Plasterer Artisan Course, Level One

Unit 1 - Laying it on

Mr Merrow-Smith has shown considerable ability in covering wall apertures upto 1cm squared using a variety of products. His choice of tile cement to fill picture hook holes was, on the other hand, nearly his undoing on the Unit one assessment.

Unit 2 - Taking it off

Preparation of walls has proved difficult for Mr Merrow-Smith who has chosen to use a rotary disc sander to remove plasticised tile cement from the wall fillings. As anyone knows, tile cement sets darker than filler and so sanding requires additional strength and perseverance. The result is often that the plaster surrounding the filled orifice is worn away at a rate of knots, leaving the offending article sticking proudly out from the centre of a crater in the wall plaster.

Unit 4 - Mixing

Mr Merrow-Smith must learn to keep a clean set of tools. Having made up 2 kilos of wet Escayola it was somewhat of a surprise to him to find that the float was still set solid with yesterday's quick setting Yesso. By the time he had cleaned off the float, a hot solidifying lump of escayola had to be massaged by fingertip into any available wall spaces in order to make best use of it.

Unit 5 - Floating

Mr Merrow-Smith has demonstrated considerable initiative in wrapping a wet nappy cloth over the float in order to wash the rapidly drying Escayola flat with water. His hope that the plaster will set is, shall we say, hopeful. At this stage in the course Mr Merrow-Smith can thoroughly expect to return to see his formidable piece of plastering (25cm squared) laying on the living room floor, thus allowing him the opportunity to have another go at this prior to the examination.

Unit 6 - Having another go

Mr Merrow-Smith came on pretty well to completely cover a large area by his standards (100 cm squared) in less than 2 minutes using the dry float/wet nappy cloth technique. When it comes to plastering a hole the size of a dinner plate, Mr Merrow-Smith is your man (providing you don't mind a few streaks here and there caused by the nap in the cloth).

Unit 7 starts tomorrow; sanding down plaster that has been allowed to set proud of the main wall....

To be continued!