Matching solid plaster pattern

Can anyone recommend a solid plasterer who specialises in traditional solid plaster patterns or where I can find the tools to do the job?

The solid plaster at my investment property has suffered severe cracking due to the drought and poor drainage. I am in the process of getting the house underpinned and the plaster repaired. I had a solid plasterer quote on the job this week and he said that the pattern could not be matched because the tools are no longer available. The house was built in the 1940's. The texture is a swirly random pattern. I live in Melbourne.

Patten in solid plastering were created with all sort of implements including brooms, brushes, mops, trowels, hesian bags, bits of tin and many other things.

To replicate a patten would normally take a bit of ingenuity by the plasterer. a good tool can be cut out of the lid of a bucket to replicate a patten.

I can only sugggest trying many different solid plasterers until you get one that is also creative.

They are arround but you will need to cal many to find them!

Cheers Rod

Thanks Rod. I'll look through the yellow pages to try and find someone who specialises in restoration work.

I'd like to hear from anyone who can recommend someone who could do the work.

cheers, Anastasia

You could look at heritage bodies - usually local councils can point you at ones they defer/refer to, also check for reference books that may cover this style (and similar) plastering patterns/techniques. As a last resort, a heritage advocate or specialty architect could probably find someone for you.

The fob-off you got about "tools no longer available" is so frustrating! It usually translates as "I don't know how to do it", and covers all building trades. Hope that it's resolved satisfactorily.

The one caveat on older work, is that older houses on floating footings move appreciably more than newer ones on piered slabs. It means you pretty much have to expect a little imperfection here and there as the building settles and ages.

Regards, Adam.

Thanks for the advice Adam.

I phoned two solid plasterers I found in the yellow pages yesterday, and both sound like that they may have the expertise to do the job. They certainly have given me hope. One is coming to look at and quote on the job tomorrow.

What is so annoying about the solid plasterer that I spoke to initially is that he told be it couldn't be matched, and that I'd have to re plaster over the existing plaster with a different acrylic texture. I know now that this was really bad advice that possibly people have accepted from him in the past.

I am a first timer to this forum and I have been overwhelmed by the response.

Thank you and I'll keep you posted.

cheers Anastasia

Yes it is matter of improvising and trial and error to get the desired finish that closely resembles the existing.
There are plastering consultants you can call or plasterers can call.
One in Perth I called he would be over 60 maybe 70 years old and was around when they did this type of work. This is an option you can suggest to the plasterers you get to quote your work. Technical colleges where they take on apprentices for plastering will have knowledge also on the right procedures.
Unless all the old boys have retired but Im sure there are still some old boys around who will be all too willing to help out.
There is a man here in Perth and I have called him for second opinion and he talks for ages to me as Im a plasterer also and gives a little insight on how things were done in the early days.

I found a craftsman with over 40 years experience in solid plastering who can match the pattern. This is a relief!

Thanks for all your advice,

Anastasia