Plastering is one of the building trades where the quality of the workman will be on display for all to see. The finish needs to be perfect all the time. The paint won’t hide poor finishing, wallpaper will show it, as will most wall coverings. When it comes to decorating and plastering, London has very high standards, as does My London Builders. We are always on the lookout for new talent.

So if you’re a tradesman, or a customer wanting work done, give us a call today!

If you want to become a plasterer, the easiest way is to apprentice yourself to a specialist plastering firm. There are courses available, which are valuable, but nothing tops practical experience. The courses teach the theory, and the basics, an apprenticeship teaches you how it’s really done.

There are several techniques involved in plastering. London colleges teach the basics of them all, and they will all need to be perfected if you want to work with us. These techniques are: coving, float and set, plaster boarding, rendering, skimming and repairs.

Coving is the application of plaster or coving pieces to the joins of the walls and ceilings. They cover up the corners and add a touch of elegance to a room. This is also one of the most popular aspects of plastering. London has a high proportion of older properties who have coving or architraves. They will often need replacing, repairing, or removing and is a core skill of the plasterer. My London Builders works in all kinds of buildings, so a good cross-section of skills is needed if you want to work with us.

Float and set is a technique used to apply a background plaster onto bricks or stone which can then be finished in a number of different ways. The finish might be tiled, painted or skimming, depending on the job in hand.

Plasterboarding is the most elementary of skills needed by the modern plasterer. Plasterboard is used extensively in construction to cover walls, create partition walls or to add a smooth finish to a room. They are made of gypsum and need to be affixed to a batten, then plastered or skimmed over. They are large and heavy and often need to be manoeuvred into awkward positions. Dot and dab techniques are used in conjunction with these boards.

Rendering is a thick plaster often used on the outside of buildings. It can be used inside too, but is mostly applied to give a nice even exterior to a house or to cover up the brickwork. It’s one of the few jobs a plasterer will work outside for.

Skimming is the application of a thin layer of plaster onto a wall to provide a decorative finish. The plaster can either be coloured and act as the final coat, or plain to act as a base for decorating. This is what most people imagine a plasterer to do all day. Skim coats can be single or double, depending on the job at hand. This is where skill and experience comes in as a smooth, perfect finish is essential.

Repairs are everything else we do. That can be filling holes, repairing cracked or broken plaster, render or boards. Replacing blown plaster, refilling spaces after a kitchen refit and a myriad of other tasks. You need the ability to be able to mould your work into the existing finish to make it invisible.

Those are just a few skills you need to perfect in order to make it as a plasterer. Once you have them, give My London Builders a call, we’re bound to have some work for you.