Plasterers, Drywall Installers and Finishers, and Lathers

Nature of work

Plasterers apply finish, and maintain and restore plaster or similar materials, on interior and exterior walls, ceilings and building partitions to produce plain or decorative surfaces. Drywall installers and finishers install and finish drywall sheets and various types of ceiling systems. Lathers install support framework for ceiling systems, interior and exterior walls and building partitions. They work for construction companies and by plastering, drywalling, and lathing contractors, or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Plasterers:

• Clean and prepare surfaces.
• Mix plaster ingredients in trough to desired consistency.
• Apply, level and smooth coats of plaster using trowels, floats, brushes, and spraying equipment.
• Trowel or spray coats of stucco over exteriors of buildings to form weatherproof surfaces.
• Finish corners and angles and create decorative designs in finish coat, if required.
• Cure freshly plastered surfaces.
• Mould and install ornamental plaster panels, cornices, and trim.
• Spray acoustic materials or texture finish over walls and ceilings.

Drywall installers and finishers:

• Measure, cut and fit drywall sheets for installation on walls and ceilings.
• Position and secure sheets to metal or wooden studs or joists.
• Cut and install metal corner beads to protect exterior corners.
• Fill joints, nail indentations, holes and cracks with joint compound using trowel and broad knife.
• Tape over joints using taping machine and embed tape in compound.
• Smooth out excess compound and allow coat to dry.
• Apply successive coats of compound and sand seams and joints.
• Build and install suspended metal ceiling grids and place in panels to form acoustical and coffered ceilings.

Lathers:

• Prepare wall and ceiling layouts.
• Install metal stud framing and furring for interior drywall or plaster walls and ceilings, using hand and power tools.
• Attach metal or gypsum lath to studs or furring using nails, screws, clips, or wire ties.
• Cut openings in lath for heating and ventilation piping, ducts, and electrical outlets.
• Install corner beads and wire mesh around beams to which plaster is to be applied.
• May install acoustic tile, hangers for suspended ceilings and metal studs for composition wallboard or lath.

Sample job titles

• acoustic tile and drywall installer
• drywall finisher and plasterer
• drywall hanger
• gyproc applicator
• lather (interior systems mechanic)
• plasterer-decorator
• sheetrock applicator
• wall and ceiling installer

Skills

• Physical endurance, flexibility, and strength
• Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity
• Attention to detail
• Accuracy
• Good vision and spatial perception
• Ability to work at heights
• Ability to read and interpret information from drawings, blueprints, and specifications
• Ability to estimate and calculate size and dimensions
• Problem-solving and creative thinking skills
• Artistic aptitude is helpful in restorative work
• Ability to work alone or in a team

Job requirements

• High school or equivalent (usually).
• A combination of over three years of work experience and some high school, college, or industry courses in plastering, drywalling, or lathing.
• Trade Qualifier option for Drywall Finisher and Plasterer, 8,100 hours, and other criteria.
• Trade Qualifier option for Lather (interior systems mechanic), 8,100 hours, and other criteria.
• Certification for drywall finishers and plasterers is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
• Certification for lathers (interior systems mechanics) is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
• Write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for drywall finisher and plasterer or lathers.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.

Other considerations

• Drywall finishers and plasterers work indoors on new construction sites or may work on older buildings doing repairs or renovations. They often work at heights, in noisy and dusty conditions, and alongside other trades.
• Lathers work both indoors and outdoors year-round. They generally work 40 hours per week, but overtime may be required to meet deadlines.
• The work requires a lot of standing, bending, and lifting heavy building materials. Lathers may need to work on aerial platforms, scaffolding, and ladders.
• Risks include injuries from working with hand or power tools or injuries due to bending and lifting.
• Jobs in the construction industry are affected by seasonal changes and economic conditions. Work may be on a project basis. Workers should be prepared for periods of unemployment. However, plaster and drywall installers are less affected by weather conditions and have steadier work throughout the year than other construction workers.
• Experienced drywall finishers and plasterers may advance to supervisory positions or other related areas like construction management, instruction, and inspection.
• Lathers may specialize in individual aspects of the trade like layout, wall framing, and drywall installation.
• Experienced lathers may act as mentors and trainers to apprentices in the trade. They may also advance to positions like estimators, supervisors, training coordinators, and project managers.
• Everyone has fair access to participate and succeed in the apprenticeship system. Everyone who develops the necessary skills and abilities should be able to succeed in the trades and trade qualification system. Work environments in the province support women and equity-seeking communities.

Regulations

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