How to Check Plastering Work Quality |20 points checklist for quality plasterwork

Pre-plaster checklist:

1. Racking:

All the masonry joints should be checked whether it is completely racked or not. If you find any voids in the joints, they should be filled with mortar and finished.

2. Hacking:

All the concrete surfaces of the column, beam, & ceiling should be checked for their proper hacking. Any leftovers should be completed as per the specification.

3. Plumbing work:

You have to ensure that all the concealed plumbing work is complete as per the drawing. The concealed pipeline should be checked for its water tightness & material quality, as per the specification.

4. Wiring:

All the concealed electrical wire work should be checked beforehand as per the given diagram. The electrical conduits, junction box, concealed switch point, etc. should be noted for their proper position.

5. Chicken mesh:

You have to check for the chicken mesh over the column, beam, & wall masonry joining line. Mesh fixing is also needed over the concealed wiring ducts, & over the concealed wall cuttings. Chicken mesh provides proper bonding & resists the development of cracks.

6. Material quality:

You should check for the volume of the available sand so that the next day’s work should be carried away flawlessly. The selected sand & cement for the plastering work should be as per the specification & quality standards.

7. Level marking:

Level buttons ( or pads) should be made over the masonry surface at regular intervals. The thickness of the level pad at the wall corners should be taken as 12mm. The plaster thickness that may come at any given area should be checked by holding the lineout string over the buttons. 

The variation in the thickness should fall in the range of 10mm to 15mm. If you find any excess depth due to brick undulations, that area should be pre-plastered to match the level.

B. Checklist on plastering day:

8. Wetting:

All the masonry wall surfaces should be thoroughly sprinkled with water using a water pipe. The brick masonry should soak the water & it should look in completely wet condition.

 This job has to be done at least 1/2 to 1 hour before the plastering work. Wall wetting helps to prevent the absorption of water from the plastered mortar.

9. Mortar mix:

Generally, the mortar mix of ratio 1:4 or 1:6 is used in plasterwork. Make volumetric batching using a farma (measuring ) box to have a uniform mix. 

The mortar should be prepared in such a volume that, it should be consumed within a 1hour period after mixing.

10. Cement slurry:

A lean cement slurry should be sprayed or sprinkled over the wall surface at the beginning of the plastering. This helps to gain good surface adherence & bonding.

11. Scaffolding:

The firmness of the scaffolding should be checked to ensure the safety of the workers. In any condition, the plastering wall should not be used as pass-through support for the scaffolding poles. 

12. Thickness:

While plastering, the thickness should be checked at a regular interval of 1 hour. Any extra thickness should be cut by using an aluminum-level Patti. In any case, the thickness should not exceed the pre-installed level buttons. 

13. Corners:

All the corners & edges of the windows, door frames, room corners, etc. should be checked for their line & level. 

Use tri square & plumb bob at the corners to make them at perfect 90°. 

14. Plaster type:

Before starting the plasterwork, you have to go through the drawings to know the dimensions & type of plaster. The finishing of the plaster may be sponge finish, trowel finish, rough finish, etc. 

 It is better if you have the clarity of grooves & plaster band locations beforehand.

15. Finishing:

Use a spirit level to find out the uneven plaster surface. The best way is to focus the yellow light of a bulb to find out the surface undulations. The darker spot shows the needed mortar fill-up in that area. Rectify all such defects before the setting time of mortar.

You have to use aluminum Patti & trowel, to make a final smooth surface. 

16. Cutouts:

The line & level of all the plaster cutouts such as skirting, junction box, and electric box. etc. should be checked.

17. Cleaning:

The splashes of mortar over the door & window frames should be cleaned after the completion of the day’s work.

18. Curing:

Curing should be started on a successive day without any delay. A minimum of 10 days of curing is recommended to gain the required strength.