Plasterers are very much in demand now that trends have moved away from wallpaper to blocks of painted colour on freshly-skimmed walls. It is a skill that needs to be learnt professionally, however, which is why many people call in the experts instead of going down the DIY route.
Many decorating courses will have a short course on plastering which will teach the basics on patching-up holes and skimming blocks of walls; but to learn advanced plastering there are many plastering courses available that will teach the budding tradesman how to plaster ceilings, do artexing and coving and more complex, larger jobs.
Key skills such as how to mix up plaster, which plaster is best for a certain job and how to apply the plaster using the correct tools, will all be taught in a plastering course. Preparation for the job, including how to prepare the surface area so that the plaster does not come away, as well as how to prepare bearing in mind health and safety aspects will all be taught, as well as wearing the correct safety gear to avoid dust inhalation and how to correctly position ladders. In addition, the key skills of neatening up any rough patches and how to then decorate on top of the finished plaster will be addressed.
A professional plasterer, depending on the area, has the potential to earn an hourly rate of up to