If it Walks, Talks and Looks Like a Duck. It’s probably a Plasterer!
A duck walks into a bar and ask for a shandy. The barman says
"Wow, a talking duck! We don't many of those".The duck replies "Yes I'm a plasterer on the new houses down the road".
"That's amazing" said the barman "I've got a friend who runs a circus he could do with a guy like you, he’ll pay well. I'll give him a call if you like?""Sounds great mate" said the duck "But them circus types live in tents don't they?" "Yeah" says the barman "Why?"
"Well, what the bloody hell do they want with a plasterer?"
Plasterers mix and apply different kinds of plaster to internal walls, floors and ceilings in preparation for decorating. Plasterers' work can also involve covering outside walls with coatings, such as sand and cement, pebble-dash and stone-effect materials.
Plasterers normally work as part of a small team and deal with three common types of plastering work:
Solid plastering – where wet finishes are applied to surfaces and protective coverings like pebble-dashing are put on external walls. Plasterers need to have a mate to mix the materials to the right consistency.
Fibrous plastering – is all about making ornamental plasterwork, such as ceiling roses, cornices, columns and architraves, using a mixture of plaster and short fibers shaped in moulds and casts
Dry lining – fixing internal plasterboard or wallboard partitions by fastening them together on a timber or metal frame ready for decorating.
You would apply plasterwork using a variety of tools, like different size trowels, depending on the surface areas. With fibrous plastering, you would follow designs created by an architect, artist or interior designer
As a plasterer, you may work for big commercial developments, or small-scale home jobs, repairs and restorations. Like most construction work formal qualifications are not needed to become a plasterer, but employers like lots of on-site experience. If you have not worked in construction before, you could begin as a plasterer's mate to get that site experience. Once working, the employer may be willing to offer you training in plastering.
Apprenticeship schemes are well run with plastering or building firms. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need.
To be eligible for an apprenticeship you will need a good basic education to GCSE standard or above.
Many colleges offer courses in plastering, which teach the skills needed for the job but employers always value some site experience.
Relevant college courses include City & Guilds (6217) Basic Construction Skills: Plastering. Intermediate Construction Award (Dry Lining) or Intermediate/Advanced Award (Plastering). Awarding Body Consortium (ABC) Entry Level Certificate in Preparation for Employment (Plastering).
The construction industry is also being promoted as a career choice for women through the Know Your Place campaign. Once working, your employer may give you training. This can lead to an NVQ in plastering at levels 2 and 3.
Units within the NVQ include, producing internal and external finishes, applying and fixing dry lining boards, producing castings, fixing and repairing fibrous parts.
Many building contractors now insist that all workers have a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card to work on their sites. The card is proof of your skills and competence. To get a card you must: Pass a health and safety assessment and have an NVQ or equivalent qualification.
A good plasterer is one of the most sought after and well-rewarded careers in construction. Not really for ducks.
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