I know this is gonna cause some serious friction but I started on a 4 day course in 2003 so if I can do it I'm sure other people will be able to.

I went on to run a plastering contractors business for 5 years off the back of a 4 day course, if you are determined enough these courses are a great way to start.

You have to be realistic you won't be able to plaster large area's but if the course is a good one you should be able to carry out small jobs, thats how I started I did several small jobs, I then advertised in the star for work, I'll be honest I knew I wasn't capable of plastering full rooms so I advertised in the job centre for a plasterer and laboured for him, because I knew the basics he was ok working with me, I have since worked with dozens of plasterers some good, some bad, some seriously bad & some of them were very experienced plasterers.

So experience isn't everything, because if you learn from a poor tradesmen you could end up a poor tradesman yourself, I think the naysayers on here are missing the point, people know you can't be a tradesman after a 4 day course but these courses give people a chance to have a go at plastering.

These courses are designed to learn people the basics of plastering its then up to the individual if they want to persue a career in plastering, some of them will never want to see a trowel again some may be determined enough to go to the next level, working with a plasterer as a labourer or going onto longer term training and gaining nvq's or city & guilds qualifications.

But I think there is a definate place for these courses they could be the 1st step to a new career for some people, it was for me :D

All plasterers I know say it takes years to get to any kind of standard . Plastering is a lot more than just putting a skim coat on a wall. I know a few people that have thrown their money away on these things and say it was a complete waste of money.

The danger here is (whilst I'm all in favour of anyone learning a trade) people doing a short course then advertising themselves out for paid work, screwing up the job, thus getting all the building trade labelled as rogue traders.

TBH, I see some 'time served' plasters work and frankly wouldn't pay them for their efforts.
I doubt anyone leaves a 4 day course thinking they are the world greatest plasterer but if it gives you the basic techniques and principals to build upon, why not?
I was working in a house last week along side a retired decorator and could not believe the shocking standard of this guys work. Reminded me of the old Aero adverts!!!

4 day courses are killing the building trade, you learn nothing in that time scale, simple as that, go to college full time or learn zero !!!

Craig.

spot on lotar, it is a good stepping stone before you go to college. in some ways.
i have 5 yrs behind me and i am still picking things up, the problem is with these course's are if u get into a trade u should do it because it interests u and u like to do the practical work, most (if not all) of these course's are set up for ppl who just see the pound signs. plastering is not easy and there is no easy way to learn, hard work, dedication and time make you a good plasterer.
think of it like this u do the course pay £400 for it, u aint goin to walk on site and get top pay with that.
be lucky to get £150-200 a week.
also from talking to more experienced plasterer's they hate these course's and ppl who take them because u basically, u are saying you know how to plasterer in 4 days when it took the guy next to u 4 yrs to even pick up his trowel.

You are also spot on, we all know you can't be a top plasterer in 4 days, these courses are a good way to start I learned the hard way like you and most plasterers working as a labourer for months its a hard slog & you don't get on the trowel for months or you could go to college this also takes months or even years, these courses speed things up & teach people the right way of doing things because as you know if you start by working for a poor tradesman this could set you back months, if they go on a good short course this should start them on the right footing.

The course should be be called learn to mix plaster in four days cus that's how long it can take just to get the mix spot on, my EX labourer still couldn't get the mix right after 3 month sumtimes i thought i was pebble dashing but yes it's a good trade to get into but i'd suggest working with a general builder and picking up a few trades which i have done, you always have something to fall back on then but plasterers now can get upto £15 an hour which is really good

Spot on replies. A plasterer can, render, dash ,dryline, float and skim, skim boards, fit and run cornice, floor screed to name a few. These short courses are OK for the DIY'er only.

Craig,

All plasterers I know say it takes years to get to any kind of standard . Plastering is a lot more than just putting a skim coat on a wall. I know a few people that have thrown their money away on these things and say it was a complete waste of money.

4 days with us & you'd be sorting the plastering repairs in the kitchens you fit :hihi:

Yeh with plenty of filler no dowt . 4 day courses dont learn you how to plaster like comment above learn to mix if your lucky. The trade has gone really quite due to these so called plasterers been on 4 day courses im fed up with pickin up the pieces as commented above again . You should change the title learn bascic plastering ? Not learn to plaster in 4 days. I cant blame people for wanting to learn a trade but there is alot of dishonest people out there abusing your courses and going out and ripping people off .

i have just done the bathroom at home, roughed it board cielling and skim it up. then my dad wanted to tile it so he showed me how to go on and i did most of the tiling. it took me 4 days to do it get it right, straight you know, lookin sweet. point is there is no way even tho tiling is meant to be easier (no offence) that i would undertake any sort of tiling even tho i had "my 4 days".
no offence colin99 i am sure you have worked hard and done well mate but dont encourage others on these courses they are a waste.