Design With Plaster

For some, plaster is a boring mass product. For the others, however, it is a versatile material.

The view through a typical new development area shows houses that hardly differ in their appearance. The identity of the residents cannot be recognized from the outside. If the owners are asked why this is the case, reasons such as "that is too expensive" or "that is not feasible with plaster anyway and much too expensive" are given. At this point, however, it is often not taken into account that facade surfaces can be designed individually and sophisticated solely by the partial training of individual areas. With plaster, unique surfaces can be created with little effort, which do not impose themselves with a subtle coating, but are an eye-catcher.

For some, plaster is simply a boring mass product. For others, however, a versatile material that can be used to create interesting surfaces. Even if you walk through an old town center with an open view, you will discover different and highly individual plaster surfaces that were created with far less sophisticated products than are available today.

In order to come up with ideas for creative and, above all, individual surface technologies, various considerations and preparations are necessary in advance. The questions where and how - inside or outside - should not be the focus at the beginning. You should also take your time for the idea generation phase.

It is also not absolutely necessary to think up the creative surface structures yourself. Using the following checklist, the idea generation can already be narrowed down and specified.

A checklist

• "Read" the surface structures: To select different surfaces, you can proceed differently. Today, the closest thing is research on search engines in the world of the Internet. Wallpaper collections, a walk in nature or material exhibitions with surfaces in original patterns are also conceivable.

• Collect trend directions: It is extremely important to know what is the current trend and in which direction the current trends are developing, both when it comes to finding ideas and afterwards when advising customers. This information can be found, for example, in magazines, brochures and especially catalogs from the furniture industry. The different companies invest a lot of money and know-how in trends and trends. Trade fairs are also very future-oriented and informative. It is also worth looking outside the box and visiting trade fairs in "neighboring" areas. Fabric and living fairs are pioneers for all living and color trends, as they are reflected on the wall surfaces.

• Study old handicraft techniques: the facades of old and special buildings reveal a wide variety of surfaces. Techniques carried out in part can also be used very nicely on modern buildings.

After applying the plaster evenly, a thin film is placed on the surface. The surface can be structured with a brush. The "board edges" are scored. The dried surface can be painted or glazed. In the plaster, which is evenly spread with the trowel, recesses are worked in with a wide brush. Then the surface is smoothed again. The dried surface can be painted or glazed as desired.

The right technique

In order to find the right technology for an object, you have to think in advance whether the facade should be structured and designed using partial techniques or whether you can work on a large scale.

The choice of materials mainly depends on whether the techniques are to be carried out inside or outside. In the interior, the area of application is very dependent on the use. Outside, very different parameters such as the type of substrate and location of the building must also be taken into account.

Once the marginal facts have been clarified, the techniques on test areas have to be developed practically. Here you can also work with different materials and tools in order to achieve an optimal result.

Create patterns

As an alternative to developing in your own workshop, it is worth visiting a workshop to develop new creative techniques. For this purpose, various seminars are offered, where it is possible to exchange ideas with other participants and to deal with products of a different type. In the discussions and cooperation - when trying out and examining the sample areas - new ideas and suggestions emerge for everyone involved, beyond the usual routine and processing techniques. In such workshops, different materials can be tested on sample boards.

After applying the plaster evenly, a thin film is placed on the surface. The surface can be structured with a brush. The "board edges" are scored. The dried surface can be painted or glazed. In the plaster, which is evenly spread with the trowel, recesses are worked in with a wide brush. Then the surface is smoothed again. The dried surface can be painted or glazed as desired.

On the surface

An interesting example of the creative use of plaster is the corner house on Georgenstrasse in Munich (manufactured by Restauro Arte Antica, Munich). Here the vertical surface structure was created by pressing in a rope. The selection of a suitable material and the skilled craftsmanship of the skilled workers made it possible to use the technology even on a large area.

The examples shown here in the article represent only a brief outline and a small part of the many possibilities that can be achieved with a bit of courage and craftsmanship. The quotation from the American narrator Mark Twain aptly sums it up in one sentence: “People with a new idea are considered to be crazy until the matter has prevailed.” And with a little more crazy in the future, the typical new development areas can also unite get their own charm.

People with a new idea are considered to be crazy until the matter has prevailed. Susanne Rietzler, application engineer Baumit

In this building in Munich, the surface structure of the plaster was created by pressing in a rope.

Photos: Baumit

Source: 07/2014