Impossible to plaster concrete wall?

[kniv]

Shouldn't be impossible to plaster a concrete wall, but the challenge seems to be getting the plaster to adhere to the concrete's smooth surface. Online guides suggest fastening plaster mesh with nail plugs so that the mortar can adhere to the mesh. But damn, that's a lot of drilling for all those nail plugs...

Are there other methods I'm missing? Glue or primer to increase adhesion, or trying to roughen up the concrete surface before it has fully cured?

 

[anders07]

I used these https://www.fischersverige.se/sv-se/produkter/fasadplugg-spikplugg/spikplugg-n/spikplugg-n-s-d

I placed a plug approximately every 50 cm and nailed the mesh so there was a slight bulge of a few millimeters in the middle of each "square."

Drilling 6mm holes goes quickly if you have a decent machine and drill. I had two drills and switched after a few holes to prevent them from overheating.

 

[neo11]

It shouldn't be impossible to plaster a concrete wall, but the difficult part seems to be getting the plaster to adhere to the smooth surface of the concrete. Online guides suggest attaching plaster mesh with nail plugs, so that the compound can adhere to the plaster mesh. But damn, that's a lot of drilling for all those nail plugs...

Are there other methods I'm missing? Glue or primer to increase adhesion, or trying to roughen up the concrete's surface before it has fully cured?

Without pictures, you won't get good answers, so it's up to you.