Hanging Acoustical Baffles which are fitted to the ceilings or walls

Hanging Acoustical Baffles
Hanging Acoustical Baffles which are fitted to the ceilings or walls are meant to reduce the level of sound which is airborne. Sound Baffles serve as an essential tool for noise reduction, noise pollution, and also for noise reverberation. This is due to the reason that both the sides of the baffle are open to the space. Therefore they can absorb sound from all sides. The baffles are mounted with hanging system and can be suspended either horizontally or vertically from the ceiling. Acoustic Baffles are suited for ceilings where heating systems and light fittings should not get blocked.
Types of Hanging Acoustical Baffles
Echo Eliminators are Hanging Acoustical Baffles for eliminating echo and are made from Bonded Acoustical Cotton (B.A.C.). It can be recycled and does not contain fiberglass. They are durable, cost effective, lightweight, efficient and multi-purpose. There are about ten colors to choose from.
Fabric Wrapped Acoustical Baffles are wrapped with fabrics. Hardside baffles are made from two panels of fiberglass board having edges and faces covered with a fabric or vinyl finish. They are lightweight and have different shapes like round, square, pencil edge, and bevel, available in dimensions up to 4 ft. x 10 ft. They are mounted with D-rings and come with a wide range of colors.
Polywrap Baffles are made from Polyethylene which is heat-sealed having Fiberglass fill. They are available in standard black and white colors.
Sanitary Acoustic Baffles have the core encapsulated in reinforced mylar film. The white face helps to improve illumination by reflecting light. It is temperature and weather resistant. Sanitary Acoustic Baffles are ideal for industries where weather resistant and cleanable surfaces are required, places needing high sound reduction, and other environments requiring really clean surroundings. They are generally white in color.
Sailcloth and Vinyl Encapsulated Acoustical Baffles have fiberglass core with Sailcloth or Polyvinyl Chloride Film outside. They are available in PVC film of 9 colors.
Whisperwave Melamine Baffles are made from melamine foam. They can be installed with corkscrew hangers if it is in the field or with ceiling mounted cable or on wall to wall cable. It is also possible to align them parallel or every alternate baffle can be rotated to 90 degrees. Whisperwave Baffles are available as natural white and grey but also can be got as painted or coated.
Hanging Acoustic Baffle Accessories
Wall and ceiling construction assemblies vary significantly. The following are the general tools needed. Crimping Tools, Wire Rope Cables and Crimps, Eye Bolts and Mounting Plates, Hollow Wall Toggle Bolts, Cable Ratchet Stretchers, Tool for Tee-Bar Mounting Clips, Turnbuckles and Tee-Bar Mounting Clips
Applications of Hanging Acoustic Baffles
Hanging Acoustic Baffles are recommended for Ceiling Baffles for absorbing echo, sound and noise reduction in manufacturing and industrial facilities, warehouses, gymnasiums, auditoriums, offices, call centers, entertainment facilities, computer rooms, gun ranges, band rooms and studios.

Gypsum Ceiling Tiles in interior designing and decoration

Gypsum Ceiling Tiles
Gypsum ceiling tiles are made from gypsum which is a mineral. It is extracted from sedimentary rocks which are found all over the world. Gypsum has been known to be used by mankind from the days of the pyramids of Egypt. Gypsum boards or panels are also known as drywall (other names are plasterboard and wallboard). It is a panel or board made from gypsum plaster which is compressed between a pair of sheets of thick paper. Gypsum panels are used to line interior ceilings and walls. Gypsum tile became popular in construction business as a replacement for traditional plaster and lath.
Gypsum Ceiling Tiles Applications
Nowadays gypsum is used to make ceiling tiles, wallboard, and other plaster products for commercial as well as residential buildings. Gypsum ceiling tiles being smaller are suitable to be used in suspension ceilings or in other words, suspended ceilings. Since the time gypsum products came into the market gypsum ceiling tiles, are an alternative to home owners for replacement of an old existing product. Homeowners can now cheaply and quickly replace their old interior tiles. It has also become common now to use gypsum tiles for ceilings and walls in newly built buildings and homes. .
Gypsum Ceiling Tiles Installation and Finishing
Gypsum Ceiling tiles are fitted to a system of grid work which are hung from the ceiling with the help of wires or strings. Suspended ceilings also known as false ceilings are very commonly used in commercial and office buildings. Gypsum ceiling tiles are available in different designs to give varying acoustical qualities. They have good aesthetic look and different acoustical and aesthetic qualities. They can also be had in several varieties. The installation of the tiles is easy, but for installing the suspended system of tiles it is better to employ professional installers. The joints, where two tiles meet, are filled with a special a compound and then a drywall tape is used to cover it. To conceal the joint the tape is coated several times. To even out unevenness sand paper is used to make the surface smooth and then a primer is applied as a base for final painting.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The main advantages of gypsum ceiling tiles over other types of ceiling tiles are that they are comparatively easy to install and also they are cheaper. Though it is recommended that only qualified and skillful professional should be employed for installation gypsum ceiling tiles, it is possible for homeowners to install and finish the tiles themselves (but not the ceiling grid work needed for mounting the tiles). The disadvantages to having gypsum ceilings tiles are that its sound absorption qualities are not quite good. Therefore when soundproofing is important the customer may prefer other types of ceiling tiles. Also, gypsum tiles are not waterproof. For damp spaces like bathrooms or basements where moisture content is high, the gypsum ceiling tiles must be treated with moisture resistant chemical.

Guaranteed Office Noise Control through Soundproofing Materials

Guaranteed Office Noise Control through Soundproofing Materials

Any sound that is unwanted is perceived as a noise. When there is an excessive amount of unwanted sounds there can be destructive effects, which are presently known as noise pollution. There are three categories of adverse noise effects, psychological, physiological, and communicational. Noise pollution is a difficult problem and a disturbing fact showed by surveys is that continually noise levels are rising in cities. There are two ways of sound transmission inside buildings. Firstly, the sound originating from mechanical noise or human activity within the building travels airborne through ceiling, walls, or floor. Human activity sounds include amplified systems or loud voice. Sound produced by generators, elevators, air conditioning systems and so on is mechanical noise. Secondly, the transmission of interior sound is not through air, but through the building itself. It is easier to reduce the former than the latter through ceiling or wall assemblies meeting particular established performance standards.

Importance of Soundproofing in an Office

According to statistics, millions of office staff gets exposed to noise and hence they undergo all the risks that come along. Accidents and work-related stress which occur due to masked warning signals are just two of them. For the employees noise indicates a safety issue and also a productivity issue. For working, the office must be a calm place and in an office having good acoustics employees can concentrate and not be distracted. Soundproofing is the reduction in the intensity of sounds. It can be achieved in various ways. Between the source and the receiver the distance may be increased, using sound baffles as damping structures, blocking or absorption of sound energy using noise barriers, or activation of anti-noise generators. There are two ways in which soundproofing can affect noise. It can be either reduced or absorbed. Noise reduction indicates usage of intervening objects to block the sound wave passage. The suppression of echoes and reverberation pertains to the absorption of noise.

Soundproofing Materials

There can be many acoustic challenges in an office environment. If the office sound levels affect productivity and efficiency, the good news is that solutions of controlling office noise are there. Many soundproofing materials are there which improve the quality of sound inside the room and sound transfer from one room to another is eliminated. For a quiet environment office noise control is needed where in their work employees can concentrate and be efficient. An important part is played by soundproofing materials in office noise control due to the failure of other methods to show efficiency. Soundproofing materials are not only a useful barrier in blocking noise, but their appearance is also excellent. Your place of work gets an aesthetical touch using soundproofing materials which are fire rated.

Flanking Transmission Acoustical engineers use the term flanking transmission

Flanking Transmission

Acoustical engineers use the term flanking transmission wherein the passage of sound is around, under, or over the top of the primary partition that separates two spaces. In residential buildings that have multiple families flanking sound transmission can be particularly troublesome. For guarding against flanking transmission the best time is during the design and construction phase of the dwelling. Just defining a high performance wall between close by dwelling spaces does not guarantee privacy and sound isolation upon occupancy. Acoustical Surfaces, India offer noise control consultations for pre-construction and also post-construction besides supplying all of the products required for achieving demanded sound insulation.

Sound Isolation

Those who buy condominiums, town houses, and other multi-family residences must not stop from asking questions regarding the characteristics of sound isolation of their new residence. Besides, their proposed residence must be inspected during the phase of construction for ensuring that the workmanship quality is in agreement with good noise control procedures. After all, a new home is one among the most costly investments in a lifetime a person or couple will make. Ask the builder or architect what steps have been taken for insuring sound privacy from your future neighbours or noise from outside the building intruding. It should not be assumed that simply because the architect has given the specification of high performance windows, walls, and floor/ceiling assemblies the workmanship and materials will result in agreement with the results anticipated. Ultimately isolating sound in your home may be dependant on the workman who installs the materials on the job who may know less or nothing about basic noise control techniques unless the right direction and supervision is given to him.

Building Codes

There are minimum standards for controlling noise between occupied residential units for most building codes. Upon completing the building it may be needed that the building inspection department issues a certificate of occupancy, which means that the minimum building code standards are met by the building including sound isolation. Many building inspectors are not familiar with techniques of noise control and their inspection departments do not impose the necessity for validation. By contacting Acoustical Surfaces, India in advance a bit of prevention can be done and can save expense and grief later on.

Typical Flanking Sound Transmission Pathways Can Include

1. Ceilings – Above and Through the Ceiling Space
2. Windows
3. Floors – Through Floor and Floor Joist Space
4. Fixtures & Outlets – Telephone Outlets, Light Switches, and Recessed Lighting Fixtures
5. Structural Joints – Through Wall and Ceiling Junctures, Perimeter Joints at Wall and Floor
6. Shared Structural Building Components – Floor Boards, Continuous Drywall Partitions, Floor Joists, Cement Block Walls, and Continuous Concrete Floors,
7. Around the End of the Partition Through the Adjacent Wall
8. Plumbing Chases – Junctures between the Walls and at the Exterior Wall Juncture or Floor Slab Above

Can Your Class Hear You? People go to the gym for attending group fitness classes

Fitness Acoustics: Can Your Class Hear You?

People go to the gym for attending group fitness classes like yoga, spin cycling, CrossFit, and other activities that are health-oriented. For any successful workout or class it is of course an important factor to listen to the instructor. Unfortunately, many fitness spaces and gyms are extremely reverberant, which makes it difficult – at times even impossible – to clearly hear the teacher.

Hard flat surfaces, found usually in fitness centers, rather than absorbing or diffusing sound reflect it, and these strong untreated reflections produce reverberation and echo, which creates sound interference that is destructive. A student who sits in the last row of a large classroom that is hard surfaced will find it very difficult to understand accurately what the professor is saying in the front of the room, even in a relatively quiet room. The same applies to fitness spaces.

Reducing the Negative Impacts of Noise

While there are unique qualities in every fitness space, all of them face the same bothersome issues of sound if the flat-surface ceilings and walls are left untreated. Yoga studios must be echo-free and peaceful, spin participants must be able to listen to their instructors over the “self-noise” of the cycles and the music, and there should not be any distractions for boxers such as stereo systems and clanking weights.
If an untreated space is left, all the unwanted reverberations in sound will create sound “masking” which decreases speech intelligibility greatly.

For reducing reverberation in your fitness class and enabling crisp, clear sound, some absorption solutions are as follows:
1. Echo Eliminator – This eco-friendly solution which is unique is very common among gym spaces due to its low cost. The recycled cotton material that is of light weight can be mounted as hanging baffles or wall panels to lessen echoes and reverberation.
2. PVC Baffles – The popularity of hanging baffles is for their durability, reasonable cost, and wide color variety, and different types of ceiling structures like beams and girders can be used for hanging it.
3. WallMate – Obtainable in a wide range of fabric colors and styles. The design of these wall systems that are decor-friendly is easy to install for any commercial contractor.
4. PEPP – These acoustic panels are made of porous expanded polypropylene (PEPP). They are water, impact, fungi, and bacteria resistant, and can also be very easily installed and are cost-effective.
5. Fabric-wrapped-panels – These panels are absorbent, versatile over a wide range of frequencies, and obtainable in varied colors and sizes, and look great in upscale environments.

The products of Acoustical Surfaces, India have rectified problems across a wide variety of gymnasiums, exercise rooms, and home fitness centers. Their acoustical products will help your class instructors to communicate more effectively and motivate their attendees.

Interior Construction Fit Outs in interior desiging

Interior Construction Fit Outs

The term interior construction fit outs used with reference to a building construction describes the different activities and processes involved in making the premises fit for occupation for the purpose for which it was designed. In this context it may refer to the development of office buildings wherein the developer hands over the premises after the basic and it becomes the responsibility of the occupant to complete the interiors and other related works. The premises concerned will generally be taken on lease by the occupant from the developer or the owner as the case may be.

Getting the building ready for Fit Outs

The interior construction fit outs details will depend upon at what stage the building is at the time of handing over by the developer to the occupant and the specifications for the fit out will also depend upon the requirements of the occupant. Normally the developer would have completed the structure, the cladding, common areas, and external works like roads, lighting, pavements, fencing, outer walls, drainage systems, landscaping, mechanical, and electrical systems to plant rooms, including transformers, water supply etc. Air circulation and air conditioning plants would have been installed.

Main Fit Out

In this category, all those items of interior construction fit outs in the allotted space of the occupant completed by the developer and the level to which it is done are considered. Though this cannot be defined clearly, the following are some examples:
False ceilings supported from roof, and floors at raised levels.
Installation of electrical and mechanical equipment.
Finishing of interior surfaces like walls, doors windows and blinds.

Secondary fit out

This is the last stage of internal fit out as per the occupant’s requirements. The final finishes to the office spaces are carried out. Conference rooms, board rooms, and other special facilities are set up. This will also include special lighting facilities, audio visual equipments, computer cubicles, office cabins, reception lounge, furniture installation, canteen, and kitchen areas.

Suggestions

Some of the fit outs may have to be done in coordination with the developer even before handing over in order to avoid waste of time and money. Examples are main reception, staircases, lobbies, lift shafts, toilets, basements, car parking, loading bays, and so on. Some occupants may have very complex fit out requirements which may affect the main fit out. Even if it means that some money has to be spent at this stage it will go a long way in saving wasted time and money to be spent at a later stage for modifying work already done earlier. So a detailed discussion between the developer and the occupant will help to sort out issues pertaining to interior construction fit outs.

Fiber Cement Board Siding
Fiber cement board siding is a building material used for covering the outside of a building in both domestic and commercial applications. Fiber cement is a composite material made of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. It has a wide range of styles and colors resembling conventional siding materials mainly cedar shingles, stucco, and wood clapboards. The cost of fiber cement siding is little more than vinyl siding but less than stucco. It lasts longer than its competitors by decades because it withstands many common hazards, including wind, fire, rain, and insects. Fiber cement board siding can be used in all climates, but is ideal for hot, humid regions. Regardless of its wetness it won’t rot. Because it is made up sand and cement it’s resistant to termites. Due to its durability fiber cement siding reduces maintenance costs and it’s unlikely to end up in landfills in comparison to conventional siding. It is an inert material that, if finally sent to a landfill, should not cause danger to the environment.
Benefits of Fiber Cement Board Siding
1. The Design Versatility. While purchasing fiber cement sidings you can choose from many different textures. Color matching can also be done if you want. Besides its appearance, it is available is different sizes and shapes.
2. Dimensional Tolerances and Stability. You can rely on the quality of the products and dimensional stability. Its fire rating is class A and the texture and color does not fade or warp.
3. Warranty benefits. The paint of Fiber cement sidings remains fresh in an average expectation of 7 to 15 years.
4. Painting. Before the purchase fiber cement sidings are usually primed in the factory. After installation the fiber siding is then protected from moisture entering it with finally coating it with exterior paint.
5. Installed Cost. The installation cost of fiber sidings is lesser than installation for cedar, natural stone, hardboard siding, and wood siding.
Usage of Fiber Cement Board Siding
Fiber cement board siding is mostly made of overlapping horizontal boards imitating clapboard, wooden siding, and imitation shingles. It is also made in a sheet form and not only used as cladding but also usually used as a softit / eave lining and is placed under tiles in bathrooms and on decks. Not only can fiber cement board siding be used as an outside siding, it also can be used instead of bargeboards and timber fascias in high fire areas.
Tips for better Fiber Cement Siding Installation
Follow the instructions of your fiber cement manufacturer, prepare the wall surface properly before installing fiber cement board siding, use the recommended materials and tools, for leveling the wall use a siding insulation product and align each fiber cement board siding panel, and apply any finishing materials.

Mass Loaded Vinyl Barrier
Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Barrier is heavy, yet flexible, and thin making it a perfect soundproofing material for particular kinds of applications. MLV is a flexible product that is heavy in weight and it prevents sound from entering. For most modern products the weight is due to calcium silicate, although barium sulfate is also still in use. MLV is a limp-mass material used for blocking unwanted noise and reducing sound transmission without reduction in space. It is made of non-reinforced vinyl at high temperature with no lead fillers. This material has a weight equivalent to lead, yet is safe and can be cut easily with a utility knife. Initially MLV was developed as a non-toxic option to lead lined materials. In industrial settings they prevent sound. Then through marketing other possible uses for the material were found. Presently there are many products sold under the MLV name.
Advantages of Mass Loaded Vinyl Barrier
Mass Loaded Vinyl Barrier controls noise, reduces sound transmission, improves communications, and improves health and safety. When you need to effectively control noise and sound transmission, Mass Loaded Vinyl Noise Barrier can be used to build soundproof and noise barriers walls. MLV is mainly used for soundproofing applications due to its thinness and flexibility. It can be screwed, stapled, nailed, or hung (using grommets and reinforcement). A 1/8 inch thick MLV sheet has a weight of about 1 pound per square foot. It’s twice more than the mass of a drywall of equal thickness. For your soundproofing project if space is important, MLV offers a solution. For soundproofing mass, drywall is the classic source. It comes in rigid panels. In contrast MLV is useful in situations where a flexible sound barrier is needed such as a wrapper around pipes.
Applications of Mass Loaded Vinyl Barrier
The applications of Mass Loaded Vinyl Barrier are to create a sound screen around noisy machinery, turn dish washers into stealth washers, block vibrations in vehicles and road noise, improve sound and increase bass in your car, making HVAC ductwork and pipes soundproof, eliminate leakage of noise around windows and doors in a home studio, and add a sound deadening layer above suspended ceilings.
Choices of Mass Loaded Vinyl Barrier
In purchasing mass loaded vinyl, you have to mainly decide what thickness you want. The commonly used thicknesses are 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch. Sheets of 1/16 inch are also available. The thickness you choose will be dependent on your soundproofing requirements, space limitations, and your budget. A variety of additional options are offered by few MLV suppliers like color selection, peel-and-stick adhesive backing, addition of a foam layer, and enhanced flexibility. Many suppliers offer generic MLV which is cheaper than the name-brand products, and still providing the main elements making mass loaded vinyl barrier a good choice for the right applications.

Raised access flooring accessories are part of a raised access flooring

Different Types of Accessories for Raised Access Flooring

Raised access flooring accessories are part of a raised access flooring which is a structural floor built above a substrate like concrete slab to create a hidden space below the floor for accommodating cables, ducts etc. of electrical and mechanical and services. They are commonly used in new office buildings, computer rooms, IT data centers, command centers, and wherever electrical supply mechanical services, cables, wiring etc. have to be routed. Some of the accessories associated with raised access flooring are described below.

Power, Voice, and Data Box

This is a frame made of galvanized steel of a high grade, 2 mm thick, and has a very strong lid. The box is empty when supplied ready for receiving on-site installation of the designed outlets or pre-wired for custom-made telecommunication, voice/data or electrical parts as per requirement.

Air Diffuser

The Air Diffuser is an important part of raised access flooring accessories and is made from high impact materials like polycarbonate complying with state standards for flammability. The air diffuser is of low velocity for use in an access floor system. It uses the floor space below as a pressurized air supply plenum. The turbine of the diffuser produces an airflow with helical flow pattern of discharge. This produces conditioned air resulting in comfortable flow conditions for humans. The climate within the office area can be controlled by a damper from the floor above easily. Diffusers come in colors of black, brown and grey. Depending upon the quantity ordered, other colors may be available. Diffusers are mounted onto the floor panel with three clams. Clamps are fastened from the top without removal of the access floor panel.

Grommets and Trims

Grommets and trims are the next products of raised access flooring accessories. They are meant for permitting connection of electronic parts via neat and pleasing openings. The grommet face plate slides to facilitate adjustment of cable. Grommets can be purchased rectangular and round shapes. Round grommets are 3”, 4” and 5” in diameters. Rectangular grommets come in sizes as square of 4” x 4” and rectangle 4”x 8”.

Seismic Braces

For projects in areas with high seismic risk, the raised floor pedestals have to be supported by seismic braces to provide lateral stability to the floors. Braces may have one to four legs. Braces not only provide stability to the floors but also prevent damages to other equipment in the building.

Lifting Devices, Cable Trays and Hand Rails

Lifting devices are also, raised access flooring accessories like double suction cups and panel lifters and are necessary for installation and alteration work. Cable tray system is meant for cable management in access flooring system. The tray design permits free airflow inside. Handrail System are necessary for providing hand support grip and safety while climbing up the floor or walking along the floor. It may be made of anodized aluminum with extruded railing. The system should meet safety standards and regulations.

Raised access flooring accessories contribute to the safety, maintenance and comfort of employees and work environment.

Are Noise Control Products a Solution for Background Noise in Schools?

Are Noise Control Products a Solution for Background Noise in Schools?

If you consider the amount of time being spent by us in school since childhood, which may be between 11 to 20 years, and the level of educational qualifications we hope to earn, the conditions under which we achieve it, that too happily, is really surprising. The design of the classes and the supporting areas are so bad that many of us do not realize what we are missing. It has been time and again proved that the impact of poor acoustics in classrooms has a negative effect in the development of the students. For full grasping of the subjects that are being taught, a child needs proper classroom acoustics and low background noise. This must be ensured in all schools.

Sources of Noise

To many people, acoustic noise may mean unusually loud volume of sound. Actually any sound that disturbs a peaceful environment, for example music played at high volumes by your neighbors, or the sound created by an overflying aircraft can be termed noisy. For that matter even a conversation between people may appear to be noisy to someone who is not a participant in that discussion. The point is that if such noises deprive some other people of receiving certain messages that are being conveyed to them then it is really bad. Our classrooms are one example where we should install noise control measures with priority.

Background Noise

If background noise is allowed to get into the classes due to bad acoustics, the students are unable to pay proper attention to what is being taught and miss out many verbal instructions. The sources of such back ground noises can be from the outside the classes like playground or traffic or from inside like lunch room, hall way or even gym. Young children in their formative years are affected more in the sense that their reading and spelling skills are affected. First focus should be on schools which are in close proximity to sources of high noises like that of traffic or aircraft. Acoustic noise control of classrooms only can ensure intelligible instructions. There are several solutions to control background noise but it is not always in your control. The teachers cannot increase the volume of their voice for long periods. Drapes and carpeting cannot give the expected result. Sound absorbing materials may be a good solution in such situations.

Classroom Noise Control

Therefore, to improve teacher-student communication, which is important for increasing productivity in learning, the problem of reverberation and background noise should be tackled as far as possible. Classroom walls, ceilings and floors can be treated with sound absorption and noise control products. Today you can get products at good prices and are fire rated. They are cheaper because they are made from recycled materials. Also, they are strong and long lasting, water resistant, and can be easily assembled. They are non-corrosive, available in many colors, and are graffiti resistant.

The message is that your noise problems in school can be easily solved with noise control treatment. It will boost the quality of education significantly.

Plastering the walls with adhesives in interior designing and decoration

 

Lincrusta in  interior designing and decoration

This type of covering is stuck in place using an extremely strong adhesive in  interior designing and decoration and it is, therefore, difficult to remove. Use hot water and a scraper to ease the sheet from the wall, taking care not to pull away the plaster. Soak and then remove any remaining adhesive.

Cork wall tiles in  interior designing and decoration

Use a flexible scraper with force to lift away the Interior tiles, then soak the exposed adhesive with water or use a hot air stripper to soften the remaining adhesive in  interior designing and decoration.

Take care not to damage the wall plaster. Expanded polystyrene tiles Use a flexible scraper to ease the tiles away from the wall or ceiling, and then use a hot air stripper to soften the exposed adhesive before removing it with a flexible scraper or sharp shave hook. Be careful to protect your eyes, hands, Stripping ceilings Vinyl/easy strip Many vinyl papers are easy to strip in  interior designing and decoration since the top layer pulls away intact, leaving the backing paper stuck to the wall.

Loosen a corner of the vinyl at the foot, then pull the strip away, holding the vinyl out from the wall in  interior designing and decoration as you pull. Domestic steam strippers are perfectly safe to use because its water reservoir contains only cold water – the steam is produced at the face plate of the stripper.

Press the steam stripper against the paper using one hand and hold a scraper in the other. As the steam penetrates the paper, it will start to lift away from the plaster. Use your scraper to encourage this process. Get as close to the surface you are stripping as possible. Holding the steam stripper at arm’s length soon becomes very tiring. Repairing walls and ceilings once you have stripped and cleaned the walls and ceiling, you need to examine them for any defects, such as cracks and gaps in the plaster. Most such problems in  interior designing and decoration should have become evident during the preparation stages; some others, however, may not initially be obvious.

The most common of these is “blown” plaster, which occurs when patches of plaster lift away from the underlying wall. When wrapped with your knuckle, blown plaster has a distinctive hollow sound. Ideally, you should hack out this defective plaster and patch with fresh material. Although re-plastering an entire room is a major job – one that requires considerable skill and professional expertise – it is relatively easy to undertake minor repairs yourself. Filling a small crack o Start by raking out any loose material from the crack, using the corner of your filling knife. Now fill the crack by drawing your loaded filling knife across it, at right angles to the crack. Using a small paint- brush, wet the crack with water.

This stops the plaster from drying out the filler too quickly, causing it to crack or fall out. Fill the crack slightly proud of the surrounding plaster in  interior designing and decoration. Leave it to set and, when it is hard, sand it back flush using a medium grade of glass paper.