Wall plastering strips

Wall plastering strips are also known as plastering strips or mortar strips. The most common material for these strips is  uPVC plastic, which is rust-resistant, temperature-stable, has high mechanical strength, and good impact resistance.

This product is used to "position" the plastering surface, creating corners and edges for the plastering.  Before plastering, the contractor will insert the trim into the wall to create a "guide" or "marker" . Then, they simply move the ruler along the edge of the trim – a simple operation that is less dependent on the worker's skill. 

Nowadays, contractors and architects often use plastic wall trim for projects such as houses, high-rise apartments, schools, hospitals, and public buildings.

Advantages of using plastic plastering strips

In the past, the process of plastering walls was usually done manually and heavily dependent on the skill of the worker. Therefore, the quality of the plastering was often not high and inconsistent (some areas looked good, others looked bad).

Currently, wall plastering strips are used as a replacement for manual methods, thanks to the following advantages:

• Increased accuracy: All plastering strips are factory-made, ensuring standard dimensions and high precision. Before plastering, simply attach (or secure) the strips to the rough brick wall. Then, use a trowel to smooth the plaster.
• Creating sharp details: The process of plastering corners, door frames, and recessed wall joints (grooves) is often difficult to do manually. Instead, the craftsman will attach plastic trim strips before plastering the wall to create sharp details.
• Mass production is possible: By dividing the work into two teams—one specializing in installing trim and another in plastering—the project progress can be significantly accelerated.

The function of plastic plastering strips in construction.

Using plaster strips offers several advantages, such as:

• Wall edges, beams, and columns will have a smooth plaster finish when using wall plastering strips.
• Using decorative trim strips on plastered walls will make details such as corners, edges, recessed moldings, water drainage strips, and gaps between plaster and other materials look sharper and more perfect.
• Using plastic plastering strips helps speed up construction and reduce labor costs.
• The plastering process after attaching the trim is less dependent on the worker's skill, minimizing errors.

Classification of wall plastering and rendering moldings.

Using all types of products will yield the best results for your plastering project. However, depending on your purpose and budget (even if it's not significant), you can use only a few specific types of plastering strips.

1. Wall plastering corner trim

This is the most common type of corner trim used for plastering walls. The product helps create sharp, clean edges and prevents chipping of columns and wall edges.

Plastic corner trim strips for plastering walls are usually made from uPVC material, which has the advantages of being durable, aesthetically pleasing, easy to install, and easy to maintain.

2. Recessed wall trim

Typically, the recessed wall joint is the most prone to defects. Poor workmanship can create uneven, winding lines that are susceptible to cracking. The best solution is to use recessed wall joint trim strips (wall joint seals).

This type of decorative wall trim offers a "breakthrough" in finishing quality. Using this trim creates a sharp, recessed line that is vastly superior to manual application.

3. Water shut-off clamp (water only)

Instead of using manually constructed raised water channels, people use water-stopping strips to create water stopping points at locations such as balconies, loggias, lintels, etc., preventing water from flowing back into the house.

The water-stopping strip will create a secure, recessed seam that won't break or fall off. In particular, the strip is made from high-quality plastic, resistant to weather changes, and suitable for exterior applications.

4. Material gap separating strip

Wall plastering strips are used to create recessed gaps or joints. They serve to separate the plaster from other materials such as wood, brick, or stone. This results in a refined and polished finished wall, preventing plaster from smearing onto the wood, brick, or stone.

Using plastic wall trim strips to separate gaps helps to simplify the use of traditional (classic) raised moldings. This contributes to creating a modern (minimalist) architectural style for the building.

5. Plastering strip

Plastering guide strips create straight and quick plastering markers on the wall. After attaching the strips to the wall surface, you simply apply plaster according to the pre-aligned markers.

Compared to using stone plastering markers, attaching plastic plastering strips will result in a more perfectly smooth surface. In particular, using these markers is faster and eliminates the need to remove them after plastering is complete.

6. Mortar sealing strips

This type of plaster trim is used to finish the plaster at the point where it intersects with other materials. It is commonly used to create recessed baseboards or to tile flush with the plaster.

Using mortar leveling strips will result in straight, clean plaster lines without mortar smudging, overcoming many of the drawbacks of conventional recessed baseboard tiling.

7. Corner plastering strip

Plastic corner plastering strips are used to create a flat plastering guide for recessed corners. In reality, plastering recessed corners is a difficult, time-consuming process that requires skilled workers. Using these strips to create a corner guide makes the job easier and saves much more time compared to doing it by hand.

This product is commonly used in areas such as: recessed corners where walls meet, recessed corners where walls meet ceilings, and recessed corners (inner corners) of architectural details finished with plaster.

How much do plastic plastering strips cost?

Besides plastic plastering strips, there are many other types of plastering strips made from metal. However, because Vietnam's weather changes year-round, people prefer to use plastic plastering strips to avoid shrinkage that could affect the quality of the wall.

The price of uPVC plastering trim strips ranges from 8,000 to 15,000 VND per meter, depending on the design and quality of the plastic. The strips are packaged in boxes of 50, each strip measuring 2.2 to 2.5 meters in length. The selling price is from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 VND per box , which is cheaper than buying them individually.

In reality, that's not the general price for all plastic wall trim products. Some cheaper types are made of lower-quality plastic. The trim strips are thin and easily warp during installation. You should consider this when choosing to buy these types of trim.

Incorporating trim strips into the design is the best way to utilize plaster trim strips.

To make using plaster moldings easier for your project, you should include the molding details from the very first stages of the project. There are two ways to do this:

• Method 1: Add the bracing specification to the project's "Spec " – the technical specification. The Spec clearly defines the types of materials to be used when submitting bids (or when inspecting incoming materials).
• Method 2: Add DWG details to the "typical architectural details" section in the design drawing set.

How to effectively use plastic plastering strips during the construction phase?

The method for installing plastic wall trim is quite simple. A worker only needs to watch a video or follow the instructions once to be able to do it.

The most efficient way to arrange a team of workers is as follows:

• For example, with a plastering team of 10 people, assign 1-2 workers to install all the trim strips before applying the plaster.
• Install the trim strips 1-2 days in advance (before plastering the walls) so that the mortar can dry and the strips can harden on the wall.

• Other workers just need to apply mortar and level the surface.

This is the optimal method that yields the highest wall plastering speed.

Note that the trim and plastering should be done correctly.

Mistakes in installing plastering strips can seriously affect the quality of the construction. To ensure the effective use of plastering strips, you need to pay attention to the following:

• The best time to install trim strips is before plastering and after the electrical and plumbing work is completed . Drilling or chiseling into the trim strip installation area, or drilling next to it, will cause the trim strip to vibrate and fall off.
• You should position the corner brackets in place using mortar . Do not use screws or nails as they will be difficult to install and align with the string. Nails or screws driven into the brackets can break them.
• The mortar used for attaching wall trim strips is mixed in a ratio of 3 parts cement to 1 part sand . Cement paste or plaster mortar shrinks significantly when dry, causing cracking. This can lead to inaccuracies in the finished trim strip edges.
• The mortar points for attaching the trim strips should be spaced only 20-30cm apart. However, ideally, the mortar should be applied in a continuous strip from top to bottom. Avoid applying excessive pressure when using a trowel to apply the mortar, as this may cause the trim strips to bend.
• When using recessed wall trim strips outdoors, it is mandatory to apply mortar to attach the trim strips in strips. The back of the trim strip must be completely sealed with mortar to prevent water from seeping through the wall.
• After attaching the trim, you must wait for the mortar to dry completely before proceeding with the finishing plaster. This is to prevent the trim from shifting when the ruler is used.
• Do not completely cover the edge of the trim with plaster. After plastering, gently wipe the tip of the trim with a damp cloth to remove excess plaster. This will also create a small gap near the edge of the trim. During the wall plastering process, the worker will fill this gap with plaster, flush with the edge of the trim.
• The trim is finished with a top coat of paint . This top coat helps the trim match the color of the walls and ceiling. For exterior trims, the paint protects them from the elements and creates a water-repellent film at the joints between the trim and the plastered wall.