I've been plastering for 24 years, and I 100% agree with everything you said. I've learnt just to keep myself busy and not to rely on anyone else. Only do domestic work now and try not to work for builders if possible. Keep the videos going mate 👍
So much to say potentially!! Outside cracking. In 1992, dad and I were given a new wonder material to use. No idea of the actual trade name but it was rolls of brown plastic with a nylon mesh. Nailed it on to chipboard on the top half of a wooden framed house. The overlap had to be 6" (I think) which created a huge bulge (on the wall, not in my trousers!!). Then two scratch coats of sand/cement with water proofner and top coat. Gave it loads of time between each coat but the first scratch coat cracked all over the place which we said it would, especially down the overlaps. No surprise there! Pointed it out to builder but he said carry on. By the time the whole job (inside and out) was finished there were no cracks which was a miracle. Never got called back so something must have been done right but never saw that stuff again- ever! I bet it's cracked to bits by now. Same as Coxy- 100% agree with Smurf here. I never went down the route of laying £1000's out for large builders but my story is near enough identical. I started out on site work, learnt the trade that way but in the early 90's when things went very slack, we had to find other sources of work, taking two years to get in with several local builders as well as private jobs. Most were good, just a couple of not so good ones who we never went back to- were always busy when those ones rang. Only once did we not get paid. Two weeks work for someone who was bankrupt but didn't tell us!! No choice other than to just write it off. Couple of near misses with private people but they paid in the end. Apprentices out there- Until the money is in your bank, you are trusting people, no matter how well you think you may know them or how good your working relationship is. Write that down!!🙂🙂 As dad got older and slower, role reversal and I employed him until he eventually accepted retirement. After that, I was on my own. If something was too big for me on my own, a builder would give me a labourer. I never 'employed' someone for my own work but did wheel dad out of retirement for a couple of jobs too big for just me. I was very fair and gave him the same rate I was getting!!! Once, I was too busy to do a job for one of my regular builders. He asked me if I knew anyone else. I said I know someone but have no idea of what his work is like. That bloke did the job, I got a phone call from the builder, who was not happy, saying his work was s**t and could I come and go over it all. Apprentices out there- Don't pass numbers on if you don't know what their work is like. Write that down!! 🙂🙂 I've had 5 ops from wear and tear and Smurf said here about his left knee. One of my ops was left knee. Apprentices out there- Plastering WILL wreck your body over the years no matter how 'big and strong' you are. The only difference is to what extent. Some get away with not too much damage, some like me, are beyond repair. Write that down!! 🙂🙂 That'll do for now as Smurf has covered it anyway! Smurf, I noticed the radio control cars. I'm in to the Tamiya rc road trucks. High end quality but very expensive. That leads on to my electric motor story which I was going to put in your 'mixer' comments. I was testing a truck motor in my garage a while ago. Hooked it up to a 7.2v battery and just looped the + and - on to the motor terminals- no switch involved. As soon as they both made contact, f**k me that thing was powerful! I wasn't holding it very tight so it flew out of my hand with the small gear cog digging in my finger as the motor ricocheted around the garage!!! 😮😮 Nothing to do with plastering but life tip in general for apprentices out there. Be careful what you do as it may have comeback and smack you on your head!! Write that down!! 🙂🙂 And should any one actually be wondering how powerful that small motor is... when it's in the 14th scale truck with a 3 speed gearbox and 3 trailers totaling 3.5m long (think Aussie road train), it can pull near enough 30kg. It'll probably pull more but I decided that was enough!!🙂
😂 what a voice so many hidden talents... guessing that's your own music in the intro too... Keep the content going channel is coming along nicely Smurf 👍
After watching your video, what you're saying is spot on In terms of larger contracts yes its god awful...i had 6 blokes and i knocked it on the head its like trying to heard cats 7 days a week.. i was well off but dreadfully unhappy and I spent no time with my family. In regards to the builder you're helping out, you have 100 percent made the right call to step away as you now allowing him to chase his dream, but it will become your nightmare very quickly. Quality control is our game is everything...your a journeyman. Its refreshing to see plastering channels like yours showing the human side of our Tread, as its not only physically but mentally punishing... "We stop when the gauge is done" Showing a newly finished room is only 20% of the process. All the very best 🤦👍
I'm a self employed venetan plaster installer and interior painter in New York state. Been at it on my own for 30 years and get most of my paint jobs thru word of mouth. High quality and reliability keep me in work. A couple of years ago I found myself swamped and so hired 2 painters to help me out. Long story short, the quality started going downhill. It became more trouble than it was worth trying to manage these guys. Back to lone wolfing it and happier as a result.
