Generally, we don’t see plastering over wood often. It’s pretty usual to plaster over wood. But we might need to plaster over wood for different purposes or DIY projects. However, Plaster and wood are two different types of materials. So, plaster has to have enough adhesiveness for applying over wood.
So, you might be confused about whether you can plaster over wood or not. You have to know about the compatibility between plaster and wood. Moreover, learning about the benefits and drawbacks of using plaster over wood is also essential. You can also know the appropriate way to plaster over wood from this article.
Can you plaster over wood?
You can plaster over wood. But you should not directly apply plaster over wood. Because plaster will not adhere to the wood surface without preparation. The porous wood surface will not hold the plaster on it. That’s why you should prepare the wood surface before applying plaster.
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However, wood can be of different types. Each wood type might have a different texture. So, they might have different adhesiveness. Let’s see whether you can apply plaster on these surfaces or not.
Wood paneling:
You can apply plaster on wood paneling. But the same preparation stage is applicable before plaster. Because any wood surface is not suitable for plaster. Wood paneling also has a porous surface. But aged plaster will work well on wood paneling.
Wood door frame:
You should not apply plaster on a wood door frame without preparation. Because the wood door frame surface is porous. It will not hold plaster on it. Because the adhesiveness of the plaster is not suitable to be on a porous surface.
Woodchip:
You can’t plaster over woodchip. Generally, a woodchip is a little bit different from a wood surface. Woodchip is more porous than wood. Moreover, when you apply plaster over a woodchip, the surface will absorb moisture from the plaster.
So, the effectiveness of the plaster will be hampered. Moreover, after a couple of days, you will see bubbles on the plaster surface. This will eventually chip off. So, you should not apply plaster on the woodchip.
Wood board:
You can plaster over the wood board, but you have to prepare the wood board surface first. If you directly use plaster over the wood board, the board will absorb moisture from the plaster. As a result, the plaster will lose its binding ability.
Moreover, a porous surface like the wood board is not suitable for using plaster. If you still want to use plaster over the wood board, you have to prepare the surface earlier.
Wood screws:
When you are applying plaster on wood screws, you have to ensure the materials of the screws. If the screws are also made of wood, the plaster will not attach to the screws. You might have already known that plaster is not compatible with the wood surface.
But if you still want to use plaster over wood screws, you have to sand the wood and use a primer. Otherwise, the plaster will not work well on wood screws.
Wood cladding:
Wood cladding is also made of wood. So, plaster might not work well over wood cladding. You might see that plaster is sticking to the surface. But it will chip off quickly. So, you have to prepare the wood cladding if you want to plaster it.
Wood ceiling:
Like the wood cladding, the wood ceiling also needs to be prepared. You have to use primer so that the surface can hold plaster on it.
Wooden beam:
Wooden beam also needs to be prepared with sanding and primer before applying plaster. Otherwise, the plaster will not adhere to the wooden beam surface.
Wood lath:
Wood lath is a narrow strip type material. But it also has a porous surface that will not let the plaster stick to it. So, you have to prepare wood lath before applying plaster.
Can you use all plaster over wood?
Generally, all plasters have similar materials on them. So the action of all plasters will be the same. When it comes to using plaster over wood, you have to think before applying. Applying any type of plaster directly over wood will not work well.
However, plasters can be of different types. So, let’s see whether these plasters work over wood or not.
Venetian plaster:
You can use Venetian plaster over wood. Generally, Venetian plaster has good adhesiveness. So, it will work over the wood. But if you prepare the surface earlier, the plaster will be durable.
Lime plaster:
You can also use lime plaster over wood. But lime plaster will not be as good as Venetian plaster. That’s why you should sand the surface before applying lime plaster. Moreover, you should use a primer before using lime plaster.
Plaster of Paris:
Generally, Plaster of Paris alone doesn’t have the effectiveness of sticking to the wood surface. If you can mix glue with the Plaster of Paris, it will stick well to the wood surface.
Bonding plaster:
Bonding plaster will not work well on the wood surface. Though plaster is a strong material, you will still need to prepare the wood surface before applying plaster.
Two reasons why you cannot plaster over wood
Now that you know you should not use plaster over wood directly, you might want to know the reasons. So, let’s see why you cannot plaster over wood.
Porous wood surface:
Generally, the wood surface is porous. Porous materials are not suitable to use as plaster on it. So, when it comes to plaster over a porous surface like wood, the plaster doesn’t work well.
The wood surface doesn’t have the ability to hold plaster. So, if you plaster over wood, the plaster will chip off gradually.
Plaster’s lack of adhesiveness:
Generally, plaster has enough bonding ability and adhesiveness. But when it comes to the wood surface, the adhesiveness is not enough. Because the porous surface absorbs moisture from the plaster.
So, the adhesiveness reduces due to using wood.
Can you plaster over plywood?
Generally, most plywood surfaces are porous and dry. So, when you apply plaster on the dry plywood surface, the surface will absorb water or moisture from the plaster. On the other hand, water or moisture works as bonding material in plaster.
So, if the water or moisture is absorbed, the plaster will lose adhesiveness. So it will not stick to the plywood surface. If you still want to use plaster over plywood, you need to prepare the plywood surface.
You have to use a primer. The primer will prevent the plywood surface from absorbing moisture from the plaster. Moreover, if you have to sand the plywood before applying the plaster.
How to prepare wood for plastering?
Now that you know you have to prepare the wood surface for plastering, you might want to know the process. The plaster will not stick to the bare wood surface without preparation. So, let’s see how you can prepare wood for plastering.
- First, you need to clean the wood surface from dirt, dust, residue, grease, etc.
- Then, you have to apply EML or Expanded Metal Lathing to the wood surface.
- The EML is a metal mesh that you can attach with screws.
- Then, you can apply a primer or paint to the wood surface.
- Finally, dry the primer well before applying plaster to it.
How to plaster over wood paneling?
You can’t apply plaster over wood paneling directly. So, you need to prepare the wood surface, and then you can apply plaster over it. The whole process should be appropriate. So, let’s see how you can plaster over wood paneling.
Cleaning:
Generally, a clean surface will allow good adhesiveness. So, you have to clean the wood paneling before applying plaster or preparing the surface for applying plaster.
Preparing the wood paneling:
Then you have to prepare the wood paneling so that plaster can stick to the surface. You can sand the wood paneling with sandpaper. Then you have to apply a primer or latex paint over the wood paneling.
Paint or primer will allow the plaster to adhere to the wood paneling. You need to dry the primer or paint before applying plaster.
Applying plaster:
Finally, you can apply plaster over the wood paneling. While applying, don’t use too much plaster at first. Try to keep the layer even. Then you have to let the plaster dry and cure for enough time.
Final Thoughts
You can plaster over wood but not directly. You can apply plaster over any type of wood after proper preparation. Because the porous wood surface doesn’t allow the plaster to adhere to the wood. So, if you can prepare the wood surface well, the plaster will work well on the wood.