Plasterer Notes on iPhone: Mix Ratios, Coat Thickness & Historic Restoration Records
How plasterers use Nemos to document mix ratios, substrate assessments, coat thickness measurements, drying observations, and historic plaster match records.
Plasterwork combines chemistry, timing, and surface reading. A mix that worked perfectly on a Victorian townhouse interior may fail on a new drywall substrate. Drying times vary with humidity. Historic restoration requires matching original formulas that aren't documented anywhere. Nemos gives plasterers a field-ready place to capture project variables, mix records, and restoration research without leaving the scaffold.
Why Plasterers Need Structured Notes
Multi-coat plaster systems involve sequential decisions where each coat depends on the one beneath it. Scratch coat bond, brown coat flatness, and finish coat timing are all linked. If conditions changed between scratch and brown coat — weather, substrate moisture, suction rate — you need to know what changed and when.
Documenting these variables isn't bureaucratic overhead. It's how you reproduce good results and diagnose failures before the client arrives.
What to Capture in Nemos
Mix Ratios and Batch Records Log every batch mix that goes on the wall: - Plaster type (gypsum, lime putty, portland, hydraulic lime) - Sand type and grading - Ratio by volume or weight - Water volume and approximate temperature - Fiber or hair content for traditional work - Additives (retarders, accelerators, pozzolans)
When a finish comes out perfectly — right workability, right set time, right texture — that batch note is the recipe to repeat.
Substrate and Surface Assessment Before the first coat goes on, document the substrate: - Material type (brick, block, metal lath, drywall, existing plaster) - Porosity assessment (high suction, normal, low suction) - Surface preparation done (dampening, bonding agent applied, type) - Any problem areas (cracks, soft spots, contamination)
Substrate notes contextualize everything that happens after.
Coat Thickness Measurements Log scratch and brown coat thicknesses at representative points. Traditional three-coat work has specific thickness ranges for structural reasons. Documenting actual achieved thickness at each stage confirms the system is within specification and catches compression issues before finishing.
Drying and Curing Observations Record: - Date and time each coat was applied - Temperature and relative humidity at application - Estimated set time observed - Condition at next coat application (green, partially cured, fully cured)
These observations explain finish performance and help plan future work in similar conditions.
Historic Restoration Match Records For historic plaster restoration — matching existing color, texture, aggregate, and mix — document: - Sample taken (size, location, attached photo) - Analysis results (aggregate type, lime type, color pigments) - Trial mix attempts and outcomes - Final matched formula
This documentation is often required for listed building consent and historic preservation compliance.
Site Condition Log
Keep a running note per project that captures daily site conditions affecting plasterwork: ambient temperature, humidity readings, ventilation quality, heating present or absent. Over a multi-week project, this log explains why drying was faster on week 2 than week 3.
FAQ
Can I use Nemos offline on a jobsite? Yes. Nemos works fully offline and syncs to iCloud when connection is available. Useful on sites with poor signal.
How do I organize notes across multiple active projects? Create a note per project. Use clear title conventions — address or project name — so the list stays navigable. Tags can add status tracking (active, complete, defects-period).
Is there a way to track material costs in Nemos? Nemos is a notes app, not accounting software. Log material quantities and unit costs if you want a rough materials record, but use a spreadsheet or job costing app for formal billing.
How do I handle defects callbacks? If a finished wall develops a crack or delamination after handover, your mix and substrate notes from that project let you reconstruct what happened — useful for both diagnosis and warranty discussions.
Can I attach photos of surface conditions? Yes. Attach photos of substrate condition at intake, coat progression, and finished surface. Visual records are especially valuable for historic restoration work.
Why is Nemos better than a site diary notebook? Search. When a callback comes six months later on a project you've done a dozen since, you can find that project's notes — mix ratios, substrate assessment, coat dates — in under ten seconds.
Related Reading
- /blog/drywall-contractor-notes-iphone — interior surface documentation and measurement records
- /blog/insulation-contractor-notes-iphone — substrate condition and installation documentation
- /blog/stonemason-notes-iphone — mortar mix records and historic restoration notes
- /blog/safety-officer-notes-iphone — site safety and material hazard reference notes
Sources
- Lime plastering standards: The Lime Centre technical guidance and BRE digest series
- Historic plaster restoration: English Heritage Practical Building Conservation series — Plaster and Renders
Taha built Némos after years of losing screenshots and voice memos across a dozen apps. He writes about on-device AI, personal knowledge management, and building privacy-first tools for iPhone.
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