While plastering has many practical applications and processes, it is, first and foremost, an art form. Even a flat wall must be smooth, level and ready for whatever decoration the owner wants to put on it.
While there are many classes available that will help you learn the trade, nothing is better than the time honored tradition of apprenticing with a professional. Entering an apprenticeship will give you valuable, hands-on experience that will be all important when it is time to find a job.
Becoming a respected expert in plastering can take anywhere from three to four years. As an apprentice, you will learn, from the ground up, the best techniques and processes for preparing and applying plaster. Yes, as an apprentice, you may be expected to do a lot of the grunt work, but that is the best way to learn anything. And the best thing is, you will be getting paid to learn a craft that will likely be a lifelong career that has the potential to make you a lot of money.
The specific details of the plastering apprenticeship program will vary depend on who is providing the program. There are some general items that you can expect. On of the first things to expect is some classroom time. There will probably be instruction on drafting, reading blueprints, estimating material costs and some basic math. You will probably be introduced to a few other basics in a classroom setting. Plaster compounds need to be mixed just so and there messing that up on the job-site will cost time and money. There are also a wide variety of tools that are used in plastering and being familiar with them before getting hand-on experience will help your skills progress quickly.
One of the first things you will learn when you get onto a job site is how to stay safe. Then, it’s time to get your hands dirty. You learn basic application processes for walls and ceilings. The processes that are used create different effects and patterns in finished plaster. You will work with both interior plastering and outdoor plastering, which is usually called stucco. You’ll also learn the proper use of many of the different tools, like the hawk, trowels, floats, and different straightedges. Not only will you learn how to properly use the hand versions of these tools, but also how to use the powered versions when they are available. A large number of programs will also teach the proper way to lay mortar for brickwork and applying adhesive for laying tile.
