plaster curing time...

[Mr T]

why am I reading on this site that the curing time for a skim coat is 2-3 and even 4 weeks and when I look elsewhere people are saying in certain situations you can tile 24-48 hrs after? im not knocking anyone but 4 weeks is a bit o.t.t is it not? your the pros... whats your opinions? cheers

 

[Colour Republic]

You're not reading it correctly. There is a difference between float and set plastering and a skim coat.

 

[Mr T]

thought as much cheers.

 

[ian158]

skim on plaster board is different to sand and cement base coat..as soon as the skim is light pink..ie dry on plasterboard i've tiled on it no problem.

 

[Mr T]

I dont know much about plaster but the first job I ever went along on we took the tiles off a kitchen worktop and the plastere had to come in as the tiles were pulling all the plaster off... Then it was tiled the next morning is that ok? Cheers

 

[White Room]

I'd wanting to give it a bit longer than overnight...

 

[ian158]

I'd wanting to give it a bit longer than overnight...

Agreed...Mr T...heres a plastering job I did last year..cold weather and no heating in the house...take a look at the ceiling.done the day before..see the variations of colour as its curing..the very light patches are dry.as for the wall id just finished it and as you can see very dark..in cold weather it will take a good 48hrs to dry before you can tile.

 

[masterofnone]

I never tile the next day after skimming pb. I always leave a full day between and make sure it's all light pink with no dark patches. A few years ago i skimmed a bathroom wall and tilled the next day for a developer in a rush. Two months latter I was there redoing the tiling for free!!

 

[Mr T]

Cheers guys... Ian so how long exactly did you wait to tile that wall 48 hrs after? What about the nice summer weather were having now mate? Cheers

 

[White Room]

Personally I would give it a least a week in the summer and longer in the winter....

 

[DHTiling]

It is just not to dry but also gain strength.... 48hrs is stupid IMO..

 

[ian158]

I didn't actully tile that wall...i tiled next to it..the walls were lime mix and literally fell off the wall..dot and dab walls with board..skimmed the walls to be painted and tiled aqua panel and bear plasterboard..in this weather with a window open..as it sweats so unless you have air circulating it will take longer to dry..but as said depends on weather...temp..air flow and what your skimming on.