What is needed to putty the walls. Do-it-yourself wall putty: we apply the starting and finishing putty on the walls correctly
In the process of repairing an apartment or house, a lot of tools are used. And perhaps the main role here is played by a spatula - without it it will not be possible to simply and quickly remove old wallpaper, apply a high-quality putty solution. There are many types of these tools - let's look at what a spatula should be for wall putty.
What is a spatula?
Everyone has heard something about this tool, but not everyone knows what it is and what it looks like. Consultants in construction supermarkets have probably encountered such buyers more than a dozen times.
Spatula is a German word that means "scapula" in Russian. The tool is a small paddle made of various materials with a handle. The spatula is used to remove old wallpaper, putty, old paint, to apply various solutions to the surface, including cement. A spatula is required for filling walls, floors, installing tiles, grouting joints, when laying bricks. With the help of this simple device, small defects on delicate surfaces are corrected.
In addition to the fact that the spatulas are divided according to the features of the application, they are also classified depending on the material from which they are made. So, there are metal, rubber, and plastic tools.
Types of spatulas
Even from the name it can be understood that this tool is intended for puttying, but it is used for a variety of works.
Devices should be chosen according to the type of work, and at each of the stages you may need tools of different types. Consider 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 size of the surface should be significant - then the spatula will be as effective as possible. The differences of this type are in increased strength. The blade has high rigidity and is made of anodized steel alloys.
The canvas is fixed in an aluminum profile, which minimizes the risk of deformations and distortions during operation, increases the level of reliability and durability. The handle is most often soft, made of a two-component plastic thermoresin - it allows you to work with the tool as comfortably as possible. The facade trowel can have a width of 150 to 800 mm. The cost of these products is higher than the price of other analogs, but this is due to the high quality and higher loads during use.
Painting spatulas
This tool, in contrast to the front models, has a thinner canvas. 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 on all types of surfaces, but also remove old wallpaper or paint layers without a trace.
The scope of application of the painting trowel is the final stage of finishing work. They apply and level the putty, fill up the cracks, carry out minor repairs to concrete walls.
However, due to the thinner blade thickness during intensive use, this spatula has a lower resource. In addition, the blade is not always made of stainless steel. Often, for the sake of economy, manufacturers use conventional steel, which further reduces the service life. The spatula sizes are from 20 to 450 mm.
Toothed
This tool has a narrow purpose. It is only necessary for applying glue to various surfaces. The teeth on the canvas allow you to distribute the adhesive composition as evenly as possible, reduce overspending, and 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 larger tiles, use a trowel with a larger tooth. The ceramics are placed in a shallower furrow.
Angular
This wall putty trowel is used only for leveling corners - internal and external. The blade is made from a stainless steel hoist and both sides are at right angles to each other. The inside corner tool is very popular. It is used for leveling joints between walls, as well as between floor and ceiling.
But since right angles are not exactly maintained so often, the process of working with this spatula is not always convenient. Decorative corners are now being installed on external joints. Therefore, the external instrument has lost its relevance.
Rubber spatulas
These devices are made from durable but flexible types of rubber. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This spatula does not have any joints or joints, as it is made from a single piece of rubber. The working surface of the tool is thin and flexible enough. Due to it, it is possible to apply putty mixtures on very delicate surfaces.
This spatula is convenient for grouting joints, repairing scratches or dents on walls and floors. It can be used to apply the filler in a thin layer. The 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. It is convenient to use them in large areas for finishing. These models are equipped with a wood or rubber handle.
Decorative putty tools
Among the standard spatulas for wall putty, a special group of tools can be distinguished - they are designed for decorative plaster. Often a trowel is used to work with decorative finishing materials. This device has four faces - they are all working. The tool allows you to conveniently apply decorative putty to the surface, make patterns. The device is equipped with a comfortable wood or rubber handle. The trowel is nothing more than a Venetian embossed spatula.
You can create a relief on the surface using a special float. It is used not only to work with these types of putty, but also with the bark beetle. The second type of spatula is a spatula with a blade polished on both sides. It is not much different from the usual small painting room. Venetian embossed trowel can be 80 mm wide and more. The working part must be made of stainless steel.
About sizes
Any tool is a build plate and a handle. The plate can be metal, plastic, or rubber. Among the huge number of species, non-professional disposable models and more serious specimens are also distinguished. So, a non-professional spatula has a thinner plate, as well as a plastic handle.
Professional trowels for wall putty are distinguished by a thicker plate, 1 mm thick. It does not deform at the slightest load and has a much longer service life.
In terms of sizes, there are several standard and important sizes for the trowel. Length is not as important as width. This parameter is selected individually according to the type of work performed. A long tool, like a very short one, is not a very good choice. During the putty process, the long plate will bend. This will negatively affect the result.
As for the width, for most construction trowels, the optimal size is considered to be a width of 100-150 mm. You should also have a facade tool with a width of 300 to 400 mm. For applying putty mixtures, models with a plate width of 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. It is possible to correct large defects on the walls using a large spatula - its width is more than 30 cm. For models with a width of more than 60 cm, start putty is performed.
Which tool is best for the job
With a large number of offers on the construction market, it is quite difficult to choose the right tool. When choosing, it is worth paying attention to some important parameters.
Remember that the 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.
The second important parameter is the shape and strength of the working part. If the blade has poor geometry, all work will have to be redone. A good spatula is only a professional tool. Finishers use these for about 4 years every day. But if you need to make small repairs, the purchase of such a device is not justified. Although, despite this, it is still better to purchase this tool, because cheaper options will often have to be changed. It is recommended to use a set of spatulas of different sizes at once.
Manufacturers
Tools of such brands as Matrix, SanTol, Homa, and Eurolex are especially popular among consumers. The Zubr company can be distinguished among domestic producers. Reviews note that the tools from this company are of good quality. And the cost of TM "Zubr" spatulas is an order of magnitude lower than that of imported counterparts.
So, we found out what a spatula is, where and how it is used. It is a useful (and sometimes irreplaceable) tool for finishing work.
Anyone who has ever come across with, knows very well what are the "ideal" walls in our houses. These are solid pits, bumps and cracks. If the defects are very large, then you can not do without or not, and to correct minor surface defects, you can use a special putty. In today's article we will consider what kind of composition it is, its types, in which cases it is used and how to properly putty walls and ceilings.
Read in the article
What is putty, and what is it for
Putty or, more correctly, putty (from the name of the tool "spatula") is a fairly plastic finishing material that is used to eliminate surface defects, as well as create a durable and strong base under or. The preparation of walls or ceilings consists of several stages, and each of them requires its own type of this building and finishing composition.
A dry or ready-made putty mixture, which can be a starting, finishing and universal, consists of the following main ingredients:
- gypsum;
- various fillers;
- plasticizers;
- thickeners and hardeners.
Types of putty
As we have already mentioned, finishing work using puttying is carried out in several stages, and each of them needs its own type of special mixture, namely:
- starting putty designed to eliminate surface defects and is the basis for decorative finishing of walls and ceilings;
- finishing mixture used to create the final decorative layer;
- universal putty can be used simultaneously as a starting and finishing mixture.
Putty Perfekta Start Glide
Putty Weber KR
Putty Perfekta Ecocraft
What spatulas are needed for filling walls and leveling corners
Spatulas are used in many types of construction and finishing work, and each needs its own tool. They differ in size and shape. The table shows the main types of spatulas with an indication of their purpose.
| Spatula type | Performed work | Type and features of the tool |
|
|
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| The spatula is used for interior finishing as an auxiliary tool. |
|
| The tool is used to putty the outer and inner corners. | It is a metal plate bent at a right angle and equipped with a handle. |
Which wall putty is best to use when leveling surfaces
In addition to the fact that the putty is starting, finishing and universal, it also differs in composition. So, putty mixtures are:
- acrylic - are used for interior finishing work. This type of putty is characterized by high moisture resistance and versatility, protects walls from dampness, and is also used to create a decorative finishing layer and is suitable for working with wooden surfaces;
- water-dispersive - has high elasticity, good adhesion, resistance to cracks and shrinkage, and is also durable;
- oil and glue mixture. The putty composition is made on the basis of drying oil and is ideal for creating a finishing layer before painting the surface with oil paints;
- cement putty great for working with, stone and surfaces in rooms with high;
- gypsum mix used for work in rooms with low humidity levels .
Why putty is needed - different for each layer
It is ineffective to apply any putty in several thin or one thick layers, since the material is expensive, and drying will take a lot of working time. Therefore, to eliminate significant defects and level the surface, they are used, after which a starting (1-3 mm) and finishing (up to 0.5 mm) layer is applied with a putty. To create a high-quality and more durable finish, you must use materials from one manufacturer.
Starter putty (plaster) helps create a solid base for subsequent finishing
Knauf Rotband plaster
It is possible to apply only one finishing layer only on a high-quality surface. Before puttingtying the wall or ceiling, it is imperative and only after that use the starting putty composition. After drying, it is sanded, dust removed and covered with a finishing layer.
DANOGIPS Dano Top 5 Putty
The surface to be painted afterwards must be brought to a perfectly even and smooth state. If the wall is finished for subsequent pasting, then it is enough to use a starting putty.
Plastering technology for walls and ceilings
Puttying is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. In order to perform the work efficiently, you need a certain experience that can be acquired over time. In order to independently learn how to putty walls and ceilings, you must follow the instructions that will be presented below.
Surface preparation and priming
Before you start finishing the walls and ceiling with putty, you need to clean the surface of the old coating, grease stains, dirt and dust. After that, the surface must be treated with a special primer, which will create good adhesion of the finishing material and the wall. Priming is carried out with a roller, avoiding gaps, and the wall is left to dry for at least 24 hours.
How to properly prepare the putty
To get a high-quality finished putty, you must follow the instructions that are indicated on the packaging by the manufacturer of the finishing material. To prepare the solution, you will need a clean plastic container of the appropriate volume. You will also need an electric drill with a special metal whisk for high-quality mixing of the dry mixture with water.
Putty solution is prepared in the following sequence:
- ¼ part of clean water at room temperature is poured into the container.
- Gradually add the required amount of dry mixture.
- Using an electric mixer, stir the putty to a homogeneous state.
- Leave the prepared composition for 10 minutes for proofing.
- Stir the solution thoroughly again.
- The consistency of the finished putty should look like thick sour cream. If the solution is thicker, then it will adhere to the surface worse, and the liquid composition flows down from the spatula and forms sagging on the treated surface.
A comment
Ask a Question"At one time you need to prepare the amount of solution that the master can use up in about 40 minutes."
Initial leveling of walls with putty
Before you level the walls with putty, you need to check them using a rule that will allow you to determine the bumps and depressions. Having identified significant defects in the form of protrusions, you can cut them down with an ax or a perforator with a chisel. Next, you need to prime the walls and only after that prepare the putty composition.
First you need to make a small amount of putty in order to determine the speed of work. Using a narrow spatula, evenly apply the prepared mortar on the wider one, which is applied to the wall at an angle of about 60˚, and stretch it over the surface to be treated. The tool must be held firmly, but without excessive force. Over time, you can learn to control the pressure on the spatula.
A comment
Head of the team of the repair and construction company "Dom Premium"
Ask a Question“Puttying the walls should start from the corner of the room. A special angled spatula is used for this. "
After the walls are plastered, you need to let them dry for 2 days. After drying, the quality of the work will be visible and where additional finishing is required. Irregularities are detected by the same rule. After that, the elimination of defects is performed in two ways:
- If there are depressions on the surface, then they are filled with another layer of putty.
- If there are bumps, they can be removed with a special trowel with an abrasive and a perfectly flat surface can be achieved.
After the surface has dried and the imperfections are eliminated, the walls are primed, and you can start applying the finishing putty or pasting.
Puttying the surface with beacons
The better the base, the less the finishing putty will go away and, accordingly, the repair will be cheaper. To obtain an ideal surface, special perforated profiles - "beacons" are used, which allow you to quickly and efficiently level the walls, which is perfect for beginners.
The metal profile is installed on a sand-cement mortar, focusing on a plumb line or a building level and achieving an ideal vertical. The distance between the beacons should be 100-150 mm less than the length of the building rule used. After installing the beacons, you need to let the solution dry so that they do not get lost during the subsequent finishing with putty.
Prepare a putty (described above) and fill the gap between the beacons with it, and the maximum layer thickness does not matter. Leaning on the profiles, stretch from the bottom up, cutting off the excess solution and, if necessary, filling the cavities with it. The operation is performed several times until the desired result is obtained. Depending on the temperature, humidity in the room and the thickness of the layer, the filler sometimes takes more than a week to dry.
How to apply the finishing coat to the wall
After the walls are properly prepared, you can proceed to finishing the surface with a finishing putty. For this, formulations are used, dry or ready-made, which, after processing, acquire a flat and ideally smooth surface. The finishing putty is applied in a thin layer, and the smoother the base, the less the mortar consumption will be. The technology of puttying and sanding practically does not differ from working with starting mixtures.
We bring to your attention a video on how to apply finishing putty on the wall:
Drying, sanding and sanding plastered walls
The final stage of finishing work with putty requires serious attention and consists of several stages. One of them is sanding, which is often skipped by inexperienced finishers, but first things first. So, after applying the finishing layer of putty, you need to let it dry well, since it is after this that the smallest defects become noticeable, namely cracks, which, when they occur, must be repaired.
Advice! To identify defects during puttying, it is necessary to use lighting devices with a powerful bright lamp and directed at a slight angle to the wall to be treated.
After the putty has dried, you need to sand the surface to remove small bumps and beads, as well as make the wall perfectly flat. If you intend to paste over the wall, then it will be enough to sand it well, and in case of staining, additional sanding will be required. To bring the surface to a perfectly smooth state, you can use fine (almost zero) sandpaper or an abrasive mesh.
You need to start sanding from any upper corner and, making circular movements, process the wall, illuminating it with powerful bright. It is undesirable to apply strong pressure on the grater so as not to damage the finish layer.
A comment
Head of the team of the repair and construction company "Dom Premium"
Ask a Question“Since sanding and sanding are very dirty and dusty finishing steps, it is worth wearing a respirator, goggles and gloves and keeping the area well ventilated. In addition, these protective measures are required by the safety instructions. "
How to do it yourself wall putty under the wallpaper
The technology of filling walls under practically does not differ from finishing surfaces under:
- A solution is prepared in accordance with the instructions on the package.
- The work is carried out with two spatulas - one 150 mm wide and the second - at least 300 mm.
- One section is processed, after the second, with an overlap of about 50 mm, etc.
- After the wall is completely plastered, it is allowed to dry, and only then they begin to level the wall by sanding.
- Clean the surface from dust, reapply the putty, and then everything is repeated from the beginning until a perfectly flat surface is reached.
When the wall is completely plastered, it is primed and pasted over. The application of a primer prevents the formation of mildew, mold and dampness, and improves adhesion between different finishing materials. The video shows how to properly putty the walls under the wallpaper:
Plastered walls for painting with your own hands
| Photo | Process description |
 | First of all, with a wide spatula, like a scraper, we remove minor defects in the form of tubercles and sagging from the wall. |
 | As a rule, we check the evenness of the wall. |
 | We pay special attention to the corners. |
 | If there are bumps, we remove them using a perforator with a chisel. |
 | We prime the wall with a roller or spray gun. |
 | We apply a cement-sand mortar in the corners along the entire vertical. |
 | The rule is to tighten the solution. |
 | We get such an almost perfect and even angle. |
 | For puttying, we will use a polymer dry putty and a ready-made pasty solution. |
 | We glue an angle-forming tape on the putty, which will help to avoid the formation of cracks. |
 | We remove the excess filler on the perforations. |
 | With putty, we remove the minimum differences between the flight and the wall. |
 | The result should be such a perfectly even angle. |
 | Now we are preparing a putty solution from a dry polymer mixture. |
 | We apply the putty solution to the wall. |
 | Apply the putty in a thin layer. |
 | After the first layer has dried, use a spatula to scrape off the slightest bumps and nodules. |
 | Apply the second layer of putty by installing a spotlight on the side, which helps to reveal surface defects. |
 | After the second layer has dried, sand the wall with a grater and a portable lamp. |
 | After sanding and removing dust, apply a glass fiber glue with a spray gun, adding a gray pigment to it. By the way, on a gray surface, when applying a white putty, it will be clearly visible where the solution is applied in an insufficient amount. |
 | We glue the fiberglass on the wall and smooth it with a spatula. |
 | Apply a thin layer of ready-made superfinishing putty mixture on the fiberglass with a thin layer. |
 | After the putty has dried, we grind the wall, prime and apply |
Almost no repair can now be done without plastering walls and ceilings. After all, putty is the basis for almost all finishing work. The surface is putty under wallpaper, under painting, under decorative plaster, etc. Let's take a look at what the minimum set of tools should be for a person who is going to putty the walls on their own.
1. Mixer, that is, a drill with a special attachment. Mandatory in the event that you buy a putty in the form of a dry mixture (and this is usually the case), and not a ready-made mass. With the help of a mixer, the putty can be mixed very quickly and without lumps. If you try to stir it manually with some kind of spatula, then nothing good will come of it, you will have to stir it for a long time, in small portions, and as a result, then unmixed lumps will start to come across.
Such a drill attachment is inexpensive, but every self-respecting owner should have a drill in the house.
2. A set of spatulas. Any size trowel can come in handy here, depending on the walls. Both the smallest and the largest 40-50 cm are suitable.If you have only one wide spatula of some kind, then you simply cannot putty the wall in problem areas (I mean behind pipes, behind radiators, in which - any niches, etc.)
3. Primer brushes and rollers... Since the surface putty is unlikely to do without a primer (to improve adhesion), so make sure that there is something to prime. The fastest way to do this is with a roller, but the spray can fly far enough, so if you want to do everything neatly, carefully and scrupulously, you can take a wide brush and something smaller to reach in corners and problem areas.
4. Rule. If you are going to putty in a thick layer to level the walls, then you will need a long metal rule. It easily evens out the layer of putty and the wall is flat. Only the starter putty can be applied in a thick layer.
5. Spirit level or a construction plumb line for installing beacons under the starting putty. They will only be useful if you need to level the wall with a starting putty.
6. Skins to rub down the putty after drying. The finer the skin, the more beautiful the surface will be after mashing. If you wipe the surface with a small 240 sandpaper, then this will be an ideal option. Only the finishing putty is rubbed with a small sandpaper. If the putty is starting, then it will be faster and more correct to wipe it with a coarse coarse sandpaper. It will be much faster.
7. Manual skinner. A plane with a handle and clamps to which the skin is attached. It is better to rub the putty by hand, because there is also an electric tool for such purposes, but it turns out better by hand.
8. Capacity to stir the putty... You can buy a special one in a hardware store, or you can pick up some old bucket and no longer bother with this issue.
A simple set of tools is most often used to putty surfaces: a putty knife, buckets, trowel bars and primer rollers. However, today this set has been replenished with new accessories, such as a putty grinder, a putty gun, a mixer and special devices for preparing, transporting and applying mortar to the wall. We'll cover these and other tools in more detail.
Tools
Standard set
Most often, puttying is done by hand, so the set of tools and accessories in this case is minimal.
This set must include the following products:
- ... Designed for applying and smoothing mortar on the surface of walls and ceilings, has a stainless steel blade and a body with a handle made of plastic, wood or metal. Width - 45 cm, but each master chooses the size for himself;
- Auxiliary spatula. It is used in those places where it is inconvenient to work with a wide trowel, as well as for smoothing joints between gypsum boards or reinforced concrete slabs. Width - 20 - 30 cm;
- Spatula blade. It is used to collect a solution from a bucket and apply it to the blade of a working tool, as well as to fill cracks, seams and joints. Also, using a spatula, you can even out the corners;
- Spatulas are angular. There are two types: external and internal. Needed to form right angles between surfaces;
- Smoothing trowel for putty. It is a long narrow trowel, which, like a rule, can be smoothed over a large surface area, working with one or two hands;
- Block, grater or grinder on the putty. Needed for sanding and sanding;
- Capacity for mixing the solution. Better to use a plastic bucket with a capacity of 10 - 15 liters;
- Mixer for putty. You can use a special mixer for mixing solutions or a conventional drill with a whisk;
- A roller or construction brush for applying a primer to walls;
- Rule for quality control of work;
- Spotlight or lamp. It is necessary to create a side light, in which flaws and irregularities are better visible, we recommend using halogen lamps;
- Construction knife, stapler and other auxiliary tools for the installation of reinforcing tapes and corners.
Important! In its simplest form, the set can be reduced to two spatulas - a wide one and a spatula, a bucket and a grater. You can also knead the solution manually, although this is long and unproductive, and all work on applying the solution should be performed with a working spatula and a spatula.
As a trowel, you can use any piece of wood with a straight edge, which should be wrapped with sandpaper and used for sanding. Instead of a brush or roller, you can use any sponge or rag that can be used to treat walls with a liquid primer.
It makes sense to buy electric floats only if you are professionally engaged in puttying, or you have a large amount of work to do. For the renovation of one apartment, there is no particular sense in such a purchase, since the price of a good grinder is quite high, and you will not notice the effect of its use on small volumes.
Advice! You can rent a sander, and in this case it is better to choose a model with a dust collector, as it will significantly reduce the amount of small debris and dirt in the room. This is true when repairs are underway in a residential building and excess dust causes problems for neighbors or for you personally.
Professional devices
Professional teams that deal with the finishing of large areas often use various mechanisms and devices to facilitate and increase labor productivity. In addition, the machine method allows you to create a better and more monolithic layer.
Sometimes a putty station is used for work, which is a whole complex of devices that allow you to prepare, apply and apply a solution to the surface. It has a hopper for preparing a dry mixture, a mixing chamber where the powder is mixed with water, a screw pair that transports the mortar and a putty gun that sprays the mortar and applies it to the wall.
Instructions for using such stations are usually simple and do not require special skills, however, after manual labor, you will have to get used to the intricacies of using the machine. The main thing is to fill your hand and feel the distance at which the application occurs normally and the surface quality is satisfactory.
It is also important to control the pressure in the supply system, otherwise the spraying will be uneven and an even layer will not work. The amount of solution should be such that you are guaranteed to have time to work out, otherwise the putty will thicken and the machine will not be able to pump it.
Important! The use of machines and automatic stations is justified only with a constant load and large volumes of work, otherwise it will not pay off.
Conclusion
The set of tools for puttying can be minimal, or it can number several dozen items, including various mechanisms and devices for machine application of mortar ().
For manual work, a simple set is enough, which we talked about in detail, but you can watch the video in this article to see everything for yourself.
November 15, 2016Specialization: Master in the construction of plasterboard structures, finishing works and laying floor coverings. Installation of door and window blocks, decoration of facades, installation of electrical, plumbing and heating - I can give detailed advice on all types of work.
If you decide to do the roughing yourself, then you need a 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 to look for when buying one or another option.
Types of tools and their features
Now let's look at the specific options, just read the information to determine which one is best for your case. Something is used more often, something less often, it all depends on the specifics of the work 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 accessory when working with wide spatulas. This type of product is often called a paddle and is used to apply the composition and spread it over wide blades;
- For filling hard-to-reach areas, seams and curved surfaces. Narrow spatulas are excellent 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 even, if the working surface is curved, then it is better to look for another tool. It is best to use a trapezoidal spatula, triangular products are less reliable and bend more strongly when working (although, if they are made of thick metal, then they can be considered);
In an amateur tool, the thickness of the metal on the blade is 0.5-0.6 mm, in a professional tool, 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 can not 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 from this also changes very much, the cheapest options cost from 30 rubles, and professional products can be estimated at more than 1000 rubles. When choosing, pay attention to the shape of the handle - it should be short and wide, it is much more convenient to work with;
It is up to you to decide which spatula is better in your case, if there is a lot of work, then more expensive professional options are preferable, if the putty is of a one-time nature, then you can get by with a budget solution.
Option 2 - facade trowel
If you ask the professionals which trowel is better to putty on walls or ceilings, they will definitely call a facade trowel. This type of tool allows you to quickly and efficiently distribute the solution on flat surfaces, but high quality work can be achieved only if high-quality devices are used.
The requirements here are much higher than in the first case, since the structure is subjected to high loads during operation. Let's figure out the main features of this type of tool:
- Blade widths can be from 200 to 800 mm, but I advise you to work with attachments from 300 to 450 mm, this range provides a fairly high quality of work with normal productivity. Not even all professionals are able to handle the options of 600 mm and above, not to mention those who first decided to putty the 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. What kind of spatula to putty the walls, it's up to you, a simple option is enough for a couple of rooms, for more serious volumes it is better to get a more serious device;
- The cost depends on the type of construction 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 faults among the front spatulas that sometimes you have to go through more than a dozen options. All aspects are presented in the table.
| Aspect | Description |
| Blade quality | For the finishing putty, an option is needed not with a flexible, but with a rigid blade, so that it does not repeat all the surface flaws, but evenly distributes the composition. Pay special attention to checking the plane - the edge of the working part should be perfectly flat, very often such options as in the photo above are on sale, especially when it comes to the cheap segment of products |
| Handle type | Rubberized options are much more convenient than conventional plastic ones, the shape and size of the handle is also of great importance. It is most convenient to use a tool in which the handle is tilted |
| Workmanship | Here you need to pay attention first of all to how the handle and the blade are connected, the mount must be strong and reliable. If there is even the slightest backlash, then buying such a spatula is not worth it. |
If in the process of work you bent the spatula, then do not try to straighten it, it is much easier to buy a new tool, since it is impossible to align the blade to the ideal.
Since this is the main working device, I want to give some recommendations for work:
- All mortar build-ups and other elements that interfere with work should be removed from the surface. They not only impair 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. Choose the 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 evenly distributed along the wall or. The photo below shows how to properly hold the spatula when puttingty the walls, and under the photo there is a diagram showing the application process. It's simple, and it takes a little practice to get a good result;
- Immediately after finishing work, be sure to wash the tool, if you do it later, you can scratch or even damage the blade.
Summarizing which spatula to choose for the walls, we can draw the following conclusion: it is best to use a tool 300-450 mm wide with a hard, straight blade and an ergonomic handle.
Option 3 - corner trowel
From my experience, I can tell you that it is the finishing of the corners that causes the greatest difficulties for inexperienced specialists. It is sometimes difficult to get an even connection between walls or a ceiling, but if you use a special tool, then the work will go much faster.
Let's figure out the main features of such devices:
- There are two types of spatulas - for inside and outside corners. It is very simple to distinguish them: in the tool for inner corners, the handle is attached inside the structure, and in the version for outer 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 item. There is a cheaper tool, but its reliability is in serious doubt.
- The working part should be very rigid, if the sides are bent, then you will not be able to form an even corner;
- The fastening of the handle must be reliable, take the tool in your hand, if it is inconvenient, then it is better to look for something else.
Option 4 - Japanese spatula
This type of tool is very different in configuration from traditional options, let's look at its features:
- The spatula is a rectangular plate with a plastic handle attached to one side. The products are very simple and reliable;
- Most often, the fixtures are sold in sets of 4 and have a width of 60, 80, 100 and 120 mm. Each of the types is needed for certain works, but, as practice shows, options of 100 and 120 mm are most often used. As for the cost, the set is inexpensive - 120-200 rubles;
- For this tool, the blade must be elastic and flexible, this is very important, so it is worth checking how high-quality metal is used and whether the structure does not deform when bent.
You can also choose a normal tool for the above aspects, but we will figure out what kind of work such a spatula is suitable for:
- Decoration of arches and structures of complex shapes with convex or concave surfaces. Such a spatula is indispensable for any bases with complex relief;
- Work 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 dispensed with such a device much more accurately than with traditional options.
Option 5 - rubber trowel
If you think that a rubber putty knife is not suitable, then this is not the case. This tool is indispensable for finishing complex planes, as well as for filling small damages 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 instrument, they are as follows:
- The sizes of the 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 performed;
- The material of manufacture 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, and can be without it - with a thickening at the base like Japanese spatulas. Again, this is more a matter of convenience than functionality.
In terms of usage, these tools are best suited for situations like this:
- Putting putty on arches and other concave structures;
- Sealing corner joints and other joints in hard-to-reach places;
- When filling uneven surfaces, where irregularities should remain, thanks to the tool, the tool repeats the outline of the plane, and does not fill in the depressions.
Conclusion
Based on this information, you can easily determine which spatula you need in a given situation. The video in this article will tell in more detail some important nuances, and if you have questions about the choice and use of devices, then write them in the comments, I will definitely answer.
