Float and Set

The term float and set refer to the traditional style of plastering sometimes known as wet plastering. The system requires a wet undercoat plaster such as sand and cement or browning/bonding coat which trowelled onto the walls usually around 11mm thick. When the undercoat plaster has set to a semi firm state the skim coat is then applied.

The system is much more highly skilled than plasterboard and skim because it requires the wet coat to be screeded off level with a straight edge to a tolerance of 3mm (5mm) in the old days. It is much harder work also due to the amount of constant mixing required. It is generally messier. The advantages are it give much greater sound density than boards and it is an excellent insulator also.