Plastering and Pointing in Building Construction: Techniques, Purposes, and Differences

What Is Plastering?

Plastering is the practice of coating rough walls including irregular surfaces in the building or houses as well as other buildings with plastic material termed plaster. It also preserves the work of masonry.

To have a shiny, smooth, normal, clean as well as durable surface finish, and often even to enhance a presentation. To shield the soil from ambient effects by serving as a protective coating.

Cover up the workmanship that is faulty. In order to mask the faulty workmanship. To preserve the poor product including porous materials and joins developed in masonry work.

Therefore it provides a suitable foundation or floor for surface decoration by adding whitewashing, sweeping, painting, and distempering. Throughout the situation of internal plastering, the primary purpose is to shield the surfaces from dust as well as vermin contamination.

Mortar used during plastering can be a lime mortar, cement mortar, or lime mortar. Lime mortar provided should also have fat lime to a sand proportion of 1:3 either 1:4. When hydraulic lime is being used, the ratio of the mixture (lime: sand) is 1:2.

Cement mortar of 1: 4 either 1: 6 is quite widely included in plastering, the richer mixture being used for outside walls. To match the expense of lime mortar with the high consistency of cement mortar those using lime-cement mortar of 1: 1: 6 or 1: 1: 8 or 1: 2: 8.

The purpose of plastering is provided below:

To hide faulty workmanship.
To offer a smooth surface to prevent dust.
To give a good glance.
To Cover the wall from rainwater as well as other environmental entities.
To shield the surfaces from the permit.

The Requirement of good plaster is provided here :

It will stick comfortably to the context.
It is meant to be hard and robust.
It Prevents the moisture infiltration
It is ought to be cheap.

The Lime mortar is typically used in Three layers, whereas the cement mortar is used in 2 to 3 layers for brick or stone masonry. The Cement mortar can be presented in two or several coats for concrete surfaces. Many times only one coat of cement mortar is added to concrete building blocks.

Its first coating offers the means to have a level floor. This final coating offers a shiny finish. When triple paints are being used, the second coat is classified as a floating coat. The total thickness of its first coating is between 10 and 15 mm.

The thickness of the middle coat is 6 to 8 mm. That final coating is only 2 to 3 mm deep. When a single coating is being used, the thickness of the coat shall be somewhere 6 and 12 mm. These coats shall be used against the asphalt surfaces that are never subjected to rain.

What Is Pointing?

Pointing is the practice of completing mortar joints in exposed brick or stone masonry via an appropriate cement either lime mortar. In order to better protect its joints again from the environment but also to enhance the appearance of the building structure.

It must be remembered that the mortar joints are all just vulnerable points in the system and thus should be properly prepared from its collapsing impact of rainwater. Sunrays as well as snowfall, which are inexpensive, can be taken in areas with low rainfall.

Rather than plastering the whole portion of the masonry, a specific mortar coating task is undertaken on the uncovered joints. It is named pointing. It comprises of raking the joints to either a thickness of 10 mm to 20 mm as well as loading them with the richest mortar mixtures.

For terms of lime mortar pointing, the mixture utilized it is 1: 2 and that in the cases of cement mortar pointing mixture utilized it is 1 : 3.

Pointing is best suitable for stone masonry since stones have appealing colors as well as strong resistance to water penetration. Pointing brings excellence to the weakest component of masonry that joints and then contributes to the artistic perception of masonry.

Scope of Pointing:

Pointing preserves the structure joints.
It is inexpensive and better suited to low rainfall areas.
The inherent elegance of the substance must be seen.
It provides resistance to bricks and stones that are being used for building in climatic conditions.

Advantages of Pointing:

It Increases the overall visibility of the structure.
It eliminates the need for further maintenance or recovery work.
It also prevents the walls of the building from adverse weather conditions.
It also Enhances the structural integrity of the house.

Disadvantages of Pointing:

The Moist brickwork freezes in winter and then decaying.
It Breaking bricks or stones are the beginning to surface.
Pointing is blamed for the awful damage to the walls.

Difference Between Plastering and Pointing:

Sr.No.	Plastering	Pointing
1.	It is extended to the whole surface.	It is mostly supported at open joints.
2.	Plaster should be added to all the surfaces of the brick.	Pointing could only be achieved on the first-class brick surface.
3.	It also covers up the faulty workmanship of the masonry building.	It is being used to reveal the elegance of very well masonry work.
4.	Many materials are required for this.	Only Limited material is required
5.	Plaster is placed both the inside as well as the outside	It should be Completed from the outside only.
6.	It helps to protect the entire surface from its environmental impact.	It preserves the brick mortar used for the bonding of bricks.
7.	Multiple coating can be used.	It Only adds a single coat.
8.	It offers a seamless as well as even normal surface.	Does not have an even, flat, or regular surface.
9.	The type of plaster used here is lime, mortar, mud plaster, waterproof plaster including plaster of paris.	The type of point used here is bent, either pointing, flush pointing, as well as V pointing.
10.	It demands a comparatively leaner mixture	Need a relatively richer mixture.
11.	It is expensive because more mortar is required.	The economic need as a mortar is smaller.
12.	In the case of interior quality brick masonry work, it is also important to mask the uneven distribution of surface patches respectively.	Used whenever artistic elegance is desired more often than not in the context of stonework.
13.	It offers a foundation or ground surface for whitewashing respectively.	That does not have a foundation or ground surface for whitewashing respectively.
14.	It has Long – lasting life cycle	It has less durable life cycle

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) that could be included in your article about plastering and pointing:

What is plastering in construction?

Plastering involves applying a smooth, durable coating of plaster onto rough surfaces of walls and other structures to achieve a clean finish and provide protection.

What materials are used in plastering?

Plastering materials can include lime mortar, cement mortar, and mixes like lime-cement mortar or plaster of paris, depending on the desired finish and structural requirements.

What is the purpose of plastering?

Plastering serves multiple purposes, including covering faulty workmanship, providing a smooth surface for finishing touches like painting, and protecting against environmental factors such as dust and moisture.

How many layers are typically used in plastering?

Plastering often involves multiple layers: a base coat to level the surface, a second coat for strength and durability, and a final coat for a smooth, decorative finish.

What is pointing in masonry?

Pointing refers to the process of filling and finishing mortar joints between bricks or stones in masonry work. It enhances the appearance of the structure and protects joints from weather damage.

What materials are used for pointing?

Pointing can use lime mortar for its flexibility and compatibility with older structures, or cement mortar for its strength and durability in modern construction.

What are the advantages of pointing?

Pointing enhances the structural integrity of masonry by protecting joints from weathering, improves the aesthetic appeal of the building, and reduces maintenance needs over time.

How does plastering differ from pointing?

Plastering covers entire surfaces to provide a smooth finish and protection, while pointing specifically addresses mortar joints between bricks or stones to improve aesthetics and durability in exposed areas.

Which type of construction projects benefit most from plastering and pointing?

Plastering is essential in both interior and exterior walls of buildings to provide a finished look and protect surfaces, while pointing is particularly beneficial for exposed masonry structures where joint protection is critical.

What considerations should be made when choosing between plastering and pointing?

Factors such as the type of building material, environmental exposure, desired aesthetic, and budget will influence whether plastering or pointing—or both—are suitable for a construction project.