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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To do a plastering course so I can do my walls myself?

36 replies

EddieStobbart · 18/04/2015 01:42

Looks like course lasts 2 weeks and cost around a grand.

Have had a quote of £800 to plaster two rooms.

Would need to buy tools and plaster - is it likely to look really really shit if I did the course and attempted myself?

Plumbing course as well...

OP posts:

AmateurSeamstress · 18/04/2015 02:21

I think it is really, really hard to get a good finish plastering, and a 2 week course won't give you the sheer amount of practice you'd need to get a not-shit finish. You would also be significantly slower than a professional. Plus, unless you have a property business or something and will get regular practice, I think you might lose the knack over time.

I have only done amateur plastering, and I loathe it, so paying actual cash to spend 2 weeks plastering... Nope, not for me. But then what do I know, maybe it's easy once you are taught and the knack stays with you forever. I still think it must be backbreaking though.

lertgush · 18/04/2015 02:34

I'd do the plumbing course but not the plastering course. You don't often need to plaster your own home but plumbing basics are always worth knowing.

When we redid our bathroom the plasterer was incredible. There was no floor so he put some crates down on the joists and managed to plaster the floor and ceiling in a few hours without putting a foot wrong.

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 18/04/2015 03:27

Even Sarah Beaney reckons you should pay for a plasterer

MyFriendsCallMeOh · 18/04/2015 04:07

You need lots of experience in plastering to get a great finish, I'd let the pros do it. Plumbing is very black or white, you either get it right or not, plus you tube can get you pretty far with that too.

happylittlevegemites · 18/04/2015 05:49

I did a plastering course - it was brilliant. An evening course. If I may be immodest :) the instructor was impressed - I seemed to take to it well.

I can skim part of a wall to a reasonable standard. I did a pretty good good job skimming over an artex chimney breast too. It was a period property we were renovating, so a less-than-perfect finish was acceptable. I did two ceilings, and did a bit of a shit job of it to be honest.

There is no way in hell I would skim a whole room. I don't have the skills. Also (and this is a BIG factor), I'm just not physically strong enough - it is physically very hard work. It would take an incredibly long time.

The kit required is pretty cheap. And I enjoyed the course, and it put me at a standard that means I could chase in wires etc. I'd certainly recommend doing it. But there are other DIY skills I can do to a higher standard. I would actually quite like to do a decorating course, that's what I seem to do a lot of.

GinPleaseThankYou · 18/04/2015 05:55

My husband runs a plastering company. He gets loads of business from people who try and plaster rooms themselves then need to pay a professional to come in and fix the almighty mess they've just created.

He also says you can add a grand to the cost of the course for the tools you will need.

Leave it to the professionals!

OoompaLooompa · 18/04/2015 06:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DoraGora · 18/04/2015 08:06

Got spare cash and fancy a challenge? Do the course. Do one corner of the room. If it's not going according to plan, get someone else to finish the whole job. If you don't give it a go, you'll never know.

SquinkiesRule · 18/04/2015 08:21

Do it. Skills like that are never a waste.
Dh has just done the plastering in three bedrooms for us. He watched a lot of you tube videos and read a lot of info on it, already had the tools he'd been given some by an elderly friend. But he's always been a very handy person. Mechanic by trade, and house renovator on the side.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 18/04/2015 08:25

Tbh id ask around for a few more quotes. All the plasterers we have used / know charge a day rate of £120, and would take three days for two rooms.

Redcastle · 18/04/2015 10:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LaChatte · 18/04/2015 10:25

I do a lot of DIY. I redid our kitchen and bathroom including all the plumbing and electricity. I also put up a partition wall, and installed a staircase with customised cupboards. I also built a wooden deck in the garden, and redid all the flooring in our house. I'm happy with the results.

Despite numerous attempts, I can't get a decent finish on plastered walls.

LaChatte · 18/04/2015 10:26

Didn't mean to sound so full of myself then, what I was trying to say is that it's bloody difficult!

MidniteScribbler · 18/04/2015 10:28

Think about how much time it will take you to do the job compared to the professionals. I always have great intentions of painting rooms myself, but the reality is that a professional painter will do the job in a couple of day with a professional finish, and it would take me weeks to get the motivation to do the same quality of job. There's a lot better ways of using my time.

Tizwozliz · 18/04/2015 10:31

I really enjoy plastering. I've done 3 bedrooms and the kitchen/diner including the ceiling.

Thought I'd give it a go as the worst case scenario was wasting a bit of money on plaster before calling someone else in. Decided first room was acceptable so carried on OH mixes for me

On the other hand, I have no wish to ever tile a floor again...

Tizwozliz · 18/04/2015 10:36

Before and after

www.flickr.com/photos/ebygomm/7061466223/in/set-72157633377194013

Not professional standard but the money saving was worth the tradeoff.

DarthVadersTailor · 18/04/2015 10:40

It's great to try and learn, but I will tell you now that it takes much longer than 2 weeks to become a good spread. A grands a lot of money to spend too.

LaChatte · 18/04/2015 10:42

Looks good Tiz

The bit of plastering I have done is over plasterboard, trying to hide the joints. All I can see is the joints. It annoys the hell out of me.

ImperialBlether · 18/04/2015 10:45

Tiz, if you're in the NW, let me know - I have a job for you!

SoupDragon · 18/04/2015 10:49

I worked with a woman who did exactly what you are proposing, OP. she replasted her whole house!

Having said that, I think I would pay the £800 for two rooms. It would be far quicker and the finish better. Having watched the pros on things like DIYSOS it looks like bloody hard work, especially ceilings and the top of walls.

DarthVadersTailor · 18/04/2015 10:53

Also it's worth noting that with plastering you can't be slow really, not when doing a large surface. Time is of the essence and you won't have the skills to be quick. A bit of patchwork? Sure, I can do that quite well. A whole wall or ceiling? Different matter entirely.

Tizwozliz · 18/04/2015 10:53

We put coving up so I didn't need to worry too much about the wall/ceiling joint

On the hire a professional it will be quicker thing, plastering is actually something you can't really take your time with. Part of the skill is being able to work with the plaster quickly enough before it goes off. This is where having someone to mix for you really helps.

Charlotte3333 · 18/04/2015 10:56

I'll always have a go at a bit of DIY; my Dad was a sparky and taught me about electrics and plumbing, and the basics like laying tiles and flooring, he said all women ought to know exactly how to do stuff like that so they're never reliant on men (he's an awesome feminist). But even he won't attempt to plaster walls. Pay someone to come in and do a cracking job, and take the plumbing course instead.

Original poster

EddieStobbart · 18/04/2015 15:20

Thanks all, this has been really useful. I'm going to get a few more quotes for the wall and give the plumbing course some thought!

OP posts:

laughingcow13 · 18/04/2015 20:05

DH did a plastering course for the same reason (but only a 4 day one)He replastered the whole (big) house

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