Am I too old to be a plasterer?

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Ken Barlow

Ken Barlow

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So I've been living in Japan now for 15 years, and I am thinking of returning to the UK next year (2021). I'll be 46 by that time, but I'm still fit, strong, and in better shape than a lot of guys half my age that I know.

When I get back to England, I'd like to re-train in a trade. Way back In my early 20s, I used to work with my dad, who was a bathroom fitter. That involved a bit of dry lining and plastering, but I never did the finish coat. I have heard good things about Goldtrowel Academy, they have a six week NVQ/City and Guilds course.

I'd just like to ask the opinion of some professional plasterers. Do you think I'd be wasting my time trying to get into it now, or is it worth giving it a go? By the way, I do realize that taking a six-week course will not turn me into a professional standard plasterer. I'm aware that I'd need to labor and work my way up.
 
We get asked this question all the time and in most cases I would say turn it in fella there is exceptions I’ve seen it first hand but very rare! If you try you may fail but if your one of those freaks you might just do it but I would say the odds are against you (y) but not impossible some people shine in certain areas so you never know down to natural ability and jumping on with the right person that can dedicate themselves onto you! Long answer but I hope that made sense:ROFLMAO:
 
Ken Barlow said:
So I've been living in Japan now for 15 years, and I am thinking of returning to the UK next year (2021). I'll be 46 by that time, but I'm still fit, strong, and in better shape than a lot of guys half my age that I know.

When I get back to England, I'd like to re-train in a trade. Way back In my early 20s, I used to work with my dad, who was a bathroom fitter. That involved a bit of dry lining and plastering, but I never did the finish coat. I have heard good things about Goldtrowel Academy, they have a six week NVQ/City and Guilds course.

I'd just like to ask the opinion of some professional plasterers. Do you think I'd be wasting my time trying to get into it now, or is it worth giving it a go? By the way, I do realize that taking a six-week course will not turn me into a professional standard plasterer. I'm aware that I'd need to labor and work my way up.
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Is Deidre ok?
 
Ken Barlow said:
So I've been living in Japan now for 15 years, and I am thinking of returning to the UK next year (2021). I'll be 46 by that time, but I'm still fit, strong, and in better shape than a lot of guys half my age that I know.

When I get back to England, I'd like to re-train in a trade. Way back In my early 20s, I used to work with my dad, who was a bathroom fitter. That involved a bit of dry lining and plastering, but I never did the finish coat. I have heard good things about Goldtrowel Academy, they have a six week NVQ/City and Guilds course.

I'd just like to ask the opinion of some professional plasterers. Do you think I'd be wasting my time trying to get into it now, or is it worth giving it a go? By the way, I do realize that taking a six-week course will not turn me into a professional standard plasterer. I'm aware that I'd need to labor and work my way up.
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I would say don’t bother do another trade like a sparks. The thought of starting over gives me the shivers
 
Did you make up with Dierdre
Specialise in bathroom refurb , just skim the lid ( or artex )
 
No, not worth it at that stage of your life personally mate. Be 50ish time you're proper decent at it
 
Gas safe is the way to go. Good money and the regs are a lot more straightforward than being a sparky.
 
I would actually like to work in a office environment for a few months I reckon with my devilish good looks and personality I would be managing director by week 2 and banging everything under my spell :coffe:
 
Bartholomew said:
Yeah probably right, I'm a spark was only mentioning regs arent as bad as people often think, and not a clue on gas safe regs
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the one guy who does both gets frustrated by the nit picking with the electrical regs at reassessment time, whereas with gas, they’re not trying to reinvent the wheel every year. Can’t speak from my own experiences, although considered doing both, but not really worth the hassle anymore with regards to up keep of the tickets.
 
ChrispyUK said:
the one guy who does both gets frustrated by the nit picking with the electrical regs at reassessment time, whereas with gas, they’re not trying to reinvent the wheel every year. Can’t speak from my own experiences, although considered doing both, but not really worth the hassle anymore with regards to up keep of the tickets.
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Yep doing 18th edition was a bollock ache but should last for a good few years and hopefully I'll be done before 19th
 
Gas safe is expensive to qualify and you can get locked into one company who own your ticket, it's not transferable. Then the money isn't necessarily that good, or, as an independent you need a lot of expensive kit, and either rely on Centrica service subby jobs or sticking to standard boiler type of jobs. It's ok if you are with a decent firm who will pay a decent rate, but, big but, have to have enough work coming in. It gets more complicated if you want to extend the range of types of gas-jobs you can do, and so do the reassessments. Sparks is broadly easier, but does change more quickly as its a developing industry still.
 
Ken Barlow said:
So I've been living in Japan now for 15 years, and I am thinking of returning to the UK next year (2021). I'll be 46 by that time, but I'm still fit, strong, and in better shape than a lot of guys half my age that I know.

When I get back to England, I'd like to re-train in a trade. Way back In my early 20s, I used to work with my dad, who was a bathroom fitter. That involved a bit of dry lining and plastering, but I never did the finish coat. I have heard good things about Goldtrowel Academy, they have a six week NVQ/City and Guilds course.

I'd just like to ask the opinion of some professional plasterers. Do you think I'd be wasting my time trying to get into it now, or is it worth giving it a go? By the way, I do realize that taking a six-week course will not turn me into a professional standard plasterer. I'm aware that I'd need to labor and work my way up.
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thought you where in your late 80s
 
Ken Barlow said:
So I've been living in Japan now for 15 years, and I am thinking of returning to the UK next year (2021). I'll be 46 by that time, but I'm still fit, strong, and in better shape than a lot of guys half my age that I know.

When I get back to England, I'd like to re-train in a trade. Way back In my early 20s, I used to work with my dad, who was a bathroom fitter. That involved a bit of dry lining and plastering, but I never did the finish coat. I have heard good things about Goldtrowel Academy, they have a six week NVQ/City and Guilds course.

I'd just like to ask the opinion of some professional plasterers. Do you think I'd be wasting my time trying to get into it now, or is it worth giving it a go? By the way, I do realize that taking a six-week course will not turn me into a professional standard plasterer. I'm aware that I'd need to labor and work my way up.
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Play to your strengths. If you've been in Japan for all that time, then you'd be best opening a dojo I'd say.

Up here for thinking.
 
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