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DIY plastering job

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By *riskygaz OP   Man  over a year ago

birmingham

I am helping a mate do up his new house, he is trying to do it on the cheap so we both had a go at a bit of plastering, think we done ok ish! But you wouldn’t pay for it lol, so any proper plasters out their I was just wondering how much practise does it take before you could do a decent job of plastering a wall ??

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By *kywatcherMan  over a year ago

Southwick

This is a skill that can take years but "natural" plasterers can pick it up and become expert a lot quicker. I did a construction diploma in 2006 and could rend a block wall with sand and cement and plasterboard with plaster. I trust myself to do small areas of plastering but would never attempt a whole room. One skill best left to the experts. Ceilings and skimming just can't be done by amateurs or DIYers IMHO. Would rather pay for a professional job as poor plastering stands out.

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By *amschwingerzCouple  over a year ago

West

Probably minimum of a year to get up to a 'reasonable' standard....and it will be better again after 5...10..15..years

In my line of work I have seen some horrendous DIY plastering jobs..it might be the cheap short term option but it can also take quite a few quid of the value of an house if done badly.

Wait til you put the paint ok before judging how good it is!!...but well done for having a go, plasterers are not cheap these days.

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By *amschwingerzCouple  over a year ago

West


"This is a skill that can take years but "natural" plasterers can pick it up and become expert a lot quicker. I did a construction diploma in 2006 and could rend a block wall with sand and cement and plasterboard with plaster. I trust myself to do small areas of plastering but would never attempt a whole room. One skill best left to the experts. Ceilings and skimming just can't be done by amateurs or DIYers IMHO. Would rather pay for a professional job as poor plastering stands out."

Yep...

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By *ugby 123Couple  over a year ago
Forum Mod

O o O oo

[Removed by poster at 06/01/13 20:30:07]

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago

Speaking as a decorator,wait til you put a coat of paint on it. if you think it looks bad too start with it'll look even worse with a coat on it,I spend half my life mist coating and making good new plasterwork

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By *ugby 123Couple  over a year ago
Forum Mod

O o O oo

There is an art to it that people think looks easy to do, but then find out it isn't when all they have is a lumpy wall

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple  over a year ago

in Lancashire

have skimmed a cpl of small ceilings at home, but have about 30 yrs doing occasional small bits of rendering on jobs etc...

would'nt do it for a customer, get a pucker spread in everytime..

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By *riskygaz OP   Man  over a year ago

birmingham


"This is a skill that can take years but "natural" plasterers can pick it up and become expert a lot quicker. I did a construction diploma in 2006 and could rend a block wall with sand and cement and plasterboard with plaster. I trust myself to do small areas of plastering but would never attempt a whole room. One skill best left to the experts. Ceilings and skimming just can't be done by amateurs or DIYers IMHO. Would rather pay for a professional job as poor plastering stands out."
the kitchen is the bigest plastering job to be done, and i think we will be leaving that one to an exspert to much work went into preparing it with new wireing and plaster bord, for us to go and give it a dodgy plastering job lol

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By *kywatcherMan  over a year ago

Southwick


"This is a skill that can take years but "natural" plasterers can pick it up and become expert a lot quicker. I did a construction diploma in 2006 and could rend a block wall with sand and cement and plasterboard with plaster. I trust myself to do small areas of plastering but would never attempt a whole room. One skill best left to the experts. Ceilings and skimming just can't be done by amateurs or DIYers IMHO. Would rather pay for a professional job as poor plastering stands out. the kitchen is the bigest plastering job to be done, and i think we will be leaving that one to an exspert to much work went into preparing it with new wireing and plaster bord, for us to go and give it a dodgy plastering job lol"
Very wise

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago

years of practise but as they say practise makes perfect

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By *coobyroo218Couple  over a year ago

Guernsey

I am a time served chippy and over the years i have turned my game to most things. Plumbing electric blocking etc but never done plastering as like said looks good when you do it till the paint goes on. And to be totally honest its the thing people will always see

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By *andymanleeds43Man  over a year ago

Leeds

just like riding a bike more u practise the better you are,just get a bag of easyfill if it aint perfect simples x

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago

Most used phrase in the building trade...

'don't worry about that. Let the decorator sort it out'

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By *ezebelWoman  over a year ago

North of The Wall - youll need your vest

Its one thing that I really would like to be able to do

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By *amschwingerzCouple  over a year ago

West


"Most used phrase in the building trade...

'don't worry about that. Let the decorator sort it out'

"

Or...'thats the painters job'...filling gaps in skirtings, virtually re-skimming walls with easi-fil, repairing blown tape, scraping untold adhesive off of covings..wiping silicone off of everything after the plumbers/window/kitchen/bedroom fitters have been in

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago

Plastering or skimming is the finish coat ! Would you wear a coat with a few holes or scratches on it when you go out ? Painting just shows more scars been in the trade 25 years and still picking new things up

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By *amschwingerzCouple  over a year ago

West


"Plastering or skimming is the finish coat ! Would you wear a coat with a few holes or scratches on it when you go out ? Painting just shows more scars been in the trade 25 years and still picking new things up "

Good way of putting it

Decorating is another one, people watch DIY SOS and think 'oh thats easy I can do that' they dont realise that its the end product, you can cover up for a bad chippy, plasterer etc, but you cant cover up bad decorating.

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By *andm288Couple  over a year ago

oxford

In response to the original question

It takes years of practice ! I'm a chippy by trade but like most decent trades we learn new skills as we go through our working life I started doing small patching jobs around 7 yrs ago only the last 2 yrs would I say that I'm a competent spread !

It's all about decent trowel and wrist action lol but yes fair play for having a go the trick is knowing when to leave it b4 polishing it lol

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By *aninthemiddleMan  over a year ago

caerphilly

I been plastering since 1999 took me 2 years to be confident to go on my own now find it hard to find anyone as good to help me out when im busy

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By *edonism44Man  over a year ago

oldham

Lived in nz fir 5 years, and they have it right over there.

Throw up plasterboard , plaster between the two joins, as the joins are sloped, plaster over the nail heads and that's it , they don't go for the total plastering like we do and rooms are done fast as.

They call it stopping looks great too xx

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By *aninthemiddleMan  over a year ago

caerphilly

Tape joining i do that aswell good on new builds its done over here alot to

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By *riskygaz OP   Man  over a year ago

birmingham


"I been plastering since 1999 took me 2 years to be confident to go on my own now find it hard to find anyone as good to help me out when im busy "
a whole two years of practice to get good, i guess these five day courses are not up to much then, apart from learning the basics of the trade,

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By *am123Man  over a year ago

essex chelmsford


"Lived in nz fir 5 years, and they have it right over there.

Throw up plasterboard , plaster between the two joins, as the joins are sloped, plaster over the nail heads and that's it , they don't go for the total plastering like we do and rooms are done fast as.

They call it stopping looks great too xx "

we call it tape and jointing and the finish isnt as strong or as good and over time the joints can crack up a bit been over here as long as plasterin nothing new ther

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By *aninthemiddleMan  over a year ago

caerphilly


"I been plastering since 1999 took me 2 years to be confident to go on my own now find it hard to find anyone as good to help me out when im busy a whole two years of practice to get good, i guess these five day courses are not up to much then, apart from learning the basics of the trade, "

them courses are shite teach you nothing mate

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By *am123Man  over a year ago

essex chelmsford


"Plastering or skimming is the finish coat ! Would you wear a coat with a few holes or scratches on it when you go out ? Painting just shows more scars been in the trade 25 years and still picking new things up

Good way of putting it

Decorating is another one, people watch DIY SOS and think 'oh thats easy I can do that' they dont realise that its the end product, you can cover up for a bad chippy, plasterer etc, but you cant cover up bad decorating."

but if u can piss u can paint isnt that the saying

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By *banned4noreasonCouple  over a year ago

t

I have tried both ceilings and walls, I am rubbish at both, had employed the pros doing it, to me it's almost an artform.

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By *areth100Man  over a year ago

hereford

My father taught me to skim and render from the age of about 12. The trick is to be confident with it and not rush. You have best part of 90 mins. If area is pva'd first, if skimming on plasterboard easier as the board does not have porous areas like render. Never had a decorator complain about my finish. Lol

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By *am123Man  over a year ago

essex chelmsford


"My father taught me to skim and render from the age of about 12. The trick is to be confident with it and not rush. You have best part of 90 mins. If area is pva'd first, if skimming on plasterboard easier as the board does not have porous areas like render. Never had a decorator complain about my finish. Lol"
uve been paid and out of there by that time, hard to hear the painters moaning from ur lounge chair lol

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago


"My father taught me to skim and render from the age of about 12. The trick is to be confident with it and not rush. You have best part of 90 mins. If area is pva'd first, if skimming on plasterboard easier as the board does not have porous areas like render. Never had a decorator complain about my finish. Lol"

if you have a large area to cover takeing your time isnt really an option !

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By *am123Man  over a year ago

essex chelmsford

[Removed by poster at 07/01/13 17:30:12]

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By *ornybobBuilderMan  over a year ago

Sheffield

Plastering easy any size room can do ceilings not a Problem but I have been doing it for 20 years and you never stop leaning about

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago


"Plastering or skimming is the finish coat ! Would you wear a coat with a few holes or scratches on it when you go out ? Painting just shows more scars been in the trade 25 years and still picking new things up

Good way of putting it

Decorating is another one, people watch DIY SOS and think 'oh thats easy I can do that' they dont realise that its the end product, you can cover up for a bad chippy, plasterer etc, but you cant cover up bad decorating.but if u can piss u can paint isnt that the saying "

If only i had a pound for everytime I'd heard that

total bollocks

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago

No wonder the building industry is on its arse when people think they can do a good job on the cheap !

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By *amschwingerzCouple  over a year ago

West


"Plastering or skimming is the finish coat ! Would you wear a coat with a few holes or scratches on it when you go out ? Painting just shows more scars been in the trade 25 years and still picking new things up

Good way of putting it

Decorating is another one, people watch DIY SOS and think 'oh thats easy I can do that' they dont realise that its the end product, you can cover up for a bad chippy, plasterer etc, but you cant cover up bad decorating.but if u can piss u can paint isnt that the saying

If only i had a pound for everytime I'd heard that

total bollocks"

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago

So glad I'm a sparky as most people crap themselves at the thought of messing about with the electrics. Even other tradesmen have told me it scares the crap out of them. I love my job.

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By *ornybobBuilderMan  over a year ago

Sheffield

"Plastering or skimming is the finish coat ! Would you wear a coat with a few holes or scratches on it when you go out ? Painting just shows more scars been in the trade 25 years and still picking new things up

Correct

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By *riskygaz OP   Man  over a year ago

birmingham


"No wonder the building industry is on its arse when people think they can do a good job on the cheap ! "
yes but when finances are tight you hasave to have a go at the things you think you might be abble to handle,

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By *riskygaz OP   Man  over a year ago

birmingham


"So glad I'm a sparky as most people crap themselves at the thought of messing about with the electrics. Even other tradesmen have told me it scares the crap out of them. I love my job. "
Lol your right electrics are a bit scary, but i have done a little bit, infact i was at it a couple of weeks ago, drilled threw the kitchen wall into the outhouse run a spur of the kitchen socket to get power out to my washing machine, no room for it in the kitchen, a water suply is the next thing, having to stick a hose out the kitchen window to it at the moment, but that will be an easy one, plumbing not hard with compresion fittings these days, a few more £££ saved

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By *am123Man  over a year ago

essex chelmsford


"So glad I'm a sparky as most people crap themselves at the thought of messing about with the electrics. Even other tradesmen have told me it scares the crap out of them. I love my job. Lol your right electrics are a bit scary, but i have done a little bit, infact i was at it a couple of weeks ago, drilled threw the kitchen wall into the outhouse run a spur of the kitchen socket to get power out to my washing machine, no room for it in the kitchen, a water suply is the next thing, having to stick a hose out the kitchen window to it at the moment, but that will be an easy one, plumbing not hard with compresion fittings these days, a few more £££ saved "
untill the house catches fire wth dodgey electrics

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By *am123Man  over a year ago

essex chelmsford


"Plastering or skimming is the finish coat ! Would you wear a coat with a few holes or scratches on it when you go out ? Painting just shows more scars been in the trade 25 years and still picking new things up

Good way of putting it

Decorating is another one, people watch DIY SOS and think 'oh thats easy I can do that' they dont realise that its the end product, you can cover up for a bad chippy, plasterer etc, but you cant cover up bad decorating.but if u can piss u can paint isnt that the saying

If only i had a pound for everytime I'd heard that

total bollocks"

evryone thinks they can pick up a brush and paint, thats why they say if u can piss u can paint and if uve hurd that as much as me u would be rich with a pound ago im sure im good at pissing

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By *riskygaz OP   Man  over a year ago

birmingham


"So glad I'm a sparky as most people crap themselves at the thought of messing about with the electrics. Even other tradesmen have told me it scares the crap out of them. I love my job. Lol your right electrics are a bit scary, but i have done a little bit, infact i was at it a couple of weeks ago, drilled threw the kitchen wall into the outhouse run a spur of the kitchen socket to get power out to my washing machine, no room for it in the kitchen, a water suply is the next thing, having to stick a hose out the kitchen window to it at the moment, but that will be an easy one, plumbing not hard with compresion fittings these days, a few more £££ saved untill the house catches fire wth dodgey electrics "
No fires with any of the jobs i have done so far lol, i only take on things i am confident i can do, juast like puting two sets of wires into a plug, piss easy.

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