Drywall finishing techniques can help you to get a professional finish. They are not as simple as they seem to be on TV or in the DIY's manual.

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

The weather during plastering and rendering may have considerable influence on the finished work.

External rendering should be started on the shady side of the building to keep it unexposed to the sun as long as possible.

Some special services offered by some plastering contractors are pebbledashing, rendering, coving, damp course installation or Tyrolean.

As with painting, plastering needs a base coat. This base/undercoat may need building up in 2 layers depending on the condition of the walls and the thickness of plaster needed to improve them.

There are other adjustable Plasterers Stilts available, which is mainly for professional plasterers. It is used for plastering and decorating when a required room height level has to be continuously accessible.

No plastering should be done in frosty weather. In cold weather plaster hardens slowly and a longer period of time between coats should be allowed.

The City Guilds has an entire training centre called Able Skills, where plastering is the main subject taught. There is a course to suit each person's needs, whether you are a beginner or coming in to learn some advanced technology of plastering.

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.