What Causes Air Bubbles in Plasters?

Blog |April 17th, 2018

Plaster and stucco are age-old materials that have been employed to staggering success and long-lasting aesthetic influence in architecture throughout human history. Nowadays, both stucco and plaster are still used extensively in buildings the world over, but because the artisanal aspect for the application of both mediums is slowly becoming somewhat out-dated, not a lot of people remember the differences between plaster and stucco.

One of the reasons for the somewhat declining popularity of stucco and plaster is the fact that it can be a tad time-consuming to apply, and somewhat difficult to maintain in tip-top shape. A lot of people often complain about air bubbles in plaster walls, and this often becomes the very factor for disregarding the use of plaster and stucco in the first place.

However, the reasons for unsightly air bubbles in plaster and stucco are actually simple, and once you consider the differences between plaster and stucco, they are likewise easily remedied.

Here are some reasons why air bubbles occur in plaster and stucco:

• Improper preparation – improperly prepared or mixed plaster and stucco can be detrimental to the end result of an applique. Roughly mixed plaster may have tiny lumps in the slurry that will allow pockets of air to form while it is drying, resulting in ugly looking air-bubbles on walls where it is applied.

• Uneven drying – uneven drying, or a lack of ‘curing’ time for your plaster or stucco wall can also contribute to nasty air bubbles. The moisture in damp plaster may react with eternal temperature, especially in cases where an uneven or unfinished application is concerned, which may result in the formation of air bubbles.

The same result can be found when you try to paint over a still-moist plaster or stucco wall. The trapped moisture inside will cause the paint to blister due to the presence of water that attempts to come out as the plaster and paint as they both drying.

• Wrong choice of paint – stucco and plaster are breathable and porous. While it can be sealed to prevent moisture damage and to increase its hardiness, choosing paints that are rubberised or that won’t allow the material to ‘breathe’ will most likely result in unsightly air bubbles forming just below the surface of the paint itself.

If you’re contemplating on having either stucco or plaster as part of your home aesthetics, leave the application only to experts to prevent minor issues like the ones listed above from occurring, such as Hopkins Plaster Studio. They deliver masterful and timely application of plaster, with a flair for the ornate and classical that promises only the best results.

Hopkins Plaster Studio is dedicated to keeping a classical art-form alive, they are the go-to resource for all plaster and stucco work.

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