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Quality is the key mark of the professional. It ensures a happy customer, repeat trade and new opportunities. But a good job takes time, and tradespeople are always looking for new ways of working to help cut down on labour, without compromising on quality. For example, as the trend toward using plasterboard in interior construction continues to increase, plasterboard tapers and jointers routinely opt to use automatic tapers and finishing boxes, to achieve that all important level 5 finish as efficiently as possible.
Likewise, painting and decorating was revolutionised with the introduction of the roller. And recently, this now-essential tool is being used to further cut time and effort, whilst still achieving a top-quality finish.
Smoothing and finishing fillers
The revolutionary new technique for the humble roller is its use as an applicator for skimming and finishing fillers. There are many types of these fillers out there, designed for a variety of jobs. Toupret offers Joint & Skim, for plasterboard jointing and finishing, as well as Renovation Skimcoat, which is used for smoothing out damaged or textured walls and ceilings. And there’s even an exterior solution in Ready To Use Skimcoat Filler, which levels out rough exterior surfaces, and can be used to patch up areas of damaged render up to 5mm, or used as an external skim.
How to apply with a roller
Traditionally, jobs that require these types of products are carried out with a trowel or blade. Recently though, rollers designed to apply filler have hit the market. Whilst they have been specifically created for this type of application, it’s worth mentioning that it is possible to carry out the job to a professional standard with either a short or medium pile paint roller.
Loading up is not done in quite the same way as paint. There needs to be a good amount of filler on the roller for it to be sufficiently applied. That means it really needs to be plunged into the product to get a good quantity onto the wall or ceiling. Once on the surface, however, it’s as simple as rolling on paint, even down to the traditional application technique; rolling up and down and slightly overlapping the previous pass with each subsequent step, using an ‘N’ or ‘W’ formation when applying. It will feel similar to applying a thick stipple coating. Once on, the product can be smoothed out, and the excess removed with a skimming blade.
Other innovations in decorating…
Rolling on isn’t the only time-saving new technique for applying skimming and finishing fillers. Airless spray plastering is another innovation that started with paint application and is continuing to make traction in the UK as an application for fillers as wall coverings – a truly revolutionary alternative to traditional plastering. It uses a machine that creates a high-pressure spray to apply specially formulated fillers for jointing, finishing and levelling uneven surfaces, and can perform the job in a fraction of the time. It’s sprayed on with a hose and gun, taking the strain off the shoulders, arms and knees. Check out toupret.co.uk for more information and the full range of Airless Spray Plasters.