In plastering, what is a 'wet edge'?

In plastering, what is a 'wet edge'?

• A. The surface kept damp during finishing to prevent dry edges
• B. A device for measuring moisture
• C. The brand of cement
• D. The edge of the plasterboard

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is keeping the edge of the plastered surface damp as you finish. A wet edge means the edge stays moist while you work, so the new plaster bonds smoothly with the already worked area and doesn’t dry out into a hard, visible line. This moisture helps maintain tack and a uniform glide for the trowel, preventing dry edges that can cause lap marks, roughness, or cracking and yielding a smoother, more even finish. In practice, you maintain a small margin of moisture along the edge as you strike and shape, so the finish remains cohesive rather than drying too quickly. That concept isn’t about a moisture-measuring device, a brand of cement, or the edge of plasterboard. A moisture meter would measure dryness, a cement brand isn’t what defines a wet edge, and the edge of plasterboard is just the boundary of the panel, not the finishing technique.

The main idea being tested is keeping the edge of the plastered surface damp as you finish. A wet edge means the edge stays moist while you work, so the new plaster bonds smoothly with the already worked area and doesn’t dry out into a hard, visible line. This moisture helps maintain tack and a uniform glide for the trowel, preventing dry edges that can cause lap marks, roughness, or cracking and yielding a smoother, more even finish. In practice, you maintain a small margin of moisture along the edge as you strike and shape, so the finish remains cohesive rather than drying too quickly.

That concept isn’t about a moisture-measuring device, a brand of cement, or the edge of plasterboard. A moisture meter would measure dryness, a cement brand isn’t what defines a wet edge, and the edge of plasterboard is just the boundary of the panel, not the finishing technique.