Call backs – Are you getting more in September and October? Here’s Why.
An example of a 45 minute base coat product
You’ve all heard of plasterers who used to add citric acid, milk, lemon juice or even urine to base coat and cornice cement to slow down the drying time long enough to get the job done in summer or to allow the product to get through the stopping boxes or allowing clean up time. Thankfully plastering products have come a long way and all major manufacturers now offer base and cornice cement in various setting times such as 60 and 90 minute alternatives.
Cooler Days Impede Drying Time
However, these advances are now creating a few headaches for some plasterers during the cooler months where air is typically moister than in summer. Cooler days impede drying time, and a longer time between coats is essential. If you are finding that your call back ratio for rectification of joint setting in September and October is higher, consider how your subcontractors are applying their cement in the cooler winter months. Are they allowing enough time between coats?
It appeared flat at application – why are you still getting call backs?
Sometimes the defect is shrinkage off the joint or the paper tape coming through with small holes and edges (sometimes called x-raying of the paper tape) even though it may have appeared perfectly flat at application.
To resolve this problem, during winter plasterers should switch to a base coat with a shorter setting time such as a 45 minute product. The most important aspect however, is to allow adequate drying time between coats. Sometimes, one day is not going to be enough time to dry when you are using all purpose compounds relying on air drying.
Call backs affect your bottom line and your reputation
Stop the Spring call backs affecting your bottom line, look at how your company processes a housing project in winter and monitor how dry the coats are before applying another one. With a little bit of thought and better organisation, you can stop those frustrating joint setting call backs that plague us all every September.
