what to do?

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bailey326

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just been laid off cause we aint got no more work on. Im an apprentice and been so for the last 18months.
i got no chance of getting on with anymore plasterers at the moment so im gonna just try get my own little bits and pieces of work to try and tick me over.
The thing is, im lacking confidence in certain areas.
My skimming, plasterboarding and dot n dabbing are more than fine, but my rendering, applying backing coats and screeding still need to be brought upto scratch. I wouldnt feel right charging someone and working on their house if i had to do any of these jobs.
Im gonna be getting my van sign written and some cards made etc... and was only gonna put skimming and reskims.

What do you think?
 
Bad luck there mate about your job but your not alone there lots of people in the same boat luckily you know a bit about the trade my advice would be to get the cards done with Plastering services wrote on them ,you will prob get more calls , you can always take a look at the job and if you still think you are not sure if you can do it you can always say your busy and turn it down or get another plasterer for a day and pay him and learn from him.ps get the cards done professionally though it looks better
 
bailey326 said:
just been laid off cause we aint got no more work on. Im an apprentice and been so for the last 18months.
i got no chance of getting on with anymore plasterers at the moment so im gonna just try get my own little bits and pieces of work to try and tick me over.
The thing is, im lacking confidence in certain areas.
My skimming, plasterboarding and dot n dabbing are more than fine, but my rendering, applying backing coats and screeding still need to be brought upto scratch. I wouldnt feel right charging someone and working on their house if i had to do any of these jobs.
Im gonna be getting my van sign written and some cards made etc... and was only gonna put skimming and reskims.

What do you think?
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Vey rare will you get jobs that are already prepped mate. There will always be an element of hardwall/bonding/S&C to do before skimming. You may get the odd artex ceiling to do but almost everything will need some sort of work doing before you skim.

Best of luck mate, i hope things pick up for you. ;)
 
i think i will just advertise for all plastering work and then if i look at a job i cant handle just get another plasterer in and do it with him (even if it means im working for free) and learn.

not that theres much work but anything here and there will do and it beats sitting on my arse waiting for a job to come up.
 
lol when I started I never really did much just skimming but over time you learn..... DP taught me a method of floating works a treat..... now I dont worry about anything. Just get on and do it.

Best of luck, if it goes tits just phone up a local spread they always willing to help

Danny
 
that is the same for me..sept iv been plastering on me own for 2 years..6years and all..and 2 be fair im v.good a finishng dot and dab patching ect but havent done any rendering or ever backed out a whole wall be for..and never even seen screeding done? i do ok for work never had a job i cant do..
 
Well with a wall I use screeds to get it plumb so screed down each end of the wall (if the wall is longer than your straight edge you may need more screeds) then when they pick up fill in the void and rule off the screeds perfct walls.... long method but guarunteeed results.

Screeding is even easier, quite a relaxing day really, unless your the labourer! Just find the highest point of the room get a level mark all round the wall this will the be your FFL (finish floor level normally on site this is already marked) set your screeds up like i said doing your wall get them flat level ect pack the mixx right down float up and I always hard trowel too, gets a better finish.

On site screeding is normally pumped but I have done some where I have had to mix it.... hard graft!!

Hope that helps a bit, its all common sense.

Danny
 
im in the same boat too lads all the work ive had is d&d ,small rendering work , and skimming some of the stuff the lads talk about on here is alien to me ,,but im learnig everyday joining ths forum has been a massive help
 
this forum is a big help, sometimes i just sit reading through all the different topics picking up tips and tricks
 
Have you been going to college on your apprenticeship? If so you could always ask them if you could attend and get your technical certificate towards your MA. This would be an ICA if your already enrolled but if not it would be the diploma in plastering. Either way it will give you the opportunity of practicing on the areas your not yet comfortable with. Hope things work out for you mate, its preety damn hard out there at the mo
 
Sorry to hear about your job but fair play to you ,we've all been there,my advice would be break every thing down into small chunks.don't look at the whole house or room look at walls on there own,if you can do one wall then look at the room if you can do one room look at doing the rest,but i would agree with advertise as plastering service's another trick is altough i work on my own i always say that WE should be able to do that and if you can't do it yourself then get help.It also makes it sound like you've got a firm not on your own hope this helps. ;D :D
 
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