Do lighthouses need to be cleaned after plastering?

Rybnikov Alexey

Is it necessary to pull out beacons after plastering - this question is often asked by the townsfolk who decided to make repairs with their own hands, but do not have building skills. There are several reasons for this manipulation, so the masters recommend that you do not neglect the dismantling of the guides.

Removing beacons after plastering

Why are lighthouses needed?

Before you say whether it is necessary to clean the beacons after plastering, you should find out why such products are needed. Lighthouses are profiles that simplify surface leveling and limit the application of plaster. Factory products are made of plastic or metal. The advantages of metal profiles are ease of use and good rigidity. The disadvantage is the high price. The advantage of plastic beacons is ease of use. The disadvantage is that the profiles are deformed during fixation. Some factory products can be reused. Homemade guides are made of wood or repair mortar. Advantage is an acceptable cost. The disadvantage is the use of guides requires experience in construction.

Metal beacons

Do I need to dismantle the beacons after plastering?

After fixing the profiles and applying the material, the question arises - do lighthouses need to be removed after plastering? Professionals advise not to neglect such manipulation for several reasons.

Corrosion

The formation of rust on the finish (as in the photo below) is the main reason for removing beacons after plastering. This problem occurs if metal profiles are used. Corrosion occurs even on galvanized rails. During operation, such products may be accidentally damaged. This will erase the galvanized layer. As a result, that part of the lighthouse that is susceptible to rust will be exposed.
Corrosion also occurs due to low-quality products. Sometimes it happens that sellers sell counterfeit products and themselves do not suspect about it. As a result, during repairs, poor-quality lighthouses that are not dismantled after plastering are fixed on the base into poor-quality products that are prone to corrosion.
Another reason for the appearance of rust is the humidity level in the room. In rooms that are well heated and ventilated, the risk of corrosion is minimal. In rooms with high humidity - kitchen, bathroom, etc. high probability of rust formation on the metal.

Rust on the wallpaper from the lighthouse

Cracking

It is believed that beacons should be dismantled due to cracks that appear on the surface if profiles are not removed. However, professionals have no consensus on this. Some claim that defects appear when the beacon is subjected to mechanical stress. For example, if the guide touches when drilling a hole for a self-tapping screw, then cracks will appear because of this. Other craftsmen say that defects occur during the dismantling of profiles. Since there is no consensus on the appearance of cracks due to profiles, therefore, beacons should be removed due to the occurrence of rust.

Other reasons for removing beacons

If you leave wooden beacons under the plaster, then over time the profiles will begin to rot. In this case, the guides will collapse themselves and provoke the appearance of mold and fungus on a building base.

Stucco wooden lighthouses

Profile dismantling technology

Now that it has become clear whether to remove beacons after plastering, one more question to consider is how to remove profiles? For work, pliers will be required, as well as a tool with which you can pick up the guide. As a rule, use a plaster scraper.
Instructions for dismantling profiles:

• Find the areas where the lighthouses are located. If metal profiles were installed, then use a magnet. Bring the material to the wall and where the magnet is fixed, the profile is located in this place. In order not to perform such manipulation, mark the location of the guides in advance on the ceiling.
• Dismantling of beacons start from top to bottom. Using a plaster scraper, remove part of the material that covers the profile from the surface.
• Use pliers to hold the guide and pull it toward you. Act carefully but confidently.
• Seal the voids with a solution. Make it the same tool that was used for plastering. Wait for the composition to dry and clean the surface with sandpaper P 80, P 100, P 120 or P 150. Then free the base from dust, apply a primer and proceed to the next stage of work.

The video in this article demonstrates how to properly remove beacons after plastering.

So, do lighthouses need to be cleaned after plastering? The answer to this question will be positive, since profiles will rust over time and ruin the appearance of the finish.