Well, it’s finally finished.
The ceiling, that is. I’m aiming to plaster a wall tomorrow.
The ceiling does have an unusual twist, but that’s the the result of old structural issues, rather than my plastering skills.
The joins will need a light sand, but I’m happy with the outcome; it’s not too obvious that the ceiling was, for many, many years, two.
I’d intended completing parts four and five of the ceiling today.
But my second in command suggested a pub lunch. As a result, part four was completed and we had a pleasant stroll down the hill to Station East.
And we’re now in the Central.
Back to the subject of plastering, though. My favourite plastering bucket, which Has served me well for several years now, is approved by the Vegetarian Society. I’d not noticed before today.
While there is no picture today (I didn’t wish to tread more dust outside the spare room), an early-ish finish from work allowed time to plaster another segment of ceiling.
That’s now 60% of the ceiling done. Of course, a real plasterer could have finished the whole thing in half an hour.
Another segment of ceiling plastered today.
Two, probably three, more pieces to go.
And then the walls.
Today has been, mostly, been spent plastering the newly joined ceiling. I’d managed a first full coat before Germany, but I was a little over ambitious and attempted the whole ceiling.
I’m a slow plasterer and it’s a large ceiling, so a full coat of plaster in a single day was never going to be fun. It took me six hours and the result was rougher than I’d hoped for, but it was only intended to be a first coat to join the two ceilings together.
So, today, I felt it wise to split the job into segments. With a better outcome.
The picture’s fuzzy, but I’m quite happy with the second coat. That’s a quarter of the ceiling done, with part two tomorrow.
Yesterday was more pleasant, with a walk along the Tyne.
While I’m some time away from completing the conversion of two bedrooms into one, the huge gap between the two ceilings is no more. After delaying for too long, I finally got around to a first full coast of plaster yesterday.
It looks a little rough, mainly because I’d grossly underestimated the time I’d need to cover the whole ceiling, but I’d always anticipated a second coat.
It’ll be another couple of weeks before I can do that (one has a life outside the spare bedroom), but I’ve decided on dividing the whole into managable chunks to make sure I’ve time to work with the plaster before it goes off (the tartar sauce tip proved to be an ineffective method of slowing down the hardening process).
It looks a little rough, but the two ceilings are now fully joined.
A full coat of plaster is next. I have to admit to some nervousness; I’ve not previously undertaken such a larce ceiling.
It all happened so fast. The thought that those look like Suzy’s legs ran through my mind before I could get my phone out of my pocket and switch to video.
Anyway, my second in command very bravely zipwired across the Tyne.
From the top of the Baltic – you can just make out the cables.
Apparently, she needed a nudge to leave the roof.
During the process of buying our house, a survey revealed minor structural problems. One of these involved the rear wall parting company with the rest of the house.
The necessary repairs were made, but the cracks which had appeared over a century or more were still evident. If one knew where to look.
While working in the spare room, evidence of the degree of movement could be seen.
Cosmetic repairs have now beed effected.
Our new coffee table’s looking good.
