Look up the useful sites and Trade Organizations which include a Federation of Plastering and Drywall Contractors.

It is most often brick, block, concrete or plasterboard that forms the background for plastering.

Always turn off your mains power when plastering anywhere near any electrical socket, switch, light fitting or appliance.

This is the most important coat and this coat of plaster is called a skim. Skimming requires practice, so go about it slowly and follow instructions carefully.

To achieve the best results from your plaster you should add plaster and water in equal measurements this should be done in a clean bucket using clean water and should be mixed until the plaster is a creamy constituency.

You need to know what texture to look out for when doing plaster mixes, the best way to describe the texture you are looking for is like that of thick cream - with no lumps of plaster.

Plastering is physically demanding, it requires long periods of standing, lifting, bending and overhead reaching.

Gypsum plaster is mainly for use indoors as damp will attack it and make it crumble. The most common types of gypsum plaster are browning, bonding and metal lathing.

A highly specialised form of plastering called Venetian Polished Plaster has rapidly grown in popularity.

As you set about your next plastering job it's well worth cleaning the plasterboards first. Dust and dirt will create problems so a little time spent in preparation will pay dividends later.