Plasterer
Careers Explorer:
Prepare walls and ceilings ready for decoration.
Overview
A plasterer plays a crucial role on a construction project, applying plaster and cement mixtures to walls and ceilings, fixing fibrous sheets and casting and fixing ornamental plasterwork to the interior or exterior of buildings.
You can specialise in either solid or fibrous plastering and could work in small-scale domestic jobs or big commercial developments.
Solid plastering is generally site-based and will see you applying a range of plastering systems on to different background surfaces using traditional and modern materials.
Fibrous plastering involves creating plaster components and ornamental designs such as ceiling roses and cornices. As a fibrous plasterer, you’ll produce work in a workshop in addition to installing products on site.
Top 5 Tasks
- Specialise in either solid or fibrous plastering
- Apply wet finishes to surfaces
- Cover and seal joints between boards and check surface levels.
- Mix and apply different kinds of plaster to inside walls and ceilings
- Create ornamental plasterwork.
Salary
Newly trained plasterers can earn around £19,000 – £25,000.
Trained with experience plasterers can earn around £25,000 – £35,000 and senior plasterers £35,000.
Salaries depend on location, employer and any overtime you may do. Self-employed plasterers set their own pay rates.
Am I Suited?
- Excellent co-ordination
- Hands on
- Attention to detail
- Team player
- Self-motivator
Plastering is one of the most ancient building techniques, and remarkably even the pyramids of Egypt contain plasterwork executed at least 4,000 years ago that is still hard and durable.
Qualifications
There are no set qualifications to become a plasterer, but employers usually expect four GCSEs grades 9-4 (A* – C).
A common way into plastering is through an apprenticeship scheme with a plastering firm. The range of apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers.
If you cannot get on to an apprenticeship, there are college courses where you can study a qualification such as Level 1,2 & 3 Diploma in Plastering.
