1 Before you begin to replaster a patch, use a hammer and bolster to cut straight lines round the area. This makes plastering much easier.

2 Scrape some of the mixed plaster from the spot board onto the hawk with the laying on trowel. Then trim off any excess plaster.

3 Hold the laying on trowel at an angle over the hawk and tilt the hawk slightly in order to snatch up a manageable amount of plaster.

4 Hold the trowel against the wall surface, keeping its upper edge tilted backwards at an angle of about 30°. Draw it upwards over the patch.

5 Apply further undercoat plaster until the patch is filled in and the new plaster is level with the old surrounding plasterwork.

6 Take a straight edged length of wood that is a little longer than the patch and draw it upwards to make the plaster flush with the edges.

7 Use the laying on trowel to trim away any excess undercoat plaster around the edges of the patch and on the surrounding wall area.

8 To make room for the final coat of plaster, run over the surface of the undercoat using the skimming float to flatten and cut it back.

9 Draw the straight edge across the patch once more to check that the undercoat surface is level and lower than the surrounding plaster.

10 Run the scratcher lightly across the undercoat surface to form ridges. This keys the surface, ensuring that the finishing plaster adheres.

11 Mix up the finishing plaster and apply it to the patch using the laying on trowel. Use firm pressure and upward strokes.

12 As the finishing plaster begins to set, dampen it slightly with the distemper brush. Take care not to use too much water at this point.