Rothband plaster - the best gypsum mixture for leveling walls and ceilings

Gusevsky Andrey Anatolyevich

Knauf Rothband plaster - 30 kg in paper packaging

The main requirements for mortars for leveling ceilings and walls are ductility, the absence of cracks during shrinkage and high drying speed. There are many such mixtures at present, but Knauf Rothband gypsum plaster has gained particular popularity - the technical characteristics of this material meet the highest requirements.

Material Description

The main production of Rothband plaster is in Germany, but there are also subsidiaries in our country. They have been producing this and many other building mixtures under the Knauf brand for over 20 years.

Compared with other similar materials of domestic production, it costs a little more: the price for a bag weighing 30 kg is about 400 rubles. But the additional expenses are fully justified, as the Rotband is recognized as one of the most durable, high-quality and easy-to-use plasters suitable for leveling walls and ceilings.

It looks like a room professionally finished by Rothband

Technical characteristics of Rothband plaster

Before buying and using any material, it is necessary to obtain complete information about its properties and characteristics. This will help not to make a mistake with the choice, designate the consumption of Rothband plaster per 1 m2, calculate the time it takes to do the work yourself.

Tip. Be sure to ask the seller for a certificate for Knauf Rothband plaster. Only with its availability can you count on the compliance of the material with the declared characteristics.

Certificate of conformity

Benefits

A person who is ignorant of technical specifications will say almost nothing. He needs a detailed description of the material with all the advantages and disadvantages, as well as instructions for use.

Therefore, let's see what is so popular in this plaster for both finishing specialists and customers:

• The ability to align differences up to 5 cm deep in one pass;
• Even such a thick layer does not shrink when dried;
• The surface is smooth enough, not requiring finishing putty. You can glue wallpaper on it;
• Even drying without sharp loss of moisture even at high temperature and on porous substrates;
• Compared with other gypsum mixtures, the setting time of the working solution is increased;
• Excellent adhesion to any substrates due to the introduction of polymer additives into the mixture, which allows the composition to be used to align ceilings;
• Low consumption of Rotband per 1 m2 - cement or cement-sand plaster is consumed half as economically;

One of the most popular plaster mixes among professional finishers

• Vapor permeability - the walls plastered with a gypsum mixture can “breathe”, maintaining a comfortable microclimate in the room;
• Environmentally friendly - Knauf Rothband gypsum plaster does not include substances harmful to human health.

To summarize. The material described is excellent for leveling surfaces indoors. Compared to cement plasters, it has a lower weight, therefore it has less stress on walls and ceilings, requires less transportation costs.

For leveling, often applying just one layer is often enough. The solution is laid and distributed easily, creating a smooth surface that does not require puttying. The cost-effectiveness of plaster deserves special attention: one 30-kilogram bag is enough for finishing 3.5 sq.m. surface layer of 10 mm.

You can apply a thicker layer without the risk of cracks after the solution dries, which makes it possible to eliminate serious defects and deviations from the level. If they are greater than the maximum permissible layer thickness, then alignment is performed in several layers.

The photo shows how thick a layer can be applied at a time.

For reference. Due to the high plasticity and elasticity of the mixture, it is easy to work with. For one work shift, one person can plaster up to 20 sq.m. taking into account the time spent on the preparatory work.

Application rules

It is hardly worth it once again to describe in detail the entire technology of plastering, you can study it by reading other materials on the site. But at some points it is worth focusing.

Preparation for work

In addition to such standard measures as cleaning the surface from crumbling areas, dirt, dust and grease stains, it is recommended to be primed before using the Rotband using soil of the same brand.

So:

• High absorbency substrates are treated with a Knauf Stuc primer primer (see Primer walls and all for that matter);
• Dense, smooth and low-absorbing substrates (for example, concrete), are coated with Knauf Betokontakt primer with the addition of crushed quartz sand, which makes the surface rough.

Primer Betokontakt from Knauf under plaster

This is important: in no case should you neglect this step when plastering ceilings, if you want the coating to hold on them reliably.

If the base under the Rotband is cement plaster, then it should be dry: you can start leveling not earlier than four weeks after its application. The fact is that cement, when dried, decreases in volume much more than gypsum, and if you do not let it sit completely, cracks will appear on the gypsum coating.

The result of non-compliance with technological requirements

The main work is started only after the primer dries.

Solution mixing

Since the viability of the finished solution is not more than half an hour, it is prepared in such an amount that will be completely consumed in this time. Consider your productivity and number of employees.

If plastering alone, knead no more than 10 kg of the mixture in one run. That is, if you have 30kg Knauf Rotband plaster, then this will be a third of the bag. The proportions of water and powder are indicated on the package.

Tip. Use only cold water. The warmer it is, the faster the mixture will solidify.

For mixing, you need a drill with a special mixer nozzle. After the first stirring, the solution is allowed to stand for a couple of minutes, after which it is mixed again and immediately proceed to application.

Application

Plastering the walls with the Rothband is carried out in the usual way.The solution is poured onto the wall and leveled with a wide spatula. Or, if lighthouse plastering is used, a long rule.

Smoothing the plaster layer

Recommended air humidity during work - 60%, temperature - at least 5 degrees.

First of all, they protect external corners by installing special perforated galvanized iron profiles on them. They are fixed with the same solution with which the walls will be plastered. The vertical position of the profiles during installation is constantly monitored by a long building level.

The thickness of the plaster layer is limited to 40-50 mm. If a thicker layer is needed, the solution is applied in two or three doses, without waiting for the previous layer to completely dry.

Note. It is recommended to plaster the ceiling in one layer.

• If you want to get a textured surface for painting, you have such an opportunity. Decorative plaster Rothband is made on a freshly applied layer, the texture is attached using stamps, a stiff brush, decorative rollers and other devices.

Create an invoice using a regular plastic bag

Note. In this case, in the manufacture of the solution, it is necessary to add 100 g of PVA glue to each liter of water. The glue is introduced into a once mixed mixture before re-mixing.

• If you need a flat surface for wallpaper, the surface after drying is first corrected with a spatula, which cuts off tubercles and stains, then is ground with a grater.

Grinding surface

• For subsequent painting, the plastered base must be coated with a finishing putty.
• Under ceramic tile lining or an artificial stone does not need to be ground or puttyed.

It is possible to start puttying, wallpapering, painting and other types of finishing only after the plaster has dried. Depending on the thickness of the layer, this can take from 3 to 15 days.

Conclusion

Very often, the desire to save money leads to even greater costs when a poor-quality coating begins to peel off the walls along with a decorative coating. With the Rotband gypsum plaster this will not happen if all the technological requirements are met in the process of working with it.

Watch the video in this article and see for yourself how easy it is to work with this material and how high-quality the result is.