ᐅ Is sanding Q2 plaster yourself a viable option?

First of all: We are not interested in perfectly smooth walls. We will receive Q2-level plaster from the general contractor. From what we have seen at friends’ houses, Q2 plaster can look quite good.
We probably want to apply slightly textured or solid-color non-woven wallpapers. According to the construction manager, we should avoid using wallpapers that are too thin because they may visually emphasize any unevenness in the Q2 plaster. That makes sense.
I am now considering whether it would be worthwhile to buy a multi-sander and do some spot smoothing ourselves.

Is this a task that a beginner can learn to do, or is it better to avoid it?
Does anyone have a recommendation for a tool, in case we want to try it? We could start in the utility room, so there is little risk if it doesn’t work out.

This is commonly called a giraffe (due to the long handle). You can also rent one. And yes, depending on your skill level, you can do it yourself. Please make sure to prime the surface before wallpapering; this is almost even more important.

Of course, you can sand it. But in areas where it might only need painting, you should skim coat (removing any excess first is obvious).

If it’s not too bad and the imperfections are minor, I would first go over the excess with a trowel. A fleece wallpaper that maybe has foam on the back can hide a lot. It’s easiest to see in raking light.

Good luck
Gabriele

What kind of sanding sheets should I look for or buy for plaster?
I have a Bosch PMF 350 multitool. The sanding sheets I find only say "wood" or "metal." I haven’t found any that are suitable for plaster. Is it not possible to do this with the tool, or am I missing something?

You should avoid using your multitool.

For a clean, wave-free surface, the sanding pad should be as large as possible; otherwise, it is difficult to achieve an even wall. It’s better to borrow a drywall sander (known as a "giraffe" in some regions) than to try with a multitool.

That’s also why you won’t find suitable sandpaper.

Stefan001 schrieb:

You better not use your multitool for this.
For a smooth, wave-free surface, the sanding pad should be as large as possible, otherwise it’s difficult to level the wall properly. It’s better to borrow a drywall sander (sometimes called a pole sander or “giraffe”) than to try it with a multitool.
That’s also why you won’t find suitable sandpaper for it.

Thanks, I looked into it. I’m torn about buying a tool because you can get a decent Einhell sander for around €100, and renting one at Obi for 4 hours would already cost about €50. Since we have an entire house ahead of us, it might be worth purchasing.
However, we still don’t know if we will do the rest of the work ourselves or hire professionals. If we buy tools, then we will probably do more ourselves, of course.