Plastering Information Repository:
I've been doing plaster repair for over 28 years now. During that time I've been able to work with a lot of different tools and materials. Many of these have been invented by people I've been able to meet personally. I've also been able to visit many of the manufacturers facilities, and many of these inventors and individuals who work with these products have become very good friends of mine. In addition, I've traveled the country appearing at, and scouting out, trade shows and construction conventions that have the "latest and greatest" tools and products from around the world. I am proud to showcase what I've found on this page, so you can benefit from what I've discovered and personally tested.
That being said, this area is designed to help you get what you need, so you can be successful in doing your own plastering projects. I plan to keep adding to this area of the site, as I continue to search for new products that are constantly being introduced to the marketplace.
If there's a product you're looking for, don't hesitate to contact me. I'll be happy to see what I can find for you! Or if you have an exciting new product and want to have it showcased on this site, feel free to e-mail me or call me directly.
NATIONAL GYPSUM COMPANY
I have been working with National Gypsum products for well over 25 years now. I really like their Kal-Kote and Gold Bond brands of plaster products. Their line of products is really top notch in my opinion. To mention a few I personally use: They have Gold Bond plaster board, Kal-Kote base coat and smooth coat finish, as well as moulding plaster that I make use of on a regular basis to create quality repairs. I've used a lot of different smooth finishes, but Kal-Smooth seems to me to be the easiest to work with of all the ones I've tried. It gives you time to work with it, is easy to apply, doesn't set up 'instantly' on you as some smooth finishes do, and it gives a relatively hard finish for durability.
This company has always been very supportive of my efforts to promote and preserve the plasering trade. You will see me using their products on my 'Plaster On!' series of DVDs. Check out their full line of products at:
SPRAY TEXTURES IN A CAN
One of the biggest challenges to doing quality repairs is finding the right product to use after the repair is done. This is especially true when it comes to spray textures such as 'popcorn', and a variety of 'splatter' textures that include 'orange peel' and 'knock down'. Another tough texture to match is one I find in older homes that look a lot like little 'pebbles' in the finish coat, which doesn't have a particular swirl pattern to it, it is simply bumpy in texture.
If you are doing small areas and want to use a product out of a can, I personally have been impressed with the spray textures in a can that come from a company called 'Homax'. I set their spray cans in a hot bucket of water for about ten minutes and they're ready to go. Their cans with the regular spray nozzles and have you using one finger to spray them are the best that I've found on the market. I especially like the orange peel texture, as it matches in great with the older pebble type finishes. And the popcorn spray with the nozzle that points straight up (a blue and white can) works absolutely fantastic. I am big on blending and making sure things match in well - that's what I get paid for! So it's important to me to have a product that will help me do this. And that's what this one line of products does. Check them out at:
DUST CONTAINMENT
With all the new laws on containing any lead dust that's created on a jobsite, I like to use 'Zipwall' products. They're great for any situation where you want to keep the dust to a minimum. And for me, they also help to protect the areas surrounding where I'm plastering. Jeff Whittemore is a good friend of mine that invented this unique line of products. He worked with flooring years ago and wanted to find a way to contain the dust that was created when he was sanding floors. Well, he found it alright - he's the inventor!
It's always nice to know there is a great person behind a great product, and that's what I've found Jeff to be. I was privileged to meet him many years ago when I was flown in to plaster some rooms in his home in Massachussetts. He continues to support my efforts to promote the plastering trade. He has sponsored my 'Plaster Man' tours in the past and continues to help me get the word out on how to do quality plaster repairs. He has a great line of products that I'm sure will make your home repair or construction project safer, cleaner and easier. You can find out more about his line of products at:
PLASTERING TROWELS & TOOLS
Marshalltown features a whole line of great plastering trowels and tools used to do plastering. Just to give you one example, I really like the Perma Shape Golden Stainless Steel Finishing Trowels with curved Dura soft handles. These feature a 'broken in' design so it's like a trowel you've been using that has the sharp edges knocked down and rounded. The benefit is that the edges give you clean trowel strokes with no grooves or 'digs' into the surface - Perfect for doing plaster repair with! Comes in a variety of sizes (One of my favorites is the 13 x 5"). Check out their complete line at:
ADHESIVES
One product I use a lot in doing plaster repair work is Adhesive. It's used on older homes between the wood lath and plaster to secure old, loose plaster ceiling and wall areas. Several years ago a great friend of mine, Rory Brennan (who happens to be a great plasterer as well!), invented "Big Wally's Plaster Magic". Simply drill holes in the surface, squeeze the adhesive in to the loose areas, and then use some plaster washers (also available at the next link!), and you have found the secret to solve loose plaster problems. To learn more, and to get this super duper adhesive, check this site out:
PLASTER WASHERS for LOOSE PLASTER
In 2003 I put on a 'Plaster Man Live' Workshop. Bob Rodenhouse came in from Michigan and introduced the attendees to his line of 'Grip-Plate' Plaster Washers. Needless to say, they were a hit! I've been using them ever since and highly recommend them to homeowners and professionals alike. You can get them directly from Bob at:
DRYWALL TOOLS & VIDEOS
For as long as I've been Plaster Man, Myron Ferguson has been "That Drywall Guy". About five years ago we met and have had a great friendship ever since. Our view is that the drywall and plastering worlds can meet and get along just fine! Myron has been writing articles for magazines for many years and even has his own book, "Drywall - for Professional Results!", which has sold over 400,000 copies and is into its 3rd printing. He's the best drywall finisher I've ever met, and the most humble, honest and trustworthy person - a friend who is there to help whenever you need it! Check out his book, videos and other helpful products at his website:
STEVE SELOS PLASTER ART
A few years back I was flown out to Los Angeles, California. A company from Japan wanted me to check out a new line of plaster products they were introducing to the U.S. market. It just so happened that shortly before my visit out there, I was called by a very talented plasterer who lived close to L.A.. We arranged to meet up while I was there, and that was an occasion that brought another great friend into my life - Steve Selos. What can I say? I was and continue to be speechless when it comes to the kind of artwork this guy creates with plaster! Steve has been working very hard on his website, and I encourage you to visit it soon:
FIRENZE ENTERPRISES
About 2004, two gentlemen who were brothers and who were importing Venetian plaster from Italy, flew me down to Miami to see their facilities. It was love at first sight! Many of their plasters are 'green' - all natural, mineral based, allergy free products. Paul Hoafat (Chino to his friends), is the owner of the company and showed me some of the homes where these fantastic plasters were applied. One particular line that I personally like to apply for my own clients is "Marmorino". It's 40% marble putty and 60% lime putty - what I call the "Rolls Royce" of plasters! Natural pigments are used to color it and it is put on in two or three layers and then toweled and finished out with a soapstone cream that makes it virtually water proof and a breeze to clean. The finished look is that of highly polished, translucent marble. Absolutely stunning! They offer a whole line of products that enrich the ceilings and walls of any home or office. They also offer training and a whole line of videos that show you how to use their products.
I am proud to call everyone on the staff at this company my friends. They have been very supportive of my efforts to continue promoting the plastering trade, and we even do some training workshops together from time to time. Plastering sure has brought a lot of great friends into my life! While you're on their site, please check out the outstanding art work that my good friend Joe Brown has showcased on their site (go to the site map and click on Joe Brown fine murals and fine art). Joe and I met back in 1980 while we were living in Brooklyn Heights, New York. Another fine artist who is respected for his amazing artwork, and truly has a world wide list of celebrity clients. Learn more at:
LIME PRODUCTS
When I was first putting together my first plastering DVDs, I was looking for sponsors who would help me on the financial side to make that idea a reality. One of the first companies on board was Graymont. They specialize in doing business out of locations here in the U.S. and in Mexico. They operate some wonderful stone quarries that I've been privileged to visit several times. Two of their products I enjoy using are 'autoclaved' lime (under the 'Snowflake' and 'Ivory' brands), and also their aged lime putties. Mike Tate has always been a friend and supporter of my efforts as Plaster Man. His loyalty and integrity give me confidence in this company all the way around. Visit their site to learn more about fine line of lime and stone products at:
FIBERGLASS MESH
I use fiberglass mesh almost everyday that I do plaster repair work. And in my 'Resurfacing' DVD, I show how to use it to resurface ceilings and walls in combination with base coat plaster. One company that I have been buying my fiberglass mesh from for years is Overland Trading Company. I have a great friend in the company, Jim White, who is currently helping me produce a whole line of Plaster Man products. For resurfacing work I like Overland's 4 mil. thick, 4' wide rolls, which are 150' on a roll. Their pricing is fantastic, and their shipping is lightning quick! If you ever need fiberglass mesh, you've found the source right here:
VACUUMS & AIR PURIFIERS
For about four years I hosted a talk radio show out of Peoria, Illinois. It was a weekly that aired on Saturday mornings. I had many celebrity guests who were all leaders in their particular fields, as well as many talented book authors. One guest I was privileged to interview several times on my show was David Oreck. We were instant friends from the first time I got to visit with him. He is a fascinating man to say the least! He was instrumental in bringing about the color television, as well as the microwave oven. Of course he's mostly known as the 'Vacuum Man' on tv, as well as more recently his air purifiers. It seems whatever this man sets his mind to, he accomplishes! He is one of the kindest, down to earth people I've ever known. Truly a one-of-a-kind! He still rides a Harley to work everyday and flies his fleet of seven vintage airplanes!
I include his line of products in this website because on every job there is a time to 'clean up'. Well, his vacuums can help you do just that! And especially in view of the new laws on 'lead', it's not only important but 'required'to use a "Hepa filter" vacuum after any construction or repair work is done on homes that were built in 1978 or older, when lead based paint was used.
I recommend the "Dutch Tech 1400 Series" vacuum. With a hepa filter, it's sure to help clean up a jobsite with any lead dust present safely and efficiently. And for any other dusty project, check out his complete upright and hand held vacuums, as well as his air purifiers that are sure to keep the air clean for the safety and comfort of your home and/or family. Visit Mr. Oreck's site at:
DRYWALL HANGING TOOLS
In 1999 I started writing a monthly, international column in Walls & Ceilings magazine. For the next nine years I continued writing. And during that time I was able to test a lot of products and do reviews on them. One of the most outstanding products I tested is made by the TelPro company. They make the 'Panel Lift' line of products. These products are specifically used when drywall or plaster board is hung on ceilings or walls. They make the job much easier, and that's an understatement! I brought their Hydraulic Model 460 with me to do some plaster renovation work in Washington, Michigan on one of their famous "Octagon" houses. I must say this lift is the Cadillac of all panel lifts! Easy to get the board on it, and ultra easy one lever action to lift it to the ceiling. For those who want a simpler model at a lower price, they have several models to choose from. Stop using your head to hold the board up. It's not smart, and it hurts too much! Even someone who has a bad back will find this much, much easier to use then holding it up without the benefits of this machine. I can't say enough good about it! Why don't you check them out at: