A couple of weeks ago we shared our hallway makeover and amazing new magnetic plaster wall with you.
We love how the space has turned out and our new magnetic wall is fantastic. We’ve received more than a few questions about the magnetic plaster so we thought we’d share everything we’ve learned so far and try to answer a few of the questions.
Does magnetic plaster really work?
Yes, it really does and it’s amazing!
I was sceptical when I first heard of it and didn’t quite know what to expect, but it really does allow you to stick magnets to it.
How much does it cost?
There’s no getting around it – it is expensive. A bag of magnetic plaster costs around £90 which compared to a bag of normal plaster (that costs around £5) is obviously a lot more. Having said that, it’s in not really comparable to normal plaster, so there’s probably not much point in comparing the price either.
Where can I buy magnetic plaster?
A lot of DIY stores stock magnetic plaster and you can of course also order it online.
Here are a few places that you can purchase the plaster. B&Q, Wickes & First4Magnets.
The kind guys over at First4Magnets have been kind enough to offer you lovely Little House On The Corner readers a 10% discount on their magnets and magnetic plaster. (Just enter the code LHOTC10 at checkout. The code is for single use and they only ship within the UK and Europe.)
How is magnetic plaster installed?
It’s installed in exactly the same way as normal multi finish plaster. The only difference is that it has to be applied slightly thicker (about 3mm). In our experience, it is really important that it’s applied thickly, as the thickness dramatically affects the performance! We have areas on our magnetic wall where the plaster has not been applied as thick as in other areas and the effectiveness of the magnetic wall is dramatically reduced (although it does still work).
What kind of magnets should I use?
The Rooms Made For You website recommends using neodymium magnets. We used these neodymium sheets to hang all of our frames. The magnetic sheets are really strong and can be cut really easily with a craft knife or scissors and the double sided back is really strong, too. It really couldn’t have been easier.
Where can I buy magnets?
We got our magnets from First4Magnets. As previously mentioned the kind guys over at First4Magnets are offering a 10% discount, so it’s well worth heading over. (see where can I buy magnets?)
What can you attach to the wall?
Anything you want! Being easily able to attach almost anything to the wall is what we love most about the wall as you can easily attach things that would otherwise be difficult to hang on a wall. We have our little fabric gecko that now wanders around the room – kind of like a real life one. He would have been almost impossible to attach otherwise.
Do the magnets leave marks?
Yes and no. The plaster itself is as solid as normal plaster and won’t dent unless you really hit it. Like anything else that you move along a wall, the magnets themselves can sometimes mark if they slide down the wall. Just placing the magnets on the wall doesn’t mark the wall. If your wall is going to get a lot of use, we would, however, recommend using a durable paint and not necessarily a colour that’s as light as the one we used.
Does the magnetic plaster attract metal?
No. The plaster acts like a ferrous plate. This means that you can stick magnets to it, but the wall itself isn’t magnetic.
Will you be safe if you’ve got fillings?
Yes! It really doesn’t matter if you have fillings, a metal plate in your hip or anything else metal in or on your body. The wall will only attract magnets.
Will my electrics/wifi/alarm be affected by the magnetic plaster?
No. It’s really just like using normal plaster and won’t change or influence your electrics, wifi or alarm system in any way.
Is it something in the plaster or is something behind it that makes it magnetic?
There’s nothing else on the wall, it’s really only the magnetic plaster that has to be applied. It’s like magic!
What can magnetic plaster be applied on?
Think of it as ‘normal’ plaster. Basically, if you can skim the surface with Multi Finish, you can skim it with magnetic plaster. You can find the technical details on the Rooms Made For You website. In our case, the magnetic plaster was applied over Artex.
Does it wear off after a while/ loose it magnetic ability?
No. Once it’s applied it stays the same for the lifetime it’s on the wall.
Do I have to paint it or can I leave it?
Really it’s up to you. The dried magnetic plaster has a lovely grey and concrete-y colour. Having said that it is very porous and dusty (like any other new plaster). If you brush along it with your clothes or touch it, it will leave a grey dust mark, so if you want to leave it, we’d definitely recommend sealing it.
How many magnets will I need to attach a picture frame/art/random things?
It really depends on what you want to attach, how heavy it is and how strong your magnets are. We tried a few different frames with different weights and different thicknesses of magnets.
Some magnets worked, some didn’t. It’s all a question of balancing the amount of magnet with the weight of what you want to hang. At the end of the day, the more magnetic surface you can apply the better. We also tried to hang some hooks for coats from the wall and thought that they’d be a perfect way to temporarily hang things from the wall, but although we purposely chose hooks with a fairly large surface area to apply the magnet to, it still wasn’t enough to hang a heavy coat or jacket from.
We really love the magnetic plaster wall and will definitely be using it again!
We’re here to help, so do let us know if you have any other questions!
I genuinely don’t get the point and am gobsmacked at the price! All for home improvements, but magnetic plaster is definitely not going to to fly off the shelves!