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Modern standards of good repair are smooth and smooth walls. To do this, they are first leveled (plastered or GKL is used), then the surface is brought to the ideal with putty – a composition that closes up even the slightest irregularities. How to choose putty with all the variety of offers on the market and let’s talk further.
Types of putty
Putty – the process of final alignment of walls or ceilings for finishing. Some compositions consist of the same components as plaster – cement, gypsum, sand, but smaller fractions. They also include various additives that add specific properties: increased resistance to water, antibacterial properties, etc. There are also putties based on polymers. This separate class is very convenient to use, although more expensive. There are also putties based on glue, oils, etc.
According to the size of the fractions, putties are divided into starting (rough) and finishing. The starting one has larger components, is applied in a thicker layer. It level the curvature up to 5-6 mm. The surface is brought to an ideal state with finishing compounds. In them, all components are ground very finely, they are applied in a layer from 0,5 mm to 2 mm.
| Name | Object type | Type of foundation | Color | Minimum / maximum layer thickness | Finish type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putty universal gypsum Osnovit Versilk T-34 | Dry rooms | concrete, plasterboard, plaster | gray | 0,5 mm / 3 mm | For wallpaper, for painting | 290 rubles for 20 kg |
| Universal cement putty Osnovit Bazsilk T-30 | Wet and dry rooms, facades | concrete, plasterboard, plaster | white | 1 mm / 10 mm | For wallpaper, for painting | 310 rubles for 20 kg |
| Gypsum finishing putty Osnovit Econsilk PG35 W | Dry rooms | Concrete, drywall and its seams, plaster | white | 1 mm / 5 mm | For wallpaper, for painting | 300 rubles for 20 kg |
| Gypsum finishing putty Osnovit Elisilk PG36 W | Dry rooms | Concrete, plasterboard, plaster | white | 0 mm (per sdir) / 2 mm | For wallpaper, for painting | 380 rubles for 20 kg |
| Polymer finishing putty Osnovit Econsilk PP38 W | Wet and dry areas | Concrete, plasterboard, foam gas concrete, plaster | white | 1 mm / 5 mm | For wallpaper, for painting | 430 rubles for 20 kg |
| Finishing cement putty Osnovit Belsilk PC32 W | Wet and dry rooms, facades | Concrete, drywall, plaster, facades | white | 0,5 mm / 4 mm | For wallpaper, for painting | 390 rubles for 20 kg |
| Finishing cement putty Osnovit Graysilk PC31 G | Wet and dry rooms, facades | Concrete, drywall, plaster, facades | gray | 0,5 mm / 4 mm | For wallpaper, for painting | 340 rubles for 20 kg |
There is a third type of putty – universal. For use as a starting material, they are diluted with less water, for final alignment they are made more liquid. This type of putty can be used under wallpaper, the requirements for painting are tougher and finishing with a finishing compound gives better results.
There are also special putties for certain types of work. For example, there are putties for sealing drywall joints. Microfibers are added to them, which reduce the likelihood of cracks. There are decorative putties, but these are no longer building, but finishing materials and belong to another group.
To choose putty by fraction, it is necessary to assess the degree of curvature of the walls. If the curvature is small – no more than 2 mm, you can immediately use the finishing ones. With a large curvature, it will be cheaper to first level with a rough composition (it is cheaper), if necessary (for painting and thin wallpaper) to bring to the ideal finish.
Selection by type of base and operating conditions
Next, you will have to choose putty according to the type of binder component. It is selected depending on the basis on which the putty will be applied. Cementitious can be applied to a cement base, brick and concrete. Plaster is not allowed. So if the walls are plastered with a gypsum-based composition, only gypsum or polymer plaster should be used.
Gypsum plaster can be laid on a cement base, you just need to pick up the soil for gypsum. Also, this type of leveling is suitable for brick, concrete, wood, chipboard, drywall, etc. The same scope of polymer compositions. But, before buying, be sure to read the instructions for use. It indicates on which surfaces the type of putty you have chosen can be applied and for which rooms they can be used: gypsum is hygroscopic and not every composition can be used in wet rooms such as a bath or kitchen, and polymers are not used outside buildings or in unheated rooms.
Polymer putties are compatible with any bases. They differ in fine grinding of components, the minimum application layer is about 0,5-0,6 mm, so they are used mainly for finishing – obtaining an ideal surface for thin wallpaper or for painting. They are also used when leveling the ceiling. Good adhesion of the material, a high degree of elasticity and low weight are required there. All these properties are inherent in putty based on polymers.
Form of issue
Putty is produced in the form of a dry mixture, in which a certain amount of water must be added before use. Dry putty is packaged in paper bags weighing 5 kg, 10 kg, 25 kg or 30 kg. The second form of release is a ready-to-use composition in buckets. It has already been diluted to the desired consistency. Before use, you just need to stir and you can work.
If we talk about the price, then dry putty is cheaper, but you spend time mixing (adding water) and mixing the composition. Another plus of ready-made formulations: no lumps. With self-mixing, their elimination takes quite a lot of time.
Choosing putty on this basis is simple: you need to save money – buy a dry composition, you need to save time – ready in buckets.
Uptime
The easiest way to work with polymer plaster. In a closed container, it retains its properties for several days. The diluted cement composition should be used within 2 hours, and the least time for working with gypsum is no more than an hour, but more often 30-40 minutes.
Important note. It is impossible to work with a seized composition of any type. Yes, if you add water to it and mix it, outwardly it will look like normal. But the processes that have already passed are irreversible and this putty will not hold well, it may fall off and crack. Therefore, one more important point: before kneading a new portion, thoroughly clean the dishes, it is best to wash them well (and tools too). This ensures that there are no lumps of a frozen mixture that interfere with work.
Application conditions
Most plasters must be applied at a temperature not lower than +5°C and not higher than +30°C. There is also a humidity limit – no higher than 60%. And another condition for normal, crack-free drying is the absence of drafts. It is also worth hanging windows – sun spots lead to uneven heating of the surface, which can provoke the appearance of cracks.
What else you need to focus on – the minimum and maximum layer of puttying. The thinnest layer is usually in polymer plaster – from 0,5 mm. For gypsum and cement, it depends on the fineness of grinding, but a little more. The maximum layer can vary from 2 cm (at the finish) to 5 cm (at the start).
To choose a plaster on this basis, it is necessary to estimate the size of the irregularities to be repaired. If the deviations are less than 2 cm and a flat surface is required, the finishing composition can be used immediately. If more – first start, and finish – finish.
Putty color
The color of the putty can be gray, white, pinkish. It depends on the pigment that is found in the binder. If you plan to stick thick wallpaper (vinyl, for example), or they are dark in color, the shade of the walls is not so important, and gray putties are usually cheaper, so you can save money.
| Name/type | Binder / base type | Minimum / maximum layer | Drying time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber-Vetonit VH white / finish | cement / concrete, drywall, expanded clay block, brick, foam concrete, plaster | 1 mm / 3 mm | 24-48 | 580 rubles for 20 kg |
| Weber-Vetonit VH gray / finish | cement / too | 1 mm / 3 mm | 24-48 | 380 rubles for 20 kg |
| Weber-Vetonit LR+ / finishing | polymer / concrete, plasterboard, plaster | 1 mm / 5 mm | 24-48 | 650 rubles for 25 kg |
| Weber-Vetonit KR / finishing | adhesive / plasterboard, plaster | 1 mm / 4 mm | 24-48 | 490 rubles for 20 kg |
If the wallpaper is thin (silk-screen printing) or the surface will be painted, you will have to use compounds that give a white color.
By the way, there is a way to correct the dark surface of the putty on the wall: paint it with diluted white water-based paint. This layer will be considered a primer and, at the same time, will make the walls lighter (and under the wallpaper is also possible).
Manufacturer’s choice
The hardest part of choosing a plaster is to decide on a specific company, and then choose the material you need from all the products.
As for the choice of manufacturers, there are several leaders in this industry: Knauf (Knauf), Vetonit (Vetonit), Ceresit (Ceresit), Sheetrock (Shitrok). All these brands have been on the market for a long time, produce products of consistently high quality, and operate in approximately the same price range.
If we talk about domestic brands, the most popular are Volma, Osnovit and Prospectors. Moreover, Volma has the same prices as the brands described above, and Osnovit and Prospectors are significantly cheaper. There are many more smaller producers, but they are represented in certain regions and little known in others.
All these brands have good reviews, each has its own fans, you can choose any putty from this list. Professionals prefer to work with leaders. The customer pays for the materials, and the product is proven, the technologies are worked out, the result is known. Therefore, their choice is predetermined. Do-it-yourselfers who level walls with their own hands usually try to spend less money and not lose much in quality. They prefer to work with the Volma and the Prospectors. What will be your choice – it’s up to you.