Description
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 are employed by construction companies and by plastering, drywalling and lathing contractors, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Job Titles
- Fireproofing plasterer
- Moulding plasterer
- Plasterer
- Stucco plasterer
Main 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.
Plasterers
- 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
- Fabricate 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.
Workplaces
- Construction companies
- Plastering contractors
- Drywalling contractors
- Lathing contractors
- Self-employed
Skills
- Quality Control Testing
- Coordinating
- Decision Making
- Equipment and Tool Selection
- Evaluation
- Operation and Control
Abilities
- Trunk Strength
- Body Flexibility
- Dynamic Strength
- Stamina
- Gross Body Coordination
Personal Attributes
- Attention to detail
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Analytical Thinking
- Independence
Similar Occupations
- Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers (72014)
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be good for lasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers (73102) in Prince Edward Island for the 2022-2024 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
- A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers in Prince Edward Island:
- Approximately 100 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
- Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers mainly work in the following sectors:
- Construction (NAICS 23): more than 95%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 78% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 22% compared to 16% for all occupations
- 61% of plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers work all year, while 39% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- 32% of plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: more than 95% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: less than 5% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: 39% compared to 11% for all occupations
- high school diploma or equivalent: 30% compared to 28% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 17% compared to 11% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 9% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: n/a
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Canada | $21.10 | $30.55 | $41.61 |
Training
There are no known training programs for this occupation in PEI. If you are aware of a local training program, please contact us.
There are currently no job listings for this occupation on WorkPEI.