The main thing that takes most DIY enthusiasts by surprise is just how quickly skimming plaster goes hard and becomes unworkable.

The most important thing for all DIY tasks is a set of correct tools for plastering and plaster boarding.

As soon as you have mixed the plaster you should empty it out of the bucket onto a wet board which should be lifted off the ground high enough to enable you to get your plaster onto your hand board (hawk) easily.

By using a professional contractor you will be getting professional results. If you want to improve the appearance of your walls then it is advised that you take on the help of a plastering contractor.

The old fashioned plaster on wood needs three coats of plaster and it may not be within the skill of many people to do it, and needs professionals most of the time to do even the repair work.

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

The plasterer's featheredge is used for smoothing and straightening the plasterwork. This is possible because of the tapered edge. The other edge is flat and is used for tamping and smoothing concrete. The material used is lightweight aluminum.

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.

There are various types of plastering courses available in England. There are courses for beginners who want to pursue it as a hobby, or want to make it into a career.

Plaster should be mixed using equal amounts of plaster to water, taking time to mix until a smooth consistency is achieved.