Plastering

[tysfoot]

Ive done a thread before on this but as there a loads more people using the website now ill start a new one

Do any of you do plastering with your tiling

Ive thought of doing a plastering course as almost all walls are a bit rough in places. some are ok to tile on to but some need completly plastering so why not kill two birds with one stone

I think ive lost a few jobs in the past cos i dont do plastering and this week in the local rag right next to my ad is "tiling, plastering also avaliable"

If i was a customer i would hire the guy who does the plastering if i didnt know what was behind those old tiles

What so you think ? Will a 4 day course be enough ? or 8 day intensive course ?

[Raja]

as many bows under ur arrow as possible. Education is the only way forward.

it will take you a couple of years to get to a decent standard. it is far more skill demanding than tiling. using sand and cement takes time to get used to. your skimming will take a couple of months at least to get to a pro standard. even floating out a wall in using a backing coat, setting up screeds and feathering off take real practice, honestly mate its not a 5 day or 10 day trade, ask mark devon if you think i am over exagerating..

if i were you i would advertise cleverly and state, walls plastered prior to tiling. that way, you will target the people need both and not full house re-skims etc..
it is really hard work physically and requires alot of patience. the reason i am getting away from plastering is because i believe there is more money to be made in tling if you target the right clients.

as i have stated previously, the best training centre in the uk is goldtrowel but thats only my opinion..its not always the wise thing to do a bit of everything. if i were you i would be a tiling specialist only and get set up well and organised and target the natural stone market. you have lots of affluent areas around manchester so it shouldnt be hard


ED

[jacko]

When you state plastering,do you mean skim a new board?, or hardwall/finish to brickwork/blocks ? very difficult to skim flat, uneven walls,most times better to glue a new board on ,apd prime,and your tiling. plastering for tiling, your only concern is how plumb/flat it is and not to concerned about the finished surface .finding latley clients wanting half tiling with a painted wall above in bathrooms in this case ,over board,and skim . it takes a lot of practise and you need to be doing it often to improve and keep your eye in ,not an easy trade to master ,especially if you only do a few jobs ever so often.

[Yorkie]

Totally aree with raja, which is why we have listened to the needs of our students and are now in the final stages of opening up our brand new centre, Diamond Plastering offering a range of courses from 4 and 8 day short courses aimed primarily at assisting Tilers, through to a longer duration course leading to a City and Guilds Qualification.

Our tutors are full A1 Assesors and have more than 20 yrs experience.

(sorry for the shamefull plug )

[tysfoot]

Cheers for the replys lads

I would only do plastering prior to tiling. i know plastering is a hard skill and very phsically demanding.
I dont even know hoe to dot and dab so surely the course will come in handy for something.


As i said i will only use this for my tiling and not advertise plastering a seperate

Here is what i would learn on the course,

What you will learn

• Health and safety training, safety wear and correct practice
• How to mix plastering materials (multi finish, board finish, bonding and drywall adhesive)
• How to apply plasterboard to a wooden frame
• How to apply plasterboard to a brick surface using dry wall adhesive (dry lining/dot and dab)
• How to fill and repair an open fireplace using bonding coat
• How to prepare and repair exterior/interior walls using sand and cement
• How to prepare for skimming using scrim tape, skim beads and angle beads
• How to plaster a ceiling
• How to skim around a window
• How to skim on top of bonding
• How to polish final skim
• Advice on employment

During the 2 Day Pure Skimming Course you will learn how to perfect the techniques you have previously acquired and take them to a more advance level using new methods to gain extra fluency and master speed skimming with your trowel.
What you will learn

• How to perfect your skim mix
• How and when to use new speed skimming techniques
• How to skim damaged walls areas back to perfection
• How to skim around obstacles
• How to skim from skirting board up

Do you think this course will teach my how to plaster or get a wall from a bad state into a flat wall for tiling whatever the means from this checklist above

Thanks for your comments

[Ric]

plasterboarding dot and bab plus mechanical fixing is something you could do yourself with a bit of practice tys. its amazing what you can do when you have a bit of experience with the trowels.....

[tysfoot]

my dad has nicely said he wll pay for the course as its costs me hundreds of pounds to set up as a tiler. thought the plastering may come in handy.

As a freeby will this course show me most things of how to plaster priot to tiling

[Ric]

be good if u let us know how useful the course is....may get some people in the mood for it!!!

[james]

i can get a really uneven wall back to within about 3mm but i Can't seem to skim, guess it just practise. but i pass on plastering work as alot of friends and 2 of my family plaster.

[floydyboy]

Tiler burden is corect plastering is a highly skilled job and no fast track course will get you any where near being a plasterer.i have been a plasterer for 20 years and there is too much to know and learn . there is no way they can teach you the trade in 1,2 or 3 weeks it is impossible.i have an apprentice with me and is on is 3rd year and still can not dash properly [and he is a good 1]IF THE PLASTERING IS NOT RIGHT U GOT PROBLEMS. as most of us will know.

[bigdaz]

I did a 5 day course and then plastered friends and family's walls for free to build up experience. Once I was happy with my progress I started to advertise and got quite a few jobs in.
the first attempt after the course was a 12x7' wall which took me 12 hours and looked rough. a few months later I could skim an average size room in 8 hours doing my own mixing and I was getting recommendations so guess I cant be too bad. Ceilings can be hard work but not much call for them if you want to plaster as part of your tiling

I have used backing plaster, dot & dab and of course topcoat but never sand and cement although thats what we used on the course so i know the basics of it.

only downside I can see is as well as paying for a new course you'll have to invest hundreds in a new set of tools too