Plastering Is Stressful Until You DO THIS... 

I was a plasterer for 10yrs. I got mauled into a gang for my 4yr apprenticeship fresh from school. For about 3yrs. It was the best job. I earnt a lot. I enjoyed the work. And then it changed. I hated it. I felt sick everytime i put that whisk in to mix. I saw it out for a couple of years after that. Luckily i begged enough to a bricklaying gang to take me on, no pay. But teach me! Within 8 weeks i was being paid. Within a year i was competent. 2 years i was really making good money, 70k in year 3. Great trade. Love it. But age is a cruel mistress. So off to university i went. And i became a construction project manager. The only mistake i can say i made in my career was accepting the plastering apprenticeship. Its physically demending sure...but for me, its the degradation to your mind thats the worst aspect. Its the only trade you can't nip to the shop for something or stop at a particular time when you need to, a family emergency means you are re skimming the lot if its ill timed, the trade is also aggressive to each other, its like a smash your head against a wall competition 😂 and there is little difference between competency and cowboy in that attitude towards other people in the trade. And above all...Once that gear is out the bucket and on the wall. You are stuck there till the end. Grim. 😂

Just finished a week helping a guy render an outside. Big house with a mix of new blocks and old bricks. Most of the building was old reds and when I asked on the 1st day where's the SBR his reply was the customer is tight and don't wanna pay for it. This should have been my 1st warning sign. Couldn't nail any beads and he said we can push them into the render no problem, just get on with it. The render went sucked in instantly, couldnt get 2 hawk fulls on without having to scratch it. As for sticking beads with the render no chance. He told the lab a different mix to what I use and a different way to mix it. Guy was a complete bellend and I felt sorry for the owner knowing full well when the cold weather hits most of it is going to blow off. Was suppose to go back Monday and Tuesday but told him today best I not in case I throw him off scaffold. Plenty of things to stress you out in this job.

My dad was a plasterer all his life! He was still skimming walls for private jobs at 76! One of the things he said to me was a good plasterer always keeps his tools clean! So many times I see these young lads and their tools are disgraceful! This trade needs guys like you to show people the right way! Sir I doff my cap to you! Lol

Looks like you need a few more bods chucking on with ya mate looks a decent size job .. looking good , great tips. Just done a flat conversion got a couple of other plasterers in made the plastering/boarding stage a breeze won’t do big jobs on me own anymore that’s for sure . 👍🏻 happy spreading thanks mate

Glad it’s not cheating when using multiple pieces. I shall give it a try. Thank you for your guidance 🙏

Blimey Blaine - daylight behind your trowel at 8:27!! that's gunna be one wonky reveal

Tape up doors frames, helps the next trades out, takes seconds much better job clean professional...bosshhh

If going over board just do one thick coat flatten with speedskim flatten again with sponge, take out sponge lines with either a plaziflex or steel flexi then shine if you want with plaziflex or flexi. So much easier.

Sadly, some of the large deliveries of plaster to varios Builder Distributors are open and exposed. I once saw a Haulage lorry turn up W*cks with all the bags exposed under heavy rain? This is why I see one in every 10 bags with some hard lumps in it. It totally screws my day's earning when this happens! Gypsum need to be more careful who they ask to distribute their goods???

I didnt have you down as a metal fan - what do you listen to? Depending on whether theres anyone in the place Ill throw on some old school metal like Pantera, Slayer, Machine Head etc. I like the faster/more agressive stuff as it helps push me through. Showing my age haha

excellent informative videos blaine...what is the stapler you use for beads pls...i use galv nails but if its quicker ill try a stapler.cheers

If you can !! Always ask for the door linings to be knotted and primed/undercoated before you plaster 👍👍 my top tip for you 😉

Crap scrim has caused me alot of stress when i was started going on my own i had a few calamitys😂

Top vid mate as alway just catching up been snowed under wirh work it's been grate hope ur good

As always very helpful video. Do you have any tips/ tricks to fit corner bead on a 3.5m patio door reveal? Not sure using two pieces is a great idea. Thank you

See them Sharpe angles. Jam a corner bead up in them. Makes life easier

Watching you work makes me want to get back to the coal face,but don't think my fitness would allow it...I despise sparkies, specially when schedules get mixed up and they hack trenches into finished work...had a few punch ups in the past because of it 🤣

First thing i'd do is cover the floor.

Another good video mate

my brother been following your Chanel as im researching plastering, got to say your content and personality are really good my man. really good vids. you sound like you manc based do you get to east cheshire at all i got a big 4 room extension need a plasterer??

What do you do now the door frame is not flush with the wall as in fitting the architrave?

are you putting 2 coats on plasterboard?

It’s stressful and my opinion hardest working trade as some days get to stop so I think should be highest paid but I know some people would disagree

I plastered a whole house (4 bedroom detached semi), using a plastic butter knife and a teaspoon, after I misplaced my trowel. The finish was so good it looked like glass. I don't mean to brag but I'm probably the best plasterer on planet earth.

you do not need to use bonding

I find it really difficult to avoid flat but noticeable trowel lines in the finished plaster, from wherever I started trowelling. I go over them of course, but that just leaves another slight trowel mark further up! How do spreads avoid this?

If you have a old sand cement/plastered wall that is cracking in multiple places and if you push it you can hear it moving……. What can you use other than stripping it back to brick??

Any advice how to stop renderlite taring/sagging when featheredging/ruling off. I’m I mixing the material to wet or should I mix it stiff and splash some water onto the material once it’s on the wall. Or I’m I applying it to thick I’m just seen unable to play around with the gear once it’s on the wall just taring Many thanks

Yesterday I literally chucked the hawk full … to the floor while growling 🤬 I called it a day after that. I over played with it I think 🤔

Great content pretty new to plaster what speed skim and size would you recommend ....👍

Good job

Why..do you cover all the walls with plaster? Isn't that drywall on the walls?

I like to get on asap after 2nd coat, one issue I sometimes have if I'm on it again when it's soft is pulling the plaster back off or getting those bubbles. Any tips there?

Why are you going over everything and not just joints?

What spatula you using there?

Midget trowel!! 😂

Nothing wrong with #2 😮

#4 😡😡😡😡

It's the worst job on the planet, and you end up dying from the plaster dust, which settles on your lungs 🫁 😢