Plasterer - Tradesman or Artist?
A plasterer is a person who works with plaster. The plasterer will use plaster to enhance a surface to achieve a variety of effects. Typically the affects are decorative, though plaster has a wide variety of uses. As someone who works with plaster, you will be working with gypsum, acrylics and even cement mixes. You will be creating surfaces that are both plain and decorative and the goal is to make them resistant to sound, weather and fire.
The job is physically demanding and can require up to four years’ worth of training either through an apprenticeship or through on the job training. On the job training is often preferred because it will give you more “hands on” training than a formal apprenticeship.
During their work day a plasterer will use power tools, hand tools, brushes, floats, straight edges, plaster mixing machines and deal with piston pumps. They will use math and will read blueprints and mechanical drawings. Sometimes they will even create the blueprints and the mechanical drawings. The job is physically demanding as it can involve plastering surfaces that are very high up and might involve reaching and, as anybody who has ever worked with plaster knows, plaster is not exactly a light-weight material.
A plasterer might use plaster to smooth out a wall or to add texture to a ceiling. A plasterer might also use plaster to fashion decorative moldings on buildings to give the building a little bit of extra character. Plasterers know how to sculpt and use these sculpting skills on a daily basis. They also have some design skill which helps them advise clients as to how to add some character to an otherwise flat room or structure.
Plasterers will also use math to make sure that they are mixing their plaster correctly and that they have enough for the project they are working on and that there won’t be any plaster that gets wasted.
Plasterers are people who don’t mind getting messy—plastering can be very messy work, especially during the mixing process! A day in the life of a plasterer involves measuring the project area, mixing the appropriate amount of plaster and applying the plaster to the area. Sometimes it involves some artistic work as well. It does not sound like a complicated day, but getting the plaster exactly right for the client is a challenge because every client’s needs are different.
Some employers require membership into a union like the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. These unions often require certification which is obtained by passing a twelve week program that also earns a journey level in plastering. Some people can even go on to become certified instructors of journey workers.
Plastering is hard but very rewarding work. It pays well and at the end of the day you will be able to look at what you, the plasterer, have helped create with a high level of satisfaction.
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