On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 00:32:59 +0100, a wrote:

surely it isnt that hard to get an even coat? I do fancy having a go
if I think there is a chance I can do it,

Plastering is a skill and as such can only be learnt by practice. You
can get hints and tips to avoid some of the bigger clangers and get an
idea of how to do it but that is no replacement for actullly doing it.

1) Consistency - I keep reading the plaster should be "creamy" but
does that mean thick cream? Are we looking at something that should
drip off the trowel?

Thats part of the skill...

2) Do I need to put corner beads on *all* external corners, or just
vulnerable ones?

I would plaster will not take a knock without failing, especially on
an external corner. Of course if the corner is hidden behind a unit or
something...

3) There is a kitchen sink/worktop/base unit already in place that
needs to be plastered up to. Should you really plaster right up to
the worktop surface and base unit sides, or somehow stop just short
and then maybe put a bead of silicone at the join?

The plastering should have been done first... I think I'd go for a gap
of a few mm and just silicone along the back edge of the worktop. The
problem being if you ever need to move the units or worktop with them
plastered right up the chances are you pull great lumps of skim off.
I'd make the gap uniform by temporally fixing a thin strip to the work
top/units plastering to that and releasing it with a thin blade and
removing it whilst the plaster is still "plastic".

4) When skimming over an existing skim coat that has had several
layers of wallpaper on - is it imperative to get every last bit of
paper off ...

I would, the water in the plaster will soften the old paste, if it
doesn't fall off straight away it's not going to have a strong bond...
A steam stripper makes very light work of removing old wallpaper.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail