both sides. It is not much different from an ordinary small painting shop. The Venetian relief spatula can have a width of 80 mm and above. The working part must be made of stainless steel.

About sizes

Any tool consists of a working plate and a handle. The plate can be metal, plastic or rubber. Among huge amount species are also distinguished by non-professional one-time models and more serious specimens. Thus, a non-professional spatula has a thinner plate and a plastic handle.

Professional spatulas for puttying walls have a thicker plate, 1 mm thick. It does not deform under the slightest load and has a much longer service life.

When it comes to sizes, there are several standard and important sizes for a spatula. Length is not as important as width. This parameter is selected individually according to the type of work performed. A long instrument, like a very short one, is not entirely good choice. During the puttying process, the long plate will bend. This will negatively affect the result.

As for the width, for most construction spatulas optimal size The width is considered to be 100-150 mm. You should also have a facade tool with a width of 300 to 400 mm. To apply putty mixtures, models with a plate width from 20 to 80 cm are used. The narrow tool allows you to process hard-to-reach places. Models up to 30 cm are used for leveling small surfaces. You can correct large defects on the walls using a large spatula - its width is more than 30 cm. Models with a width of more than 60 cm are used for starting putty.

Which tool is better to choose for the job?

With a large number of offers on the construction market, choose suitable tool hard enough. When choosing, you should pay attention to some important parameters.

Remember that a short, stiff and thick handle should not create elasticity when pressing on the plate. A spatula with a plastic handle would be much more practical. It is easier to clean from putty.

Second important parameter- this is the shape and strength of the working part. If the blade has poor geometry, the whole job will have to be redone. A good spatula is only a professional tool. Finishers have been using these for about 4 years every day. But if you need to make minor repairs, purchasing such a device is not justified. Although, despite this, it is still better to purchase this tool, because cheaper options will have to be changed frequently. It is recommended to use a set of spatulas of different sizes at once.

Manufacturers

Tools from brands such as Matrix, SanTol, Khoma, and Eurolex are especially popular among consumers. Among domestic producers we can highlight the company “Zubr”. Reviews note that the tools from this company are different good quality. And the cost of TM “Zubr” spatulas is an order of magnitude lower than that of imported analogues.

So, we found out what a spatula is, where and how it is used. This is a useful (and sometimes irreplaceable) tool for finishing work.

Putty is a preparatory stage before decorative finishing of surfaces. Thanks to competently performed work, the walls can be made as smooth as possible, eliminating obvious defects, chips and other errors remaining after applying the rough layer. If you turn to specialists for help, you will have to pay a tidy sum, especially considering the purchase of materials. But, you can do the work yourself. To do this, you need to study the basic principles this process, watch a video on how to putty walls with your own hands, where the stages are explained from A to Z, and boldly get down to business.

Advantages of do-it-yourself putty

Before painting the surface, gluing wallpaper or performing other types of finishing, the putty process is simply necessary. Several advantages are worth noting:

The walls after putty are smooth, without flaws, chips or cracks.
If the result is not perfect the first time, everything can be redone several times, eliminating even the smallest details, and the quality of the coating will not suffer in any way.
Putty materials are inexpensive and are offered in a wide range.
The solution used is white. It can be applied to decorative material any shades.
Puttying walls is a process that anyone can do on their own.

Types of materials for putty

According to the intended purpose, putty for walls can be:

starting, leveling;
finishing;
specialized;
universal;
textured (decorative).

Starting putty is produced in the form of coarse dry additives. And is used for pre-finishing. With its help, serious flaws and irregularities are corrected, and a reliable basis is created for the finishing layer.

In turn, the finishing putty material is made from fine powder or plastic ready mixture. At proper preparation and accurately executed all technological processes, you can make the wall perfectly smooth and even. We also use some finishing mixtures for decorative purposes, creating pictures and original patterns using putty on the walls.

There is also a universal putty on sale, which we use for all stages of work; we simply apply the mixture in several layers.

Based on the composition, we distinguish the four most common groups:

oil-glue;
cement;
plaster;
polymer:

Acrylic.
Latex.

Each of them has its pros and cons. It is impossible to say unequivocally that one is better and the other is worse. The choice depends on numerous factors and nuances of the work that needs to be performed.

When purchasing putty, be sure to read the information on the packaging. It contains the composition, characteristics, method of preparation and use, expiration date and storage conditions.

Advice: When purchasing, pay attention to the fact that it is better to take material for the starting and finishing layers made by the same company. They will be perfectly compatible and provide good grip.

Scope of application, advantages and disadvantages of oil-adhesive putty

Oil-adhesive putty for walls improves waterproofing, protects walls and plaster from destruction due to the evaporation of large amounts of moisture. It is used for technical cladding of some premises (such as closets, basements, bathrooms), for painting oil paint and for finishing wooden plastered surfaces.

Cement putties

They are sold in the form of dry mixtures that must be mixed with water. Used to prepare walls for wallpapering or painting.

Gypsum putties, their features

Gypsum putty is available in powder form and is prepared immediately before use. Used for dry rooms. There are some types (with hydrophobic additives) that are not afraid of moisture.

Polymer putties, their features

Polymer putty is an almost ideal option. It is very plastic and characterized by moisture resistance. Can be used for almost any room. With this material it is possible decorative putty walls

Required materials and tools

It is quite possible to putty the walls with your own hands. The video will introduce you to everything you need to have to carry out the work. It's worth preparing in advance necessary tools and materials:

A container in which the putty solution is mixed.
Starting and finishing putties, primer solutions.
Spatulas (for large areas a wide spatula is used, and in hard-to-reach places it is more convenient to do the work with a small, angular one - level the mortar at the corners).
Drill with mixer attachment. Using this tool, mix dry putty and water until smooth.
Brushes and rollers. With their help, a primer is applied, which ensures excellent adhesion of the putty to the wall.
Level for checking evenness. It is used if the surface of the walls has significant flaws.
Sandpaper. Used for rubbing the putty surface so that it becomes perfectly smooth.
The starting putty is rubbed with coarse sandpaper, and the finishing putty with fine sandpaper.
Manual cutter (a tool with clamps for sandpaper) – used for ease of grouting.

Externally, putty tools are similar to plastering tools. But there are some differences. The spatula blades for puttying work should be as thin as possible and bend slightly when you press the tool handle. This makes it possible to apply a uniform thin layer. When purchasing a tool, you need to pay attention to the fact that the spatula blade should be perfectly even, smooth and with rounded edges.

The tool must always be perfectly clean. Before work, wipe it with microfiber or a well-washed rag. After work, thoroughly wash all equipment and wipe it dry. Since the remnants of old batches, hairs, lint, dust will not allow you to complete the work to the desired result.

A quick way to putty walls (video)

Preparation of putty

When ready, the putty is:

dry;
ready to use.

Polymer putty does not require special preparation. You just need to open it and use it for its intended purpose.
To dilute the dry mixture, you need a container in which you will knead, as well as water and a drill with a “mixer” attachment. Standard ratio for diluting putty: 2.5 kg of mixture per 1 liter of water.

Breeding stages:

Pour water into the prepared container.
Add evenly to water required amount dry putty, avoiding lumps.
Let the powder swell for a minute and stir with a mixer for 2-4 minutes until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
We give the putty time to set (3-15 minutes), depending on the type.
Mix again with a mixer.
The finished solution should resemble thick sour cream in consistency. Very liquid mixture will drain, and thick - inconvenient to work with, leaving lumps on the wall.

Preparing the base

An important stage of the work is the careful preparation of the wall, which should be as clean as possible (no stains, old plaster, nails, wallpaper residues). You can't leave either old paint and whitewashing.

Please note that after removing the old layer, cracks can be found on the wall. They just need to be sealed correctly. To do this, we expand them as deep as possible into the wall. Next, remove dust and lumps using a brush. Treat the crack with a primer and leave until completely dry. We seal the crack with starting mixture or sealants, pressing the solution as deep as possible, and level the top with the level of the wall. After the sealant has dried, go over the crack with sandpaper.

When the old coating is removed, remove the dust. It is advisable to use an industrial vacuum cleaner or broom, brush, or damp cloth for this purpose. After the wall has dried, we treat it with a primer, which improves the adhesion of the mixture to the surface and reduces the amount of moisture absorption by the plaster, improving the strength of the base.

Wall putty technique

You can learn how to putty walls correctly without any problems. The work consists of applying first the starting and then the finishing layer. We dilute the mixture to a homogeneous consistency. It is better to apply putty on the wall with a large spatula.

Starting putty

Irregularities on the surface larger than 3 mm are sealed with starting putty. This is a coarse-grained mixture, the purpose of which is mainly rough processing. The result is a smooth but porous surface.

To begin with, using a level, we check how much smooth walls. If there are no problems in this regard, then apply the solution in broad strokes, pressing the spatula all the time at one angle relative to the wall (adjusting the putty layer). If the spatula is strongly inclined towards the wall, the layer will be thick. If the angle is larger (60-750), then it will be possible to apply a layer of up to 1 mm.

In areas with significant unevenness (depressions, humps), the putty must be applied in a large layer, leveling the surface using trowels. We continue this way until we achieve a flat surface. When the starting layer has hardened, we sand the wall, removing splashes, sagging, and traces of tools.

Using reinforcing mesh

If there are large differences in surface level, you can install a mesh; with its help, leveling the walls is much easier. The base is reliable and strong. In addition, the risk of cracks is reduced.

We fix the mesh using glue, which we apply with a brush or roller. We press the mesh against the wall and coat it with glue on top. We give it time to dry and begin to putty. You can also secure the sickle by pressing it against the wet putty applied to the wall. Then we level it and strengthen it on top with another layer.

During puttying, special attention is paid to processing internal and external corners. We carry out this work using an angular spatula. On the outer corners we use special perforated overlays, which are embedded in a layer of putty. When it dries, we process the joints, apply the solution to the sides of the corners, level it with an angle tool, without leaving a groove. In this case, we pay attention to controlling the plane level. Remove excess mixture.

Aligning the first layer

After the starting layer is ready and dry (the drying time is indicated on the packaging), we sand the surface with sandpaper, removing small imperfections (stripes and bumps). Sweep away the dust after sanding with a broom.

Applying finishing putty

This is the final stage of preparation before decorative finishing. On clean walls we apply a primer, and then a thin, no more than a few millimeters, layer of putty mixture. At this stage, fine-grained products are used that can hide microcracks and the slightest defects. Everything is done very carefully. The putty is carefully leveled to ensure a perfectly flat surface.

The applied layer must be dry. Then the surface is rubbed with fine sandpaper, using a good lightening agent. The work can be considered completed.

Tip: If we are puttingtying walls under wallpaper, it is not necessary to achieve perfect smoothness, since even the thinnest wallpaper will hide small unevenness and differences.

But the requirements for the surface that we prepare for painting are much higher. The paint does not hide defects at all, so you will have to bring the surface to perfect condition by applying several thin layers of putty.

A few secrets of finishing putty:

Apply the solution in a thin layer (1-2 mm) from top to bottom, pressing the spatula against the wall at an angle of 20°. If the layer is too thick (more than 5 mm), it may crumble after drying.
Each time you apply the mixture to the instrument, you must wipe it with a damp sponge, removing any dried residue.
The finishing putty must be given time (36 - 48 hours) to dry thoroughly and only then can it be sanded.
Irregularities left by the tool and stripes left by a spatula on the joints can be easily removed with sandpaper, so they do not need to be re-sealed with another layer of the mixture.

Puttying walls, although a rather labor-intensive process, is not technically difficult. Everyone can do this work on their own, the main thing is desire.

When planning overhaul in an apartment or house, as well as when moving into a new home that does not have finishing, you will definitely have to decide on putting the walls in order. Of course, you can invite a team of builders and pay them a decent sum, sometimes without even having a guarantee that the work was done efficiently. However, in order to be sure that all the finishing layers applied to the walls will not fall off in a couple of weeks, it is better to carry out all the construction processes on your own, naturally, having studied their technology in advance.

- not such a simple task as it seems at first glance. It is possible to level the walls to perfection only after you develop skill in the process of applying the compounds to the surface. Therefore, before starting such work, after reading the instructions, it is recommended to practice on small areas of the wall that are not in plain sight, for example, in places that are guaranteed to be covered by large furniture

Which putty should I buy?

Puttying walls should not be considered a secondary process that can be skipped. If it is not carried out efficiently, then all surface irregularities will appear through any finishing coating, be it wallpaper, decorative plaster or painting.

Puttying is usually the final process in preparing walls for any decorative coating. The main task is to achieve an almost perfectly flat and smooth surface by using a thin layer of putty on the surface of the walls, filling existing flaws and eliminating unevenness. To obtain the desired result, two types are used - starting and finishing.

The composition of the starting putty includes a mixture of dry coarse materials. This solution is used to pre-treat the wall, leveling out the most serious defects and at the same time creating a good base for applying the finishing layer.

The finishing mixture is made from a fine powder, most often gypsum. Subject to technology preparation of the composition, timing and correctness of its application, it is possible to make the surface of the walls of the room perfectly smooth.

Sometimes, to tidy up walls, universal mixtures are used, which are suitable for both initial, rough leveling and finishing, that is, one composition is applied in several layers.

The putty can be purchased dry or ready-to-use. Ready-made compositions, of course, are easy to use - they are produced on oil-adhesive, drying oil, latex, polymer and other bases. But they did not gain much popularity among private masters due to their rather high cost, not accessible to everyone.

But dry putty mixtures are available for sale in a wide variety, so much so that you can even get confused at first. Some parameters of putties are summarized in the table presented to the reader. You should get acquainted with each composition in more detail directly when choosing, reading the instructions included with each package.

Name indicator	Established standards for brands
	LS 10/90	LS 35/65	LS 50/50	LS 65/35	Fine Coat 50/50	Termonite	For blocks
Recommended thickness in mm	3÷5	5÷15	5÷15	5÷15	3÷10	2÷10	3÷10
Recommended water consumption in l/25 kg	3.5÷4	3.5÷4	3.5÷4	3.5÷4	4÷5	5.5÷6	6÷7
Ultimate compressive strength, MPa, not less	16	8	4	2	4	6	20
Ultimate bending strength, MPa, not less	2	2	1	1	1	3	3
Adhesion (adhesion) to the base, MPa, not less	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	1	0.5
Medium density. solution kg/m3	1900	1900	1900	1900	1900	1900	1900
RN	12÷13	12÷13	12÷13	12÷13	12÷13	12÷13	12÷13
Notes:
LS 10/90 belongs to the category of adhesive compounds;
LS 35/65, 50/50, 65/35 and block putty – leveling compounds;
“Fine Coat 50/50” and “Termonite” - finishing compounds

When purchasing putty, you need to consider and study its packaging, paying attention not only to its characteristics, but also to the expiration date. If the material is expired, then you should not take it, since in this case the money will be thrown away. You should not buy putty mixture stored in conditions of high humidity, even if its expiration date has not yet expired. Wet packaging or packaging with obvious stains of dampness is a sure sign of a spoiled mixture.

It is recommended to purchase putty compositions for the starting and finishing layers made by the same company, as they provide good mutual adhesion and compatibility, which will allow you to obtain a better result.

Prices for popular types of putty

Putties

Materials and tools

It is very important to prepare well for work so as not to be distracted during the process due to a lack of any material or necessary tool.

So, for work you will need:

Starting and finishing putty mixtures.
Primer composition.
A plastic container for mixing putty, if it is purchased dry.
Special paint bath for working with primer.
Construction roller and two brushes - wide and narrow. They are necessary for applying primer in hard-to-reach places, such as corners or behind radiators.
Spatulas:

- wide 500 ÷ 600 mm or even 700 ÷ 800 mm - for applying the finishing layer of putty;

- narrow 100 ÷ 150 mm - for taking putty from a container and applying it to a large spatula, as well as for leveling the composition in corners.

- corner - for leveling corners when filling them.

Rule for controlling the evenness of the wall.
Drill and mixer attachment for mixing the mass.
Electric Sander(vibrating or eccentric) or a hand float for rubbing and grinding the applied putty.
A spotlight or hand-held light to identify poorly aligned areas on a wall.
Construction knife.

Preparing walls for puttying

Before applying putty, the wall must be carefully prepared. If it remains on it old plaster or pieces of wallpaper, they must be removed. You will also have to clean the wall of oil or water-based paint.

After removing the old coating, cracks or unevenness may appear on the wall. To ensure that the putty lays flat and does not crack after drying along the cracks, it is necessary to seal them.

— Before sealing detected cracks, they must be expanded as deep into the wall as possible so that they do not repeat their direction after applying the putty.

— After expansion, the crack is cleaned of dust and pieces of plaster - this process can be carried out using a small brush.

— Starting putty or sealant is applied to the dried crack. The repair mixture must be pressed as deep as possible into the crack, and the top should be leveled with the level of the wall surface.

— After the putty or sealant has dried, you need to go over the sealed crack with a float to finally level it with the wall.

If the wall is , then all its joints should be glued with fiberglass mesh, on top of which a thin layer of putty is applied. Holes from recessed self-tapping screw heads, which drywall is fixed to the wall or sheathing, must also be filled with a putty mixture, otherwise rust from them will appear through any decorative finish.

After the sealing joints have dried, they proceed to applying a primer with antiseptic properties to the walls. This layer will add additional strength to the surface, increase the adhesion of materials and extend the service life of the finish.

It is poured into a special tray, from which it is easy to take it onto a roller (brush) for application to the wall surface. It is very important to thoroughly treat all hard-to-reach places, otherwise it is from there that the putty may subsequently begin to peel off.

The primer applied to the walls must dry well.

Prices for different types of primer

Primer

Preparation of putty

If you purchase a dry mixture, then it must be prepared correctly, as it should be uniform in consistency and resemble thick sour cream.

To mix the mixture, a regular plastic bucket filled with water is suitable. room temperature. Typically, a bag of putty weighing 25 kg requires 9.5 ÷ 10 liters of water, but to find out for sure, be sure to read the instructions before opening the bag with the mixture.

If the selected mixture is made on a gypsum basis, you should not knead it too much, since its “life” is very limited. The time for using the mixed solution can also be found in the instructions for its preparation.
After pouring the powder into the water, the mixture is mixed using a mixer attachment mounted in the drill chuck.

After the first portion of the mixed solution is used, the bucket and mixer must be rinsed thoroughly, otherwise the next solution may end up with solid inclusions left over from the first batch. It is clear that this operation is repeated constantly throughout the entire work.

Applying starting putty

The starting putty is applied to the primed surface with a wide spatula, onto which the mixture is applied for convenience and evenly distributed with a small spatula.

from the corner and down up smooth movements without force pressing on the spatula, which should be held at approximately a 45 degree angle. It is this position that will help to apply the putty evenly, without leaving marks on it from the corners of the tool.

Putty strips are applied to the surface with an overlap, that is, the strokes should overlap each other by 70 ÷ 80 mm.

After applying putty to a certain area, its evenness is checked using a rule. As a rule, carefully, without pressure, pass over the putty surface. The flat edge of the tool should collect the excess putty mixture and reveal obvious depressions. The flaws will be especially visible if the wall is illuminated with a light bulb in such a way as to create a moving shadow.

If differences are detected, you should once again go over the surface of the wall with a wide spatula to level them out. This can be done while the putty on the wall is still wet.

When applying the starting layer, you need to pay special attention to the corners, since they are the ones that are constantly “ weak point"When leveling walls. Therefore, very often a special spatula in the shape of a right angle is used to level these difficult-to-plaster areas.

One of the most difficult techniques is aligning corners

After applying the starting layer, the walls are rarely perfectly smooth, although this should be strived for. Small errors are allowed, which can be covered by the finishing layer.
After completing the application of the starting layer on all the walls of the room, you need to wait for it to dry - only then proceed to the first grout. Using an electric sander or hand grater with sandpaper or an abrasive mesh attached to it, all unevenness from the coarse-grained starting mixture is removed from the surface of the walls. In addition, the grout will be able to smooth out small flaws left by the corners of the working surface of the spatula.

Grouting is carried out using movements along a spiral trajectory. You must be careful and try not to miss a single centimeter of the putty surface.

If, after grouting, irregularities deeper than 2.5 ÷ 3 mm are found on the illuminated wall, then a second layer of the same mixture is applied to the first starting one. It can be applied to the entire surface or only to individual areas where defects were found.

Final layer of putty

The finishing layer of putty is applied after the starting one has completely dried, according to the same principle - that is, from the corners and down up.

The mixture is also applied with a small spatula to a large one, distributed along its edge, and applied to the wall with clear movements with slight pressure. The layer of the finishing mixture should not be thicker than two millimeters, and the remaining excess putty and lines from the edges of the spatula are carefully stretched and smoothed by passing over them again.

To see all defects at once, it is recommended to create a combined lighting, coming from several light sources, or use a mobile light bulb on a wire so that you can bring it to the wall to be leveled from different sides. When creating such lighting, falling dynamic shadows will immediately reveal insufficiently aligned areas of the wall.
The finishing putty is applied in two layers. The second one is applied after the first one has completely dried.
When the second layer dries, it is rubbed in the same way as the starting one, using a grater or a special power tool with fine-grained sandpaper or abrasive (start with 200 grit and usually end with 400). If surface defects are detected, it is permissible to apply another finishing layer to individual areas.
It is very necessary to seal and sand the corners of the room, as the flaws will be especially noticeable there. To remove them, two spatulas are used - an angled one and a rubber one. The first one immediately forms the corner, and the second one gently smoothes out the excess putty.

After completing the filling and grouting work, the walls are covered with one or two more layers of primer, and only after that can decorative finishing be applied.

If the walls are planned to be leveled, then the process of applying putty must be approached with special care, since the surface must be leveled to perfection. If the room is decorated with wallpaper, then they are to some extent able to hide small defects, but when painting, the flaws, on the contrary, will appear - this must be foreseen and the choice of decorative coating must be decided in advance.

After completing all the work on leveling the walls with putty, all the tools that were used for the process must be thoroughly cleaned, rinsed and dried, since they will definitely be needed to tidy up other areas of the apartment.

To achieve the desired result when leveling the surface of walls with putty, it is recommended to follow some rules and recommendations. Some have already been mentioned in the article, but it makes sense to highlight them separately in the form of a final summary:

If you do not have sufficient experience in this type of work, you should not purchase large quantities of materials. To try whether you can carry out this work yourself, you can purchase a small amount of putty by weight, learn how to prepare the solution and try it small area walls.

Having carried out such an experiment, it will be possible to immediately understand whether it is possible to carry out puttying of large surfaces, or whether it is still worth entrusting the work to professionals.

Work on applying and leveling the putty should be carried out under lighting from several lighting fixtures installed at different ends of the room.
The starting putty is applied with a thickness of no more than 4 ÷ 5 mm, since layers that are thicker can peel off, and there is also a high risk of cracks appearing on them.
Before applying each subsequent layer, you need to make sure that the previous one is completely dry. The drying period of the putty directly depends on the thickness of the applied layer, the level of humidity and temperature in the room.
It is prohibited to speed up the drying of putty walls by installing heating devices or creating a draft in the room, as these influences can lead to peeling of the applied composition from the walls.
After applying each layer, be sure to check all surfaces using the rule, making marks of places that require additional adjustments.
Get perfect straight corners This is only possible if a special spatula is used to level them.

And finally, a few words about precautions when carrying out such construction and finishing work:

To carry out puttying of walls and ceilings, it is necessary to prepare not only tools and material, but also suitable clothing and equipment. So, when working with putties, plasters, primers, and paints, it is imperative to protect your hair and skin.

A scarf is usually tied over the head, and as a work uniform you can use old clothes that cover the body as much as possible, which you don’t mind getting dirty. It is recommended to protect your hands with thick rubber gloves.

When carrying out troweling work, it is necessary to protect the respiratory tract and eyes, since a lot of fine dust will fly. To do this, you need to purchase a respirator and special glasses at a hardware store.
If the walls in the room are high, you need to take care of a reliable, stable staircase or build trestles for this. It is preferable to have the latter, since they allow you to cover a large finishing area at once, and they do not have to be rearranged often.

And in conclusion, according to the tradition of our portal - a visual video lesson on leveling walls with putty:

Video: first steps in working with putty mixtures

It should be noted that leveling walls is, to some extent, even a creative process, but it is quite labor-intensive. Therefore, if there is no predisposition to such activities, then it is better not to take on it, but to entrust the implementation to professional plasterers. But if you have a great desire to try your hand and even save money cash, then it’s worth taking a risk and doing everything yourself.