Hi - New to forum

[magnette]

Hi all,

I recently discoverd the Plasterers forum through a link from the Electricians forum. I am currently studying my G&G 2330 Electrical Installation in order to expand the services that I offer through my property maintenance firm.

I started my own "company" about six years ago whilst working as a Buildings maintenance engineer. I was fed up with my employer turning the overtime on and off like a tap which can make life very difficult when you are trying to raise a family and pay a mortgage. I figured that if I had my own part time business, then I would no longer be at their mercy. I could already Tile, Plumb and fit bathrooms to a good standard due to the day job, so decided to earn myself some extra cash from these skills, rather than make my employer richer.

I had always had a passing interest in Plastering, so I put myself on a one week hand plastering course at the Midlands school of Plastering, believing that it would teach me all I needed to know (how nieve). A week after I finished the course, I was laid off! Realising that I was in no position to go plastering full time, I had to find another job. I was lucky to find employment again quite quickly working less hours. This allowed me to go forward and start my partime plastering business.

My first job was a disaster with all of my beautiful skim coat cracking and peeling like dried up orange peel. I had a few more jobs like this until a pro plasterer asked me why I wasn't using PVA. I explained that I had never been taught it at "Plastering School" What a revelation! My plastering was transformed. I carried on plugging away part time, often coming across new situations that I had never dealt with before and being forced into finding the correct plastering solutions. Over the years, I have honed my plastering skills and I now feel comfatable tackling most plastering situations that I am faced with

Six years have now passed and I have learnt an awful lot about plastering during this time. I still occassionaly come across new problems that I have not seen before, but enjoy tackling them and putting them right. The greatest pleasure that I get from Plastering is seeing a customers face before and after the work is completed. Before the work is done, customers can be quite down and anguished, believing that that their house is falling apart. You go in there, work your magic and then watch their faces light up! Suddenly what was to them a demolition site has now become the finishing post and they can see the end in sight. It really lifts peoples spirits. I always try to offer the customer honest, fair advice and I believe that this has stood me in good stead over the years.

I still run my business part time and I still have my day job. I never took the leap due to my new employer being very good to work for. It is them that are paying for my electrical qualifications and they are totally cool about me running my own business as well, so I guess that is how it will stay.

Regards, Magnette

[chancer]

welcome mate,youve done a course an learnt how to use a trowel,a weeks enough to learn a tool to master plastering you need to understand back grounds and how to use suction or kill it,this could take a few years or ask on the forum theres some old hands on the ship and i cant see a problem that cant be sorted

[jay]

welcome like most trades you never stop learning good luck

[magnette]

Cheers guys, its nice to speak to friendly people in the trade. Sometimes it can be difficult working on your own, particuarly when you come across a new problem and have nobody to turn to for advice.

[specialrider]

hi, welcome.

[Whitebeam]

Hi and welcome