Plaster Jobs | Plastering | Plaster Repair
Plasterer Jobs – What is the Job of a Plasterer? What does a Plastering Job Involve?
Plasterers will apply plaster to walls and ceilings in order to create a fire resistant and soundproof surface. Plastering still remains popular due to the durability and quality of the material, and a plasterer may choose to apply plaster veneer over drywall in order to give it a stronger and more defined finish.
Plasterers can create interesting architectural effects and designs out of plaster, such as stucco, a rougher texture that is usually applied to ceilings or walls in order to give a unique look. Stucco masons are responsible for applying stucco designs.
Plastering jobs involve plastering solid surfaces by using a wire mesh called a lath, and they will then apply a brown coat of chips and plaster as a base, followed by a second coat which is white, a lime based plaster. Before the plaster sets, the plasterer will smooth the surface in order to ensure that it is even.
Different techniques can be used in order to smooth the surface, and the final coat is usually composed of lime, plaster of Paris, and water. Some plaster jobs can be done with a single coat, called a thin coat, which is a gypsum veneer plaster.
Plasterers can create ornamental designs and textures by using brushes or trowels and utilizing circular hand motions. Plaster work can take a great deal of skill and creativity to complete complex designs. Stucco masons will apply stucco which is a mix of Portland cement, lime, and sand, which goes over cement. The process is much the same as plastering, with the exception of the addition of sand and gravel chips in order to give the home a pebble like finish.
Plasterers and stucco masons may also have the responsibility of applying insulation, typically using prefabricated foam material as opposed to spray insulation.
Working Conditions for Plastering Jobs – How is the Working Environment for Plasterers Jobs?
The working conditions of a plastering job are usually indoors, but plastering can be particularly straining in the neck and upper back area due to having to look up at the ceiling for long periods of time. Stucco masons will usually work outside as stucco is commonly used on an exterior walls.
A plasterer workweek will usually be 40 hours and plaster work itself is usually sporadic as jobs are typically done on contract.
Plaster Repair Education – How to Become a Plasterer – How to Receive Your Plastering Training
A plasterer career or a stucco mason job will usually require on site training, and entry level plasterers will assist experienced workers by carrying materials and mixing plaster until they learn the proper techniques of plaster application.
Some plasterer jobs utilize a formal training program that is offered by a union apprenticeship, with a plastering apprenticeship lasting from 3 to 4 years of paid training and 160 hours of classroom instruction every year. In these classes, a plasterer and stucco mason will learn how to estimate material costs and how to cast plaster designs.
In addition, plasterer training will include plaster mixing, plastering methods, safety procedures, and selecting proper lath bases. Common tools that the plasterer will use include trowels, brushes, power tools, mixing machines, and plaster pumps.
Plasterer License Training Requirements – How to Plaster Repair
Other skills that plasterers should have include being in good physical condition and having good coordination, as well as an eye for artistic design in order to create unique plastering patterns. Plaster certification is provided by the International Masonry Institute, which is composed of a 12 weeks certification program which offers the accreditation of journeyman plasterer after the passage of an examination. The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts Workers also offers a more formal training program that lasts as long as four years.
Most plasterers and stucco masons with good business sense will eventually start their own contracting companies or simply become self employed.
Plasterer Employment – What is a Plastering Job?
Over the next decade, stucco mason employment and plastering jobs will grow by about 8%, as plaster veneering gains in popularity. Many homeowners appreciate the beauty of plaster veneer due to its durability, fireproof nature, and finishing qualities.
Most stucco mason jobs that are located in the south and southwest where professional externalized housing finishes are exceedingly popular. Job opportunities overall for plasterers should be good as many workers leave the field to find greener pastures.
Plasterer careers are vulnerable to downturns in the economy, and a recession will typically lead to periods of unemployment.
Plasterer Work Pay Scale – How Much Do Plasterers Earn?
In 2006, plasterers and stucco mason jobs had hourly earnings of $16.68 on median. Large plaster contractors who specialized in drywall and insulation offered median wages of $16.92, while masonry contractors offered less at $15.55.
Plasterer apprentices receive about half the rate paid to more experienced plastering professionals, eventually receiving full scale after the completion of their apprenticeship. Earnings for plasterers and stucco masons are vulnerable to weather conditions and economic declines in construction building and renovation.
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