Before starting decorative finishing, you should level the walls and correct all existing flaws. The process of eliminating defects should be given Special attention, because in the future the quality of the repairs will depend on it. From correct geometry The aesthetics and attractiveness of the interior depend on the premises. Correctly executed puttying will allow you to avoid problems caused by the curvature of the walls. In this article we will get acquainted with various types mixtures and learn how to properly dilute putty.
Types of putty and features of their dilution Today you can easily purchase both ready-made and dry mixtures that require dilution. The first ones go on sale in special containers. The second ones are packaged in durable paper bags. Putty that does not require mixing is sold at a higher price, so it is advisable to buy it only for a small amount of work.
Let's figure out what types of mixtures are available to the consumer and how much time is needed to mix them. So, today the following compositions are available to consumers:
- Oil-based adhesive products. The main advantage of this product is its moisture resistance. The putty can be used in rooms with high level humidity. Suitable for application to wooden and metal objects. Protects them from rotting and rust.
- Gypsum compositions. Putty is made from a gypsum cement base and is the most popular product used for most finishing works.
- Water-dispersible agents. Putty creates an ideal surface, with its characteristic smoothness and strength.
- Acrylic multifunctional products. The product has proven itself well for leveling surfaces and removing cracks from old coatings. Facade mixtures are moisture resistant and are indispensable for outdoor work.
- PVA based putty – universal remedy, endowed with an antifungal effect.
Attention! A properly diluted mixture avoids cracks on the surface.
When working with the composition, you need to know how to dilute the putty and comply with certain conditions:
- Follow the instructions on the packaging, taking into account the required proportions. Products must be mixed in accordance with the indicators recommended by the manufacturer;
- Do not use over old coating;
- For good adhesion, use a suitable primer;
- After treating with a primer, leave the surface for 6 hours, and only after this time have passed, start working;
- The surface must be puttied in two layers;
- The first layer should dry during the day, then you need to apply finishing putty for the walls;
- Do not attempt to decorate the walls if the topcoat has not dried. Wait 24 hours and only after that apply wallpaper.
Important! The consistency of the putty directly depends on the type of work for which it is intended - starting or finishing finishing.
The putty must be mixed in accordance with the instructions on the packaging. Do not dilute the composition in advance and in large volumes, its excess will quickly harden. The optimal amount of solution will be used within 30 minutes after settling. Please note that the prepared mixture, which is in the swelling stage, does not allow the addition of liquid.
The drying speed of the putty is directly dependent on its thickness and temperature regime premises. The warmer the room, the faster the solution will dry.
The composition can be mixed either manually or using electrical appliances. The most suitable rotation speed for a mixer or drill with an attachment is up to 600 rpm.
As a rule, putty is diluted in accordance with the standard scheme, which assumes a ratio of 25 kg of mixture and 10 liters of water. However, other options provided by the manufacturer are also possible.
Breeding
The finished putty should be plastic and pliable. Pay attention to the homogeneity of the mass. It is not allowed to contain impurities, lumps or other defects.
The consistency of the mixture should not be too thick or liquid. Let's figure out how to prepare a putty mixture using a mixer and manually, and also learn about the proportions in which the components should be used.
Without mixer
So, let's try to prepare the mixture without using electrical appliances:
- To thin gypsum putty using manual method, you will need a clean construction bucket. Before mixing the solution, make sure that the container is thoroughly dry.
- At the next stage, you need to pour dry powder into the container.
Attention! If you first pour water and then add putty, the mass will form lumps, which are quite difficult to get rid of.
- There are some features of diluting gypsum putty. In order to prepare a high-quality solution, you need 7 trowels of the composition, dilute with a small amount of liquid and mix the components thoroughly.
- Next, you need to add the rest of the powder into the container and add a certain amount of water. Then bring the mixture to a homogeneous consistency of the desired thickness.
- After the above manipulations, the plaster should remain swelling for 3 minutes.
The question of how to dilute putty is often asked by people who decide to do the repairs themselves. Puttying is one of the important preparatory stages, on which the quality of the final result depends. Ready-made formulations Not everyone can afford it, so construction markets offer huge selection dry powders, which, if the correct dilution proportions are observed, can become a worthy alternative to expensive ones. This article will discuss exactly how to properly dilute a putty mixture for walls at home.
Peculiarities
Dry putty mixture is a powdery material that contains astringent components, the main filler and various additives. Before applying to the wall to be leveled, it should be diluted with water in the ratio indicated on the packaging by the manufacturer.
Dry putty has a number of undeniable advantages:
- long service life;
- resistance to different temperatures (can be stored in both warm and cold rooms);
- the ability to control consistency;
- low cost;
- ease of use;
- ease of transportation.
The prepared solution cannot be used:
- at high humidity, as over time it will begin to peel off from the walls;
- with sudden changes in temperature, which will quickly lead to its softening.
Experts recommend diluting and mixing the putty using a drill with a special mixing attachment. With its help, the mass is more uniform than when using improvised means.
How to choose?
When purchasing dry putty mixture It is worth paying attention to the following points:
- safety - the composition should include only substances that are harmless to human health;
- adhesion – adhesion to the leveled surface must be good;
- convergence - formation smooth surface should occur without using additional funds and materials;
- resistance to external influences;
- possibility of grinding.
In addition, when choosing, you need to decide at what stage of finishing you plan to use the leveling coating.
Depending on the purpose, plaster can be of the following types:
- Basic (starting). She carries out all the rough rough surface treatment: correcting unevenness, sealing cracks, filling depressions. This composition is applied in a layer up to 7-8 mm thick. If the defects cannot be eliminated the first time, the layer is reapplied. After this initial leveling, the surface turns out smooth and slightly rough due to the coarse components of the putty.
- Finish. Intended for finishing the surface and bringing it to a perfectly smooth state. It is applied once thin layer onto pre-dried starting putty.
- Universal. It is used for both roughing and finishing work, but is characterized by increased cost and not always adequate efficiency.
The main component of the mixture has an important impact on where and under what conditions it will be used.
Depending on the composition, putty can be of the following types:
- Cement. It is used for finishing building facades, as well as wet and unheated rooms: bathrooms, kitchens, swimming pools, basements. It is moisture resistant and resistant to extreme temperatures. After application to the wall, such putty begins to shrink greatly, as a result of which layers of mortar have to be reapplied for better leveling. Its hardening speed is low and amounts to 28-30 days, which significantly slows down the finishing process.
- Plaster. Intended for dry rooms inside the building: living room, bedroom, corridor. IN in this case the solution on the surface dries within a few days, but also quickly decomposes when exposed to moisture.
- Polymer. Represents universal mixture for leveling polyurethane, cement, concrete and gypsum surfaces. It combines the properties of cement and gypsum plaster, resulting in a high cost.
- Oil-glue. It is applied before painting to concrete, wood and plastered surfaces.
- Water-dispersed. Used for partial leveling of bases made of various materials: wood, aerated concrete, brick.
- Polyester. Used when working on metal, wood, paint coating, concrete, natural stone. It is successfully used to seal holes and through holes, getting rid of rust and corrosion. This composition is distinguished by good adhesion, increased strength and water resistance.
Proportions
The diluted putty solution should have a characteristic consistency and density. To achieve this, it is necessary to maintain the correct ratio of water and dry matter. For each species these proportions are different.
Gypsum-based compositions are diluted in a ratio of 1: 0.8, that is, 0.8 liters of liquid are required per 1 kg. For cement compositions You will need 2 times less water: 0.37-0.42 l per 1 kg. 1 kg of polymer putty is diluted with 0.25 liters of liquid.
Depending on the situation, the water flow can be changed. So, with basic finishing, more thick composition, so less liquid can be used. For decorative finishing, a liquid mixture is used, which means more water will be required.
Please note that water for dilution must be taken at room temperature.
Process technology
The process of preparing the mixture at home should begin with preparing the necessary tools.
You will need:
- a spacious bucket with high walls without rounded corners (plastic, enameled or galvanized);
- drill with attachment;
- scales;
- paint brush or spatula.
To properly make putty with your own hands, you should follow the following procedure:
- Fill the bucket with the required amount of water.
- Shake it in a circular motion to wet the remaining dry walls of the container.
- We weigh the dry mixture and carefully pour it into the water. Then leave for 3-5 minutes so that it softens a little.
- Slowly immerse the drill and begin to mix the solution, moving the mixing attachment in a circle, left and right, up and down.
- Having achieved the desired consistency, stop kneading. We clean off the adhering remains of the mixture from the walls of the bucket with a spatula or brush. We repeat the batch.
- Do not touch the prepared mass for 10-15 minutes, give it time to swell.
- Add 1 tbsp. l. PVA glue, which will make the solution softer and more elastic, and the layer applied to the surface stronger and more reliable.
- We repeat the batch.
- We take out the drill, lower it into another container with water and run it for 1-2 minutes. In this way, dirt will be instantly removed from the nozzle.
If you don't have a mixer, you can mix the mixture by hand. Pour dry putty powder into a dried bucket and then gradually pour in water. We knead in a circular motion, gradually moving from the center to the edges. If the solution is too thin, add more mixture; if it is too thick, add more water.
Please note that in this case, putty is poured first, and not liquid is poured. If you do the opposite, as with mechanical kneading, lumps will appear in the composition, which will be difficult to get rid of.
The above method is suitable for compositions based on cement and polymers.
Breeding gypsum putty done in a slightly different way:
- Pour 7 trowels of powder into a bucket and fill them with the same volume of liquid. Mix everything thoroughly;
- Add the remaining parts of the mixture and water and mix everything until smooth;
- Leave the solution for 2-3 minutes to swell and mix everything again.
Unlike other types gypsum plaster very capricious. After drying, it may crack over time due to a number of reasons: violation of production technology, failure to maintain the correct proportions of components, a thin layer of application (less than 5 mm), or a dirty surface to be treated.
The steps for diluting putty with fiberglass are not particularly difficult.
In this case, you should adhere to the following sequence of actions:
- Move to a warm room. The temperature on the thermometer should not be lower than 18 and not higher than 25 degrees Celsius.
- After opening the jar of the composition, mix it thoroughly so that the solvent rises to the top.
- Prepare a clean container and pour into it part of the mixture that you will need for work, and cover the rest with a lid. Since the diluted composition dries instantly, dilute such an amount that you can work out in 10 minutes.
- Add hardener.
- Mix everything with a spatula. The composition should be thick and homogeneous.
As a rule, such well-known companies as Novol, Sea-Line, QuickLine indicate on the packaging the correct proportions of dilution of putty with hardener. If the manufacturer does not mention this, then the craftsmen recommend using electronic scales of increased accuracy or your own eye. The amount of hardener should be equal to 3% of the total putty mass.
It is very important to maintain the correct proportions when mixing: if you add too much hardener, its excess will not interact with the particles of the putty composition, as a result of which streaks and stains will appear on the surface to be treated after application. If there is not enough hardener, the solution will turn out watery, will be difficult to apply to the base and will harden unevenly.
- The mixture should be mixed gradually. Start at low speed and gradually increase the speed. These steps will help avoid the appearance of lumps and bubbles.
- After mixing, leave the solution for a few minutes and then stir it again. This way the ingredients will adhere better.
- Use only clean containers and tools. Combinations of particles of the old and new mixture will lead to a violation of the consistency and elasticity of the future composition, which will adversely affect the quality of the finish.
There really are a lot of putties, because this finishing material can be intended for walls, ceilings and even facades, and in all cases it can be of a different composition. You also need to know for what stage of finishing the powder is intended, since it will be difficult to properly dilute the putty without this information. According to the last criterion, a distinction is made between, for example, starting and finishing putty.
How to dilute the putty is usually indicated on its label. Although you can risk making your own adjustments if you need it to have some more pronounced properties. Sometimes this is required for decorative (textured) or special (waterproofing, acid-resistant) putty. In order not to degrade the quality of the finish, you need to know general principles dilution of putty materials.
How to dilute dry putty - basic rules
Read the instructions carefully, there you will find the proportions in which the mixture should be mixed with water. Take a container of an appropriate size that is easy to stir and pour the contents of the bag into it. Add required quantity water and start kneading, it is best to do this mixer for 10 minutes. The water should be clean and not cold, preferably at room temperature.
Then you can begin finishing work, since diluting dry putty, as you are convinced, is not difficult. You can work with this material about 40 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken and harden, and, having passed through this time threshold, setting will begin to occur almost before our eyes. Of course, the time is average, it is better to check this fact in the instructions on the package, and this can also be affected by the expiration date, the room temperature, and the quality of the material.
It is impossible to extend the viscosity of the putty by re-dissolving it; it is better to mix a new solution, having first cleaned the container. Because the quality of the finish will suffer significantly.
If you need to putty in several layers, then be sure to wait for everything to dry well, but do not overdry it, that is, you cannot apply a second layer the next day. Also, do not dry accelerated program, for example, with a hairdryer, this will cause cracking. Do not apply other materials, such as primer, to poorly dried putty.
How to dilute putty - features
It has already been said that this finishing material comes in several types, so it is worth clarifying some of the nuances of how to dilute the putty depending on its purpose. Let's start with starting, which is used for rough finishing. Its consistency should not be very fluid, since it is applied in a thick layer and hides gross surface defects. Sometimes this layer should be about 5 cm; it can only be applied in several steps. To prevent the solution from starting to set during this time, its life time is artificially extended by adding river sand. Be sure to exclude any impurities, that is, clean it well, and mix it in a 1:1 ratio.
Finish The putty is prepared according to the instructions if it is sold dry. But now long-lasting liquid finishing putty is becoming more and more popular. There is no need to dilute it with water; it is ready for use straight from the package, usually sold in a plastic bucket. Moreover, you can open it several times, it will not lose its quality. Feature finishing putty is the existence of façade and interior brands; façade brands are often toxic, which is unacceptable for interior work. Pay attention to this.
When carrying out finishing work various surfaces quite often a material such as putty is used. With its help, you can level the walls and prepare them for subsequent painting and wallpapering. You just need to know how to dilute putty correctly. During preparation, it is necessary to take into account some details, such as the type of putty, as well as for what work it can be used. You should also take into account the ratio of the dry mixture and water, as this may affect the quality of the work performed.
Types of putty
The construction market offers a huge selection of putty materials. They are sold ready to use or dry. To prepare dry putty, you should take into account its base and how to properly dilute the putty. Its scope of application and method of preparation depend on this.
Gypsum-based putty
This putty is used for indoor work. It is snow-white. The product must not be used in areas with high humidity air. The putty is intended only for finishing the surfaces of dry rooms with heating. It can be used in the bedroom, hall, hallway and rarely in the kitchen.
The mixture is applied to the walls before wallpapering or painting, taking into account the rules indicating how to dilute gypsum putty.
Cement based putty
With this, you can eliminate all unevenness, differences and various cracks by applying the product to the surface of the wall. It is suitable for work in any room - both dry and dry. high humidity. Also cement putty You can finish the facades of buildings made of concrete, brick and stone.
In the store you can purchase a dry mixture of cement putty in special packaging or a ready-made solution. has a number of disadvantages: when drying, shrinkage occurs, and the applied thick layer of the mixture may crack. It is sold in a special plastic container.
As for the dry mixture, you should know that it has a cement base. The required consistency is achieved by kneading. The putty has good adhesion and excellent strength (when completely dry, cracks do not appear). But this is only if it is properly prepared and applied to the surface.
Polymer-based putty
This putty is used for finishing indoors only. It has high elasticity, strength and durability. These qualities are achieved due to the polymers contained in the putty.
Dry is used for starting and finishing works. Mixture starting putty has high strength. It is used during primary processing to level surfaces and seal cracks.
The finishing putty has fine grains. Thanks to them, the finished and sanded wall will have a smooth and perfectly flat surface. The mixture should be applied in a thin layer.
They also produce polymer universal putty, ready for use. It can be used both for starting and finishing work, on surfaces without any special defects.
Taking into account all the features and proportions, you should know how to mix putty for walls and other surfaces on different substrates.
Features of diluting putty
As in any business, there are certain features. You should know before you figure out how to dilute putty: the proportions must correspond to the type of product. There are several types of it:
- for starting work;
- for finishing work;
- for wall decoration;
- for processing ceilings;
- for finishing facades;
- for indoor work.
The answer to the question of how to dilute the putty will depend on what type of putty will be used during the work. After all, a certain type of solution requires a fixed amount of water. It should be of the required thickness and consistency.
- When using 1 kg of dry gypsum mixture (for example, Fugenfüller putty), you need to take 0.8 liters of water.
- When using cement putty, 0.37 - 0.42 liters of water are needed per 1 kg of dry mixture, and 7.4-8.4 liters of water should be used for 20 kg.
- How to dilute putty for walls? The proportions for the dry polymer mixture are as follows: about 10 liters of water are needed for 25 kg.
Starting putty is used to hide defects. different sizes, the applied layer can be 6 cm. For this reason, the solution should not be liquid, since it is easier to fill in the depressions with a thick mixture and the surface will dry out faster.
The method of applying putty to the wall also affects the thickness of the solution. It should be thicker if applied by hand. When working with a machine airless spray the solution must be in a liquid state.
When answering the question of how to dilute finishing putty, you need to know its required consistency. When using, keep in mind that it must be applied in a thin layer. Therefore, the solution should not be too thick.
Preparation of putty mixture mechanically
The process of preparing the finishing putty is not too complicated. Before diluting the putty, it must be mixed with clean water room temperature.
So that the putty solution is High Quality, water should be added to the dry mixture in small doses. For more efficient mixing, use a special tool - a construction mixer. Kneading can also be done with an electric drill with a special attachment, the power of which must be at least 1.5 kW. But it is best to use a drill with big amount rpm To the toolbox professional specialists An all-purpose construction mixer is often included. It is used only for preparing the putty mixture.
At the beginning of kneading, the tool speed should be low. Gradually deepening the whisk, you should expand the kneading area. When the mixture acquires a more uniform consistency, you can increase the number of revolutions. After stopping kneading for a few minutes, you need to continue the process again. You need to stir for about 10 minutes. This way you can get a uniform consistency of the putty. When mixing, the speed of the mixer or drill should not be high, because unnecessary air will get into the putty. Because of this, bubbles may appear when applying the putty mixture to the surface to be treated.
Preparing the mixture manually
If it is not possible to purchase a special tool, then the solution can be prepared manually using a spatula. You just have to tinker a little with this solution. In this way you can prepare putty for starting work, since special requirements is not applied to him.
The prepared mixture should be used within 40 minutes. If the putty has not been applied during this time, it will inevitably thicken. You should not add water to the thickened mixture, as this will only worsen the quality. It is better to throw it away and prepare a new one. Further work cannot be carried out with such putty.
To prepare the next portion of the mixture, the bucket used must be thoroughly washed so that no fragments of the old composition remain. Thickened particles, once added to a new batch, will significantly reduce its working efficiency. For example, it may thicken faster. Clean, rust-free water is used for mixing.
To mix the putty, you must use a household bucket (galvanized, plastic or enameled). Do not use basins or other containers that have rounded corners. By placing the drill attachment in a bucket of water, you can clean it of putty residues by turning it in different sides. To do this, use the reverse function. To allow water to drain from the nozzle, you must place the drill on the bucket in a horizontal position.
Features of applying the putty mixture
Having applied the first layer of the mixture to the surface of the wall, there is no need to rush to apply the next one, as it can curl up, tear off the initial layer and increase the drying time. You need to wait for the first layer to dry. Therefore, it is impossible to prime wet putty. It is also not recommended to add a primer to the mixture when diluting dry putty.
Overdrying the first layer can also adversely affect the quality of finishing work. You should not use heating devices or artificially raise the temperature in the room - the putty can quickly dry out and crack.
By adhering to these rules and requirements, you can find out exactly how to mix putty for walls and other surfaces.
As we all understand, during any repair it will not be possible to do without such necessary building material like putty. With its help, you can seal seams, smooth out small unevenness in walls, etc. In many ways, the final result of the future will depend on its quality and consistent proportions. decorative processing walls
Before deciding the question “how to dilute putty” you need to know that such material is very popular not only for interior decoration walls, but also used for exterior work.
Based on the scope of use of the putty, the solution is classified according to the composition and proportions of the components. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that for different finishes(base or finishing) solution will have to be diluted differently.
Of course, if you buy putty at a hardware store in a ready-to-use state, you won’t have to re-mix it. Your main task when working with ready-made material– mix the mixture well before using it.
But when working with dry substances, simply mixing the components will not be enough. They need careful preparation - maintaining a proportional ratio of water and dry matter, the correctness of which will determine the quality and thickness of the material. It is also necessary to follow a certain sequence of actions when mixing the solution.
So, how to dilute putty for treating walls?
Please note the main rule is that all putty mixtures must be diluted immediately before the application process, since they are able to “live” without losing their qualities for a fairly short period of time.
The duration of the “life” of the finished solution until it sets, as a rule, is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging, and may depend on many indicators, the main of which is the composition. Therefore, you should not be too self-confident, but it is better to familiarize yourself with the manufacturer’s advice in more detail in order to avoid troubles.
Step-by-step instruction
In order to properly dilute the putty, you may need the following tools and devices:
- container, preferably without rounded corners;
- scales;
- a drill and a special attachment for it or a construction mixer;
- putty knife.
The process of preparing the putty mixture consists of the following steps:
- a certain amount of water must be poured into an empty container;
- weigh the required amount of dry matter and pour it into a container of water;
- using a construction mixer or a drill with a special attachment, thoroughly mix the mass until it has a homogeneous consistency;
- Fragments of putty adhering to the walls of the container should be removed, and the solution should be left for 15-20 minutes to swell;
- Next, you should test mix the solution and start working immediately.
If you follow the advice of experienced repair specialists, you should adhere to the following rules for mixing putty:
- Do not turn on the construction mixer (drill with attachment) on high speed, because this can lead to a large number of air bubbles entering the solution;
- there is no need to use water that is too high or, conversely, too low a temperature to mix the mixture, otherwise such a mass will burst after drying and fall off the walls;
- do not try to dilute too much solution at once, because its lifespan is too limited;
- Before each new mixing of putty, do not be lazy to thoroughly rinse the container in which the previous mixture was located and the nozzle with which you mixed it. If you do not perform such manipulations, the remains of the old solution will end up in new line-up putty, as a result of which its consistency and elasticity will be impaired and the quality of the new coating will also decrease;
- Do not place the washed mixer with the nozzle up, because drops of solution or water will fall under the cartridge and it will very quickly begin to rust.
Nuances when diluting putty
Preparation of putty for walls during the starting and finishing coating, as we have already said, has certain distinctive features. Let's look at them in more detail.
Starting putty is used for rough initial treatment of surfaces that are affected by significant defects and cracks. Therefore, this putty composition should not spread over the surface of the walls and have sufficient strength.
Preparing putty for wall finishing
Since very often it is necessary to cover the surface with a putty solution in several layers, giving each layer time to dry, it is advisable to ensure that the layer does not harden during this period of time. To achieve this effect, experienced finishers advise adding river sand to the putty solution in a 1:1 ratio.
Finishing putty is used for fine processing of walls before decorative coating or wallpapering. The thickness of the layer is finishing coating should not exceed 1 mm.
This suggests that not only piles of material, but even small fractions will be noticeable on such a wall. Therefore, when mixing the finishing putty, you need to be especially careful about its homogeneous structure. After all, if you do not attach importance to this stage, the quality of the treated surface will be poor, and decorative finishing will not be done as accurately as we would like.
Which putty is better?
Basically, putty is sold in tightly sealed bags, and it is not possible to examine its contents. In this case, there is only one way out - to trust the experience of specialists.
Of course, you can apply the cheapest and untested mixture to the wall, just understand that the result will be of the same poor quality.
If you specifically answer the question “which putty is better?”, the answer “soft” will not be clear to everyone. Such soft mixtures are represented on the market by Knauf, Henkel and many other manufacturers, but among domestic companies such representatives are Starateli and Volma. The quality of such putties has been tested by more than one generation of builders.
Comparative characteristics of the most prominent and popular representatives of putties are given in the table below.
In many construction stores Putty compounds are now sold by weight. This is a great solution for those who need a small amount of material. This way you can buy 1-2 kg of the mixture and try it out before buying a pig in a poke weighing 25-30 kg. One drawback of such non-wholesale sales is that they sell only the cheapest compounds that are not popular and are lying around on store shelves.
