Joe French the plasterer

Joe has been doing a renovation project in Taunton, Somerset. The work has been a mixture of traditional lime plaster and modern gypsum plaster. The results have been fantastic. Old lathe and plaster ceilings down and fresh level boarded ceilings up. Old blown lime plaster down and fresh board up. Old gypsum out and traditional lime back up. All of this has been done without issue. I throughly recommend JCF plastering for all of your needs.

Joe did an excellent job plastering our ceilings. He took great care beforehand, making sure each room was properly protected, and he and his team member cleaned up thoroughly afterwards. They were knowledgeable and professional throughout. One of the ceilings was above a stairway and tricky to access, but Joe handled it with no problem. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

We had a number of areas where the external k rend had failed on our house. Joe very carefully found the exact colour match and has done an expert job of patching it. I can thoroughly recommend him.

The customer blamed my plastering for the paint peeling off… But the plaster wasn’t the problem. The real issue? The first coat of paint. When fresh plaster is painted, it needs what’s called a mist coat. This is simply a watered down first coat of emulsion that soaks into the plaster and allows the following coats to stick properly. If this step is skipped or if normal, thick paint is applied straight onto the plaster the paint just sits on the surface. That’s why it later peels, bubbles, or flakes off in sheets. •A proper mist coat soaks in and bonds with the plaster. •It gives a breathable base for the top coats. •Done right, it means your paintwork lasts for years. So if you ever see peeling paint on new plaster, it doesn’t mean the plastering was bad it usually means the painting prep wasn’t done properly. Homeowner tip: Always make sure a mist coat goes on before painting fresh plaster. It’s a small step that saves a lot of hassle later!

Another project completed today! We’ve just finished a beautiful lime render job that really brings out the character of the property while providing a long-lasting, breathable finish.

Keeping tradition alive. Horsehair in lime plaster strong, natural, and time tested.

Before you open that bag of plaster read this. Most DIYers jump straight into mixing but here’s the truth plastering success is 80% prep, 20% trowel work. •Seal the wall with SBR (styrene butadiene rubber). We used to use PVA (polyvinyl acetate) basically the same glue kids use at school but SBR is far more reliable. It seals the wall properly, helps the plaster stick and stops it from drying out too fast. •Tape up edges, sockets and skirtings saves hours of messy clean up •Always add plaster to water, never water to plaster for a smooth, lump free mix. Get those steps right, and your walls will already look 10x better before you even start spreading.

🚨 Do You Have a Killer Hiding in Your Home? 🚨 It might sound dramatic but it’s true. Artex, that textured ceiling coating found in many older homes, can contain asbestos and asbestos can kill. But don’t panic. You have safe and approved options to deal with it: •Test First - Get an affordable DIY asbestos test kit to confirm if Artex contains asbestos. •Professional Removal - If asbestos is present, licensed professionals can safely remove it. •Overboard It - Cover it with plasterboard (a safe and cost-effective solution). •Over Skim It - Skim over it with plaster to seal it in (only if it’s undamaged and undisturbed.) These are approved, safe ways to handle Artex with asbestos. Don’t ignore it deal with it safely. Have questions or need help finding a test kit or removal service?