Rendered to create a smooth and largely uniform surface, while the principle of plastering remains the same, using different types of tools and methods of application, different effects and finishes can be created when plastering walls and other surfaces.

The plastering of walls, ceilings, and other structural surfaces, cement based plastering creates a hard and smoothed out finish that can be painted or used to create an ideal substrate for wallpaper and vinyl sticker applications to walls.

With a variety of wall plastering methods, Sephaku Cement details the different types of plaster finishes that can be achieved indoors as well as on outside or boundary walls. Utmost after-care must be taken as plastering is normally a thin coat and has a large open surface that usually leaves an element vulnerable to evaporation of the mixing water.

Smooth Surface Finishes

Possibly the most popular plaster finish, versatile across interior and exterior wall finishes, as the name suggests a smooth plaster finish is achieved using fine sand and cement to create a mortar mix of 1 part cement to 4-6 parts of fine sand(depending on sand quality and type of cement used). Carefully levelled and smoothed over flat surfaces using a wooden float, this type of plastered surface is ideal for paint, stencil art, wallpaper applications and even vinyl sticker applications

Sand Faced Plaster

A sand faced finish can be likened to a frosted glass appearance but in the context of concrete of course. Still making use of fine sand and cement an initial layer of mortar is applied using a cement and fine sand ratio of 1:4.

After having cured for a day or two, the second layer of plaster mortar is applied using a cement to sand ratio of 1:1 that creates cement-like frosting as the final finish.

Rough Cast or Spatter Dash Finish

A more modern contemporary design that matches well with rustic interior decor, exposed bricks, and coarse textures, a spatter or roughcast plaster finish is best created when using cement, sand, and small aggregate mix ratio of 1 to 1 to 3 parts. Instead of being smoothed over the substrate, the course mortar is thrown or splattered across the surface and then roughly evened out using a wooden float.

Scrapped Plaster Finish

Common in many homes to create a good blend of smooth and rough, a scraped plaster finish is created using a similar principle as a smooth finish, where the primary difference is applied with the final coat of plaster being 6mm and 12mm thick. Allowed to cure for a few hours and just before becoming too stiff, the surface is scarred using steel straight edge saw blades to create a scrapped surface.

Textured

A textured plaster finish that can be typically found on boundary walls or part of a feature wall to create a textured interior décor installation. Finished with a rough surface but often smoothed over to create repetitive patterns, a textured plaster finish is created by making use of stucco plastering which is made from a mix of sand, cement, lime, and water, blended with various additives such as fibres and synthetic acrylics and even colouring pigments.