time served v course

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It's not only because of government cutbacks but as a result of the courses churning many out which means more competition for people that are already established which in turn means there isn't the money or the continuity of work to employ apprentices.
 
It's not only because of government cutbacks but as a result of the courses churning many out which means more competition for people that are already established which in turn means there isn't the money or the continuity of work to employ apprentices.
I agree with your post,
How many spreads are on here that do have a apprentice that is of any worth and last more than couple of months or would stick the full apprenticeship..?
I bet there is only a few if that.Youth don't think of plastering as a career choice after school..a lot that do probably had a father or uncle etc that got them into plastering before they leave school.
 
That not true.Think their more of a chance of getting caught on site whith site agent and people that run the site .Unless they no nothing about plastering .and that very rare thes days .
I'm on about a fully time served spread who was taught proper by good instructors and lecturers. That has got to be better than someone jumping straight on the trowel? Site work is simple there is only two things to know and that's bead up and skim, after a month of that you will grasp it if you have any common sense and want to be there. Agents don't give a f**k they know all about easy fill :)
 
I'm on about a fully time served spread who was taught proper by good instructors and lecturers. That has got to be better than someone jumping straight on the trowel? Site work is simple there is only two things to know and that's bead up and skim, after a month of that you will grasp it if you have any common sense and want to be there. Agents don't give a f**k they know all about easy fill :)

I think it all needs a shake up to be honest... lecturers that have never worked in the real world teaching and then lecturers who are just crap trying to teach is also not great...
 
I'm on about a fully time served spread who was taught proper by good instructors and lecturers. That has got to be better than someone jumping straight on the trowel? Site work is simple there is only two things to know and that's bead up and skim, after a month of that you will grasp it if you have any common sense and want to be there. Agents don't give a f**k they know all about easy fill :)
I can see your point,I am time served but the college instructors were crap and no disrespect to the spread who taught me but his knowledge was lacking and he was stuck in his ways,he didn't like change or want to listen to anyone else's veiws,he taught me many things that were incorrect,since leaving him I have learned so much more,on my own,working with other spreads,the forum etc.there must be loads of people that were in the same boat as me thinking they're learning a trade only to come out the other side to realise you know fcuk all.
 
I can see your point,I am time served but the college instructors were crap and no disrespect to the spread who taught me but his knowledge was lacking and he was stuck in his ways,he didn't like change or want to listen to anyone else's veiws,he taught me many things that were incorrect,since leaving him I have learned so much more,on my own,working with other spreads,the forum etc.there must be loads of people that were in the same boat as me thinking they're learning a trade only to come out the other side to realise you know fcuk all.
But that's why you get a placement. For the proper real world practical side of things. Three years of College alone won't suffice you're right. Just shows what a farce the 2 week courses are.
 
Going slightly off topic. I started on the building in 84 as a hoddy and did a stint of labouring for pretty much every trade. When I set my heart on plastering (you don't get rained off, always loads of domestic and good pay) no one round my way was taking anyone on. Why train the competition? The British building industry became greedy and lazy. Simple as that. And that's why there was a rise in the 5 day courses. I'm one. As to whose best, I've seen good and bad in both.
 
Going slightly off topic. I started on the building in 84 as a hoddy and did a stint of labouring for pretty much every trade. When I set my heart on plastering (you don't get rained off, always loads of domestic and good pay) no one round my way was taking anyone on. Why train the competition? The British building industry became greedy and lazy. Simple as that. And that's why there was a rise in the 5 day courses. I'm one. As to whose best, I've seen good and bad in both.

I'm doing a 6 week course in the new year as im made redundant at xmas, got lots of skills in other areas but non proffesional and like the thought of plastering for the reasons you mention. I know the right end of a trowel and all the processes etc. Id love to not do the course but who wants a 30 year old lab with no experience who they know wants to train up and end up as their competion in 5 years time. As pug said no one will employ you so what choice do you end up with.
 
I never went to college.
Started as a labourer.
Told him I wanted to learn, within a few months I was skimming walls for £35 a day as a spotty 17 yo.
All I learnt was skimming from him.
Just after I was 18 I went and worked for a small building firm for 2 years learning new stuff and teaching myself more aspects of plastering.
The recession hit and I thought sod it.
I went on my own and since then I've grown in size, gained great experience and knowledge from other spreads.
I got a nvq through onsite and have never needed it.
I now run a business that I'm proud of, I have some subbies and am always busy with work.
I love my job and take great pride in what I do, I wouldn't change anything I've done or learnt.
I'd prob get quicker if I went on site but I don't see it as important as long as I leave a tidy job in clients property.

I don't think it matter what way you learn. What's matters is how good you become at your job.

If someone does a
6 week Course and becomes a good spread what difference does it make to a lad doing a 3year apprenticeship and becoming good?

A qualification means nothing now a days.
These companies hand them out like hot dinners.
The more they pass the more cash they get?
Doesn't take half a Brain cell to what they means!
 
I have met people who have spent 3 years at college and cant skim an 8x4 board.... proof is in the pudding
 
I'm also someone who learnt bits and pieces whilst working with a couple of multi traders, fitting bathrooms and kitchens, plastering is what really took my fancy though.

Worked like that for a few years and decided to go out on my own, made mistakes, learnt from them, learnt from working with other spreads and the rest I've taught myself, I'm quick enough to skim on site if I chose to go that route however prob not quite quick enough with floating, rendering etc/ I work domestics, do all aspects of plastering, still fit bathrooms, do a lot of tiling and carpentry, all to a high standard, however I only advertise as a plasterer.

Always fairly busy too, and to top it off, I do genuinely love my job, I get excited like a kid at xmas every time I buy new tools and it allows me to live the life I lead and do whatever the f**k I want, customers happy, I'm happy, win win all round :)
 
I'm on about a fully time served spread who was taught proper by good instructors and lecturers. That has got to be better than someone jumping straight on the trowel? Site work is simple there is only two things to know and that's bead up and skim, after a month of that you will grasp it if you have any common sense and want to be there. Agents don't give a f**k they know all about easy fill :)

What about boarding/dabbing/floating/coving/screeding/dashing(different renders)

While on time scales dealing with other trades and health and saftey etc....
 
I fully agree with jgreenplastering aslong as the job is bang on and the client is happy then i cant see why it matters how long you have been doing something.
 
I fully agree with jgreenplastering aslong as the job is bang on and the client is happy then i cant see why it matters how long you have been doing something.

Had the same arguement with a friend of me over riding a motorbike...

I was getting pissed off sat behind this chap going through some fun bends and I decided to give him some guidance through the next bend to hopefully encourage him to get a wiggle on.... he took offence to it then kicked off with me later on in the day.

He has been riding 20 years bla bla bla bla and I simply don't have the experience to be telling him how to ride... I pointed out that the average biker does 3000 miles a year, however I done over 50K miles in 3 years and had some advanced training etc etc and so if you divide out those 50,000 miles by 3000 I have in his terms 16 years experience....

The fact is I can outride him and it makes feck all difference the proof is in the pudding....

Skills testing is the way forward....
 
What about boarding/dabbing/floating/coving/screeding/dashing(different renders)

While on time scales dealing with other trades and health and saftey etc....
That's when the skimmers are f**k*d a plasterer should be able to do all that but on site they can only do one or the other but rarely just two of them never mind the rest. This is where domestics differ you need to know your s**t co you can't rely on the easy filler to pull you out the s**t.
 
In all honesty I dont know many "skimmers" except me.

I do most of the trade but im kept busy at skimming because its done right at a decent pace.
And im always kept busy.

My brother had his own render firm in oz for 8 years....came back and stays skimming ...hes kept busy full time skimming.
Its easy money when you have the respect of being a good "skimmer".
 
Easy fill .....is a myth.
Cost firms a fortune on patchers and painters counter charging.
And the fact it takes time to fill n sand.
Why would housing companies want this when they can use decent spreads to do it right the first time.
I wouldnt wanna pay twice for doing the 1 job.
wheres the "screeders" or the "boarders"
"Renderers".....is all I here on site.
not "wheres the 1 man" whos gonna complete these 200 plots.

Lads that get easy fill more in thier plots than paint !!! Usualy dont get used again and dont get paid.
 
Easy fill .....is a myth.
Cost firms a fortune on patchers and painters counter charging.
And the fact it takes time to fill n sand.
Why would housing companies want this when they can use decent spreads to do it right the first time.
I wouldnt wanna pay twice for doing the 1 job.
wheres the "screeders" or the "boarders"
"Renderers".....is all I here on site.
not "wheres the 1 man" whos gonna complete these 200 plots.

Lads that get easy fill more in thier plots than paint !!! Usualy dont get used again and dont get paid.
 
Mainly because it makes a mockery of our trade to lead people to think they can learn plastering at a two week training course when in fact it takes years to master properly and I mean years to learn all aspects of plastering.

You dead right this is my answer too.

Course cnuts take heed!
 
To me to be called a plasterer you need to know how to do everything internal and external. Skimming is just a small part of the job. It all right saying a Carpenter showed him slef how to skim. And he is a good plasterer. I can hang doors but I don't say am a Carpenter.
 
Easy fill .....is a myth.
Cost firms a fortune on patchers and painters counter charging.
And the fact it takes time to fill n sand.
Why would housing companies want this when they can use decent spreads to do it right the first time.
I wouldnt wanna pay twice for doing the 1 job.
wheres the "screeders" or the "boarders"
"Renderers".....is all I here on site.
not "wheres the 1 man" whos gonna complete these 200 plots.

Lads that get easy fill more in thier plots than paint !!! Usualy dont get used again and dont get paid.

the break up of plastering started with screeders, plasterers just did not like screeding. hard work laying screed and labourers knocking up 10 tonne of screed every day by hand .
the next part to separate was tacking, the price that was offered for tacking was impossible.
a plasterers labourer worked hard mixing course stuff by hand with a couple of plasterers wanting to float a house a day.
british gypsum started courses for dot and dab in the 60s which was the end for floating.
along came pre mixed plaster multi finish which took over from sirapite which was mixed with lime and board finish plaster or mirite plaster.
plastering today is easy money
 
About five/six years ago was finishing a set of corner stones on a a big self build house local to me here, a van pulled in and two lads ambled up to ask who was plastering the inside of the house, quite taken aback I asked what the foook they were on about , they explained they were specialist skimmers , could not believe my ears, find the concept completely mental..... apart from insulated external walls ninety percent of my insides are S&C and skim.

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It's the way with all trades now. You don't have plumbers anymore. There's heating engineers, bathroom fitters and leadwork boys. Chippies have split into roofers, kitchen fitters and 2nd fix etc.
 
Every trade is splitting up and I think it's not a bad thing...

If I water my house rendered I would not look for a plasterer I would look for a firm that just does rendering....

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Every trade is splitting up and I think it's not a bad thing...

If I water my house rendered I would not look for a plasterer I would look for a firm that just does rendering....

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In the countryside in Ireland when you want your house plastered theres no such thing as renderers,slabbers,skimmers,or any of those external finishes that sound like tropical diseases.A plasterer plasters houses internally and externally or else he's not a plasterer.Simple as that.And another thing I don't hear mentioned much here is sand and cement,seems to be extinct or out of date.In my opinion it's the best of the whole lot.
 
In the countryside in Ireland when you want your house plastered theres no such thing as renderers,slabbers,skimmers,or any of those external finishes that sound like tropical diseases.A plasterer plasters houses internally and externally or else he's not a plasterer.Simple as that.And another thing I don't hear mentioned much here is sand and cement,seems to be extinct or out of date.In my opinion it's the best of the whole lot.

Solidarity brother!

These 'renderers' on here talk about themselves like they are from a higher echelon of the trade. [emoji12]
If you can't do the whole lot here, you get none of it!


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Every trade is splitting up and I think it's not a bad thing...

If I water my house rendered I would not look for a plasterer I would look for a firm that just does rendering....

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

I think it's a feckin terrible thing, who is going to do all the niche work? Work that wouldn't keep a man in work but without people to carry niche work out the trade dies.
It's basically the dumbing down of a trade, and then people moan & whinge about money not being good enough???
From what I've read on here its not too shabby for some having half a trade!!!


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Solidarity brother!

These 'renderers' on here talk about themselves like they are from a higher echelon of the trade. [emoji12]
If you can't do the whole lot here, you get none of it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I find it easier to show lads how to render then skim.
 
I think it's a feckin terrible thing, who is going to do all the niche work? Work that wouldn't keep a man in work but without people to carry niche work out the trade dies.
It's basically the dumbing down of a trade, and then people moan & whinge about money not being good enough???
From what I've read on here its not too shabby for some having half a trade!!!


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Half a trade!a certain storm trooper wouldn't take to kindly to u saying he had half a trade as he had 4 trades!:ROFLMAO:
 
Was in the pub last night after finishing a job.I was trying to remember today at work what I posted to be honest.I still stand by it though.
 
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