Plastering Cinder Block walls
Hello ambitious guys and gals, who are interested in learning how to do it yourself, now possibly you can.
How? Watch, this video explains we show and explain Plastering Cinder Block walls.
I go into details about tools and their use, plus explain and show a variety of useful plastering tips.
With a small bit of attention you can and will save cash, create a sense of euphoria and sleep well knowing, no problemo, I did this repair myself.
Save cash, great workout, sense of accomplishment, what more in life does a righteous person desire?
Old Kirk says, material knowledge is 70% of being a well rounded plasterer,
The other 30% is application.
Here in this video where I explain how to plaster a wall it simply takes practice.
If you don’t know how it can be physically demanding and may destroy the desire to want to try again.
Yes, fellas this include you and I both, we should watch anything that were about to try for the first time, (especially if you have access to YouTube) then try, if your like me you tend to just want to tackle on your own without the patience watching how it’s done, with plaster work thats a big no, no.
Kirk Giordano Plastering Inc.
http://www.StuccoPlastering.com
How to Plaster, how to apply plaster, how to plaster wall,
Plastering Cinder Block walls
stucco nerd, plaster geek, need a life stucco dude
Thanks for watching and have great day!
Teaching the world how to plaster one video at a time.
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Plastering Cinder Block walls
Never, ever, have I wished to be bored for hours … until now… SOOO many people say I waist time misting old dry lathe before plastering.. but that's why their plaster tends to shrink and crack, and mine doesn't. Please make a video on proper hydration techniques .Thank you in advance.
Evening Dagon Fist Dude, I did explain in one video exactly what you are saying, as I agree with you about hydration.
If you copy and paste the words below in parentheses in our main page channel a video with the new ending that you sort of brought to my attention will appear.
(How to plaster over T1-11 siding wand proper hydrating stucco techniques)
Thanks for watching and have great day! Kirk Giordano Plastering
You are the man…here in Las Vegas NV, most stucco work is not up to par…my cookie cutter home has waves in the stucco..not even at all.
wtg Lou , best Kirk .. nice job ..
This video was exactly what I was looking for. I needed to know how to apply stucco on the block caps. Thanks! Great videos
Did you end up doing only a single coat on the wall?
IM a plaster as well how come you don't take your mud off the too of your hawk and on your patches you never use a bonding agent such as selected that usually gives you a crack around the patch
Evening Sman2good, we did most of this 100 foot wall in a single pass but if it's thin we apply more, the idea is to go at least a half inch on this wall as it was real smooth, fortunately.
However sone walls that are also cinder block we have to go much thinker if the grout lines are deep or especially if the grout is sticking out.
Thanks for watching and have a good evening.
kirk giordano plastering
Evening genis696, not sure I understand your question.
Are you asking me why I take the mud from the bottom
of my hawk?
If so I can take it off the top or the bottom.
This wall does not need a bonding agent as it's porous new stucco adheres naturally by cementitious suction.
Thanks for watching and have a good evening.
kirk Giordano plastering by
awesome and thanks for that link Kirk.
db
Morning dude, no worries,
kirk and family
Maestro!
Hello Isomina, thanks for sharing.
Kirk and family
Get Kirk what is the name of the accelerator you mention from time to time that sets up really fast?
Hi Isomina. Its called luminite and sold at Westside building Materials.
Westside has material yards all over the U.S. Other professional plaster supplies yards also carry it, like Close building materials in Hayward, or Shamrock in san Rafael or Cal-Ply in Hayward just to name a few options.
Luminite comes in 94 pound bags which makes it impractical for most home owners and cost between 50 to 60 dollars a bag depending on where you purchase. Lastly Accelerators and Retarders for Portland Cement-Based Plasters take a bit of practice to use.
Best wishes,
Kirk and family
Wow,,,I learn so much from this man,,,the video makes me happy
Dino Lomedico, thank you your the man.
Best wishes, and stay tuned.
Kirk and family
That's it. I'm pouring some molds over here so 94lbs is too much. I'll stick to the calcium chloride. Finished my first wall smoother than Santa Barbara very sweet thanks for all the help and you must have some strong arm muscles by now.
DB
Hi Isomina, thats a fact jack, one of the benefits of manual labor.
Cheers!
Kirk and family
I would like to stucco a small retaining wall in my backyard and love the idea of adding sand to the white concrete to create color. How much sand should I add per bag of concrete??
Evening littlestricklins, we usually add three times as much sand as cement plaster as a rule.
Best wishes,
Kirk & Jason Giordano's DIY plastering network
here we seal the blocks render and screed, mesh coat, then float coat, then either 1.5mm texture followed by .5 mm texture
Morning spinbubba, we do that here also, it just cost a bit more.
Best wishes,
Kirk & Jason Giordano's DIY plaster and stucco network
Hey Kirk thanks for your videos…Can you skim coat over a painted cinder block wall?
Good morning Jose, yes, however the walls needs to be pressured washed very well then a quality bonding agent must be applied to the wall surface, now you are ready to apply stucco.
Remember the new stucco is only as good as what it's adhered to.
Best wishes,
Kirk & Jason Giordano’s DIY plastering videos
Hey Kirk, when applying a bonding agent, how big of an area can you apply at one time before you begin the base coat?
Evening Adam Tasanaprasert, this wall needed no bonding agent as it was new and unpainted or porous.
Stucco adheres to unpainted concrete, and or cinder blocks bu suction, but you should mist the walls prior with water so that your new stucco is not applied to a really dry surface.
Best wishes,
kirk giordano plastering tips
What if ur applying to a painted brick wall? Then how much of an area can you work at one time?
Evening Adam Tasanaprasert, if it's a painted wall, pressure wash very well, apply a bonding agent to the wall, not in the mix.
Then apply plaster corner to corner.
Have a great evening
kirk giordano plastering tips
Thanks Kirk! Keep the videos coming they are very educational..You are a master craftsman! Enjoy ur evening as well sir..
Thank you adam, will do.
kirk giordano
Behind the scenes Lou getting it done. Never take for granted the guy or guys/gals who keep you moving along
@Chris Callaghan Morning Chris, absolutely, without Louuu or Jason, I'm only half a plasterer.
Best wishes and have a fantastic day!
Kirk Giordano
Hello there, So for this project you applied only 1 coat (like a scratch/brown coat type?) with regular base coat plaster/stucco? is that right? So for a wall like this one 1 coat would be enough right? Thanks so much and have a good day!
as I've seen it was not well finished, sorry but that was a nasty and crappy work, that is not a work by a professional, you don't even paying attention to the vertical finished out line from top to bottom of the wall, for those audience who do not have any idea of that work will probably will not notice those nasty outcome especially when they are facing the wall at a distance, I'm pretty sure they will notice it if you focus your cam at the side portion of the wall in a close distance, the mixed cement being plastered on the wall is not properly level in a vertical angle… that will not pass in a standard evaluation… I criticize your work not intended to discourage you, and I hope this serves as a motivation by you to improve your skills… I am willing to share with you some techniques to give you ideas on how it is properly done in much more effective and efficient way, if I do have enough time
Howdy Doublezero “Joracs” Threesixone dude, thank you,
I appreciate your kindness in trying to educate me however I don't agree with your views.
However, I would strongly suggest that you start making videos in "how to plaster walls as the stucco world is much need for more teachers.
Best wishes,
kirk Giordano
+Doublezero ”Joracs” Threesixone You are right, i have watched few videos and he sound so full of him, like how he says he brother name Loouu.
Even in this video 14:58 there is nasty spot on wall and he wipes it with his hand is proof of sloppy job and that lower side of wall he should do some digging before applying stucco to get better finish on where ground meets wall.
And if professional builder/plasterer or any else says no one can teach me nothing he is just partially amateur, there is always someone in somewhere who for sure knows something that you didn't knew or have ever learned.
Evening mr wiseguy dude you name suits you, plus your a big meanie,
Cheers anyway,
Kirk giordano a real Plastering professional to you
Thanks for the videos, I'm gathering info for stuccoing my cinder block wall in NM. I have a question though. Where the wall goes into the ground, what's the proper way to take the stucco all the way to the ground? Does the stucco need to be sealed in any way where the wall enters the ground?
Hi Vortiguant Atadesk, excellent question,
If it were a wood wall, you would not want the stucco to touch the ground,
With Cinder blocks it does not matter, as once the cinder blocks have cured and settled the stucco can touch as an expansion is not necessary for block of concrete, as a rule.
As far as any sealants this work should be completed to the rear of the wall where it's holding up a wall of dirt.
The best and proper way is to install a French drain system behind the wall, this diverts the water so it won't collect and apply tremendous pressure.
You can also use many water proof membranes, however if it's a big wall holding up many tons of wet dirt, the water will push the wall, thus creating structural cracks than can actually seperate a wall.
Many tons of water is no joke.
cheers,
kirk giordano
Great, thanks! I'm not sure if I'll need a drain as you described, my wall is simply separating my neighbors' yard and mine.
tons of dirt will do this,
cheers,
kirk giordano
if you only wanted to do something like this to one side of a cinder block wall… leaving the other side in its original painted cinderblock….say in a shared boundary wall situation…..would it flake and break off easily in a hot desert environment?
Good morning Alyks Sdrawde, excellent question,
if skimmed properly, a stucco or cement plaster finish never comes off or separates even in the hottest temperatures, the hottest temperature I have been in was 110 degree's, in Mexico, but if that temperature got to 130, like sticking your head in an oven, it would not matter, heat or cold do not separate properly applied stucco to either bricks, cinder blocks or concrete.
Best wishes,
Kirk giordano Plastering
What ratio of sand to porland cement do i put in my mixer…how many shovels of sand to per 90lb back or half bag should i mix?
Evening Aaron Chavira, good question,
we usually mix with three times as much sand vs cement plaster, for the scratch coat, unless I am applying cement plaster to a ceilings, in which case I will use only twice as much sand I want it sticky so it does not fall out too much as we're applying overhead.
For the brown coat I usually mix between 3 to 4 amount of sand to the cement plaster.
A bit more or less is not such a big deal.
My brother has a scoop shovel, he measures with 12 scoops of sand per bag of cement plaster or with a regular shovel about 16 shovel fulls Per 94 pound bag.
Best wishes,
Kirk giordano Plastering
also can i paint over the cement plaster to match my house color..do i need any special prep work before i paint the wall?
Evening again Aaron Chavira, allow the cement plaster to cure for 28 days, so it can cure, dry out or technically drop from a level 14 alkalinity to one lower than say 11,
"boring Technical stuff"
so that when you paint , the paint does not bleed or have a ghosting effect.
Cheers,
kirk giordano Plastering
Ohhhhhh!! Steel finish seals the stucco layer which will then crack!! Of course! I never knew why NOT to steel absolutely everything. I love smooth finished walls. Started as a concrete guy on a big crew and I've been partial to the basic finishing techniques used back in that line of work. Thank you sir for sharing your years of experience with the world!
Evening Tony, no problemo, today I had a client say according to the color chart with different finishes in the picture,
O,oooo I want that one, pointed to a steel trowel smooth finish, I replied no you don't' that finish is not only two coats which is twice as expensive as any other finish, but three times more likely to hairline crack as when it rains or the house moves the stucco or render can't breathe (expand and constrict) so like a person it smoothers, hence, when the tension builds too much the dam breaks stucco walls hairline and spider check or cracks like an egg.
This phenomena has nothing to do with workmanship, but instead sealing two outer layers, thus, creating a stucco wall that can't breath or flex, voila crack haven.
Best wishes,
Kirk giordano Rendering
Kiora kirk. Do you ever do a splash coat ? What are your thoughts on this? I am going to render my block garage that already has paint on it and have been recommended to splash coat it first.. Will this suffice?
Howdy Nick, I do a skim coat, that is where we apply a half inch minimum or more so that where it rains the block line with not ghost through.
Best wishes,
Kirk & Jason’s stucco repair video’s
greatly appreciate you taking the time to film, explain and post what you're doing. That's huge goodwill on your part.
Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. Hey dude love all your videos, do you ever scud walls first, would love your view on this, keep uploading, brilliant as always
Howdy Horse dude, no, I don't scud walls or apply slurries, (same thing)
I do however mist the walls with water how much depends on the weather.
Much more if it's really hot, a lot less if it's cold, if it's rained the night befor and the wall is damp, I will use a wire brush first to sort of micro score the wall, preperation is the key to longevity of stucco as you know to achieving a good mechanical bond, or if it's painted obviously a bonding agent is necessary after pressure washing well.
Cheers, live long and plaster
Giordano’s plastering tips
Howdy Guinness dude from Ireland, thank you and no worries me friend,
Cheers, live long and plaster
Giordano’s plastering tips
Howdy Horse Dude from Ireland, no worries, happy to share the knowledge, as I give solid and squair advice especially to all who are interested.
Live long and plaster
Stucco/Plastering images and teaching video’s
Dosnt moisture coming from the side of the wall thats filled with soil cause problems or is the wall coated before the earth is backfilled ?
Howdy Jai, the wall holding up the dirt should always be coated with whatever bocks water, but more imprtanly a french drain system should also be installed, at worst at least a bunch of outlets for the accumulated water to seep through, or the weight of the water will push any wall.
Live long and plaster
giordano’s stucco images and teaching videos
Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. my house was built in 1953 of cender block. and has been painted over the years. what woud you recommend to prep it for stucco.
Howdy Dude, I would recommend you pressure wash well, than apply a bonding agent to the walls and plaster as usual.
Live long and plaster
Stucco/Plastering images and teaching video’s
Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. Thank you. i enjoy watching your channel
Great , vidio.
Good evening Al dude, thank you, Live long and plaster, Plastering tips and techniques
I hope you told the customer the grout lines would show through?. That's why we normally do two coats, to prevent joints showing.
Good evening Adrian Dude, two coats are not necessary, now a skim coat of 1/2 or more is a tried and true method, besides, I read it on a bathroom wall, of course, I wrote it tere first.
Live long and plaster
Teaching how to repair your home
I like it. Natural.
Would you change this recipe if done in midwest low temp winter ?
Thanks
Evening Paul Dude, no, stucco/plaster withstands extreme heats as well as snowy conditions, I've applyied stucco in the snow, not a good idea as it takes forever to set but if you have no chice, you have no choice.
Live long and Plaster
Giordano’s plastering and stucco wisdom videos
Kirk don't you screed the wall flat or straight before doing the finish ? .
Good evening Jon dude, not necessary as he wanted a natural look to it.
Live long and plaster
Sharing the plastering knowledge
Hi Kirk! Thanks for making all these videos. I made a cinder block retaining wall for a basement walkout here in Utah, and from what I have seen in your videos, it is possible to do a single coat on the blocks, and foundation. I plan on buying my material from home depot. will 'ashgrove premix stucco, fiber reinforced' do the trick? Also, i would prefer to keep the cap flat, as in this video, but i have heard that the wall will not last as long like this. What is your opinion? Thanks!
Howdy Mitchell dude, I checked out your product choice online, it appears sound and will be great.
A wall of existing cinder block wall coated properly with stucco will last forever.
Your wall must be clean enough to eat off 🙂 you should also apply a bonding agent over it just to make sure, Home Depot carries quikrete as their bonding agent, it works fine.
Live long and plaster
Teaching you how to stucco your home issues
Thanks Kirk! The Foundation wall that i will be plastering has waterproofing tar on it. Will applying the bonding agent over the tar work? or do I have to put wire mesh on it? Thanks again!
Hello Kirk,
I'm a huge fan of you and everything you do to help educate people on all plastering and stucco needs. We have poured in place concrete retaining walls that did not come out as smooth as the clients were looking for (think "cast in place" smoothness). You have mentioned NOT using a steel trowel finish on exterior finishes. Can you recommend a product we can use to coat the walls and create that smooth concrete finish? I was thinking Lime Plaster…would that work? We live in Cincinnati.
Thank you so much for your time. I wish you the best.
Jim
Good evening Jim, yes, lime would work, or BMIs Marble finish coat or La Habra's Santa Barbara finish.
Peace, love, and happiness to all
Bringing Plastering tips to the world, via YouTube Video
Hi Kirk and crew, really enjoyed watching your videos! I know you are way busy and I wish I could hire you to do this project for me but I moved from the SF Bay Area to the Tampa Bay Area.Question for a DIYer: I have a 70' x 3' wall – actually that's my side of a neighbor's block retaining wall. I'm installing a wooden topper on it – it's filled with concrete, looks stucco'd and bare block on my side. From your videos, I'm planning to pressure wash it, put on a thick scratch coat, let dry per instructions, then color coat it with a medium texture to match the house – 2 color coats, right. I want to do the topper first but started thinking about water since I only wanted to stucco the side . . . Do I need to put a cap or any other product on it to keep water from getting behind the stucco?I have pictures, but it doesn't look like I can attach them here
Howdy Tim, only a skim coat is required, one coat, not two. FYI, all cinder Blocks, bricks concrete are porousas, but not by much, moister does get into these substrates. Water going through Cinder Block and out through cementitious stucco does no harm, it's the same as a brick getting wet, it darkens however when dryer conditions return, nothing happens except it gets lighter in appearance. Live long and plaster Kirk Giordano’s Plastering answers to life’s issues
Thanks much! Again, you're videos are awesome – great seeing people who love what they do and even better sharing and teaching others! I owe you a beer or three – they're in Clearwater to redeem lol
Hello there,all the best in your work and life.I am building my own house i Croatia and normaly comparing your American style of plastering.I must say that here people build homes to last for generations.Eartquick profe too.
I just found sutable explanation of your style.Bella pitura,bella figura.
I hope you do not find this post ofending.It is just the way we do things here and we have old towns lasting for 2 milenia and people still live in.Dubrovnik,Split,Trogir.
There is no way that you se cinder block retaining wall.It is not safe in case of heavy rain ,without holes specialy.
I am sure you would do it beter if they ask you.
By the way,you remind me of my uncle Toni from Darvin in Australia.He came back to Croatia after 25 years being away and showed this one coat technike to wilage people.Everyone was making a joke that it is going to fall off.It did not.Allso material that fell down during aplication I used to make statue of my son Ivan and it is still on terace ,exposed for more than 28 years.
All the best from Dalmatia
Evening my fellow plasterer from Dalmatia thank you. In the UK most structure do last thousands of years as lime is often used.
Peace, love, and happiness to all
Bringing Plastering tips to the world, via YouTube Video
You are the man!!!
Great videos
Good evening Rafael, thank you, my friend.
Peace, love, and happiness to all
Bringing Plastering tips to the world, via YouTube Video
I want to hear from lou more
Evening Brayden, luuuu, does not being in the video's. can't force him to do what he doesn't want to happen. Bringing peace, love, and harmony back to the world of plastering.With over 800 educational and free Youtube videos, by your favorite plaster geek, “me,” and Jason, my son, the bearded plasterer.