How to plaster a ceiling

A new coat of plaster to your ceiling swiftly followed by a lick of paint will freshen up a room no end. Here's how you get the plastering right.

Level of difficulty

Level 2: Intermediate

What you need

• Ladder
• Plaster
• Water
• Mixing bucket
• Trowel
• Deviling float
• Hawk
• Bucket
• Mixing stick

The steps to follow

1. Add plaster to the water and mix them together with a mixing stick. The mixture should be thick enough to stand on its own.
2. Scoop some plaster onto the hawk. Level the hawk and tip the plaster back onto it.
3. Use a trowel to spread the plaster onto the ceiling.
4. The first coat of plaster should be a thick enough to cover the surface and spread it evenly.
5. Scrape the whole floating coat with a devilling float (a wooden float with nails). This ensures that the next coat of plaster adheres properly.
6. Spread another layer of plaster onto the ceiling.
7. Dampen the blade of your trowel and sweep the surface.
8. Wait 24 hours for the plaster to dry before sanding.
9. Sand the surface with fine-grade sandpaper to smooth the surface.
10. Apply a fresh coat of paint to you’re newly plastered ceiling.