- Thread starter Sal
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Gervase
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It depends...
If you're wanting to plaster your own house, are reasonably practical, physically fit and have strong arms and shoulders, then a course like that is an excellent starter; giving you the basics.
You'll need some time to consolidate what you're taught, howefver - the basics of plastering are fairly straightforward, but it is a craft skill that takes time and practice to master.
If you are intending to do your own plastering, do the course and see how comfortable you feel about tackling your own project. If you are confident, then do as much plastering as you can as soon as you can to acquire the skills you will have been shown on the course - start off on places like the cupboard under the stairs and bits of wall behind wardrobes, and rig up some lath on a frame on which to practise (the beauty of lime plaster is that you can scrape it off and have another go). And don't start immediately on the drawing room ceiling!
If you're wanting to plaster your own house, are reasonably practical, physically fit and have strong arms and shoulders, then a course like that is an excellent starter; giving you the basics.
You'll need some time to consolidate what you're taught, howefver - the basics of plastering are fairly straightforward, but it is a craft skill that takes time and practice to master.
If you are intending to do your own plastering, do the course and see how comfortable you feel about tackling your own project. If you are confident, then do as much plastering as you can as soon as you can to acquire the skills you will have been shown on the course - start off on places like the cupboard under the stairs and bits of wall behind wardrobes, and rig up some lath on a frame on which to practise (the beauty of lime plaster is that you can scrape it off and have another go). And don't start immediately on the drawing room ceiling!
Carol
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Well worth it and many local councils run inexpensive ones. OH went and then taught me all he'd learned and then we began re-pointing on the wall furthest from the house. Internally we have patched plaster but not tackled whole rooms yet. Lime is a forgiving mixture compared to the pink stuff.
L1zzy
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My advice is to go do the course - a small investment now is almost bound to save ££'s later - I recently went on a National Trust lime day and I can honestly say it ws brill and inspired me to take down some grotty painted plaster on an inside wall and in Spring (after the wall has dried out) I intend repointing. As PPUK respondents have previously said you'll find out Lime is brilliantly forgiving of the novice giving you plenty of time to coirrect mistakes - Go for it you've nothing to lose - its an investment.
Sal,
Do the course and get as much out of it as you can i.e. ask loads of questions and have lots more prepared...I can plaster but use the modern gypsum type mainly...it can be different using lime...so I did a similar course and our cottage has scene the benefits plus it gives you some insite into the product and trade...so if you do have to get someone in then at least you have the knowledge not to be fobbed off.
Do the course and get as much out of it as you can i.e. ask loads of questions and have lots more prepared...I can plaster but use the modern gypsum type mainly...it can be different using lime...so I did a similar course and our cottage has scene the benefits plus it gives you some insite into the product and trade...so if you do have to get someone in then at least you have the knowledge not to be fobbed off.
Do the course! I recently did a similar course at Mike Wye (mikewye.co.uk) with 3 friends - it was a really good day out, great fun, a fantastic alternative to IT and between us we now feel ready to replaster a few rooms in the house.
If you have a pratical bone in your body I'm sure you'll get on really well, and it is immediately obvious how forgiving lime can be.
If you have a pratical bone in your body I'm sure you'll get on really well, and it is immediately obvious how forgiving lime can be.
monkey writer
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Yep do it!
I couldn't find any courses in Kent so I read some books and websites and watched the Mike Wye video (which is very useful but could be much better... There's definately a need out there for a quality lime plastering video which shows everything in detail...
Anyway, then I just went for it (never plastered before) and started with one of the kitchen walls... it came out pretty damn good! I'm still experimenting so every piece of the kitchen wall has a different surface texture, but improving all the time and it's not too difficult as long as you're not a perfectionist...!!! And it is a lot of fun.
I couldn't find any courses in Kent so I read some books and websites and watched the Mike Wye video (which is very useful but could be much better... There's definately a need out there for a quality lime plastering video which shows everything in detail...
Anyway, then I just went for it (never plastered before) and started with one of the kitchen walls... it came out pretty damn good! I'm still experimenting so every piece of the kitchen wall has a different surface texture, but improving all the time and it's not too difficult as long as you're not a perfectionist...!!! And it is a lot of fun.
I have not specifically done a lime plastering course(though intend to do so) but have done a cob building course along with a bricklaying course. Currently, am doing plastering and plumbing courses. It causes some amusement with colleagues and friends(not that i blame them!) but I enjoy them, they are a break from a boring job, and usefully gives me the confidence to try things myself and, if required, some knowledge when dealing with companies/builders. Okay most lime courses are in the region of £100 for a day but I think you will pick up some useful tips, if clear of your requirements, and if that leads to a good/better job it is money well spent.
Louis Henry
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Yes, it's great fun, though I have never yet mastered the technique of making the plaster surface follow the contours of the stone underneath like the old plaster in my house. Steel or wooden floats make it too even.
worms
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I've not been on a lime course so probably shouldn't comment, but in my experience you get more out of these things when you have already dabbled in the subject first. When money is in short supply and the materials are cheap to have a play with, I would recommend you to have a bash first, then go and learn the tricks that have been holding you back. I've had fun with various dubious mixtures of lime and the stuff is so forgiving (so far!).
Moreteyne
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I would get on a course and read as much as possible. Using the white stuff is great , but being advised of what can go wrong is invaluable. Could save you time and money in the long run.
biffvernon
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Mark Womersley runs his courses from a pub. It's a particularly fine 15th century timber framed hall house with a fantastic history, including the home of Joseph Priestley. IoE number: 340983
bournonite
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As a bit of an add-on to all this - we are running courses all the time now - but the one comment that we are getting is that one day courses simply dont give you the experience to do the job.. Our courses are 1 on 1, and last from 2 to 10 days., working with one of our guys in a real situation - learning how to mix, the right proportions of materials, types of sand and lime, types of hair - whether to use polyprop fibres., etc. Learning enough to be able to look at various sand mixes and work out whether that sand is ok for the job, whether to use nhl2 or 3.5, whether to use a putty top coat or finish with rubbed 3.5 etc., is a long process of trial and experience.
I think there is a great danger of loads of people going out there and using lime for the sake of it, because they have done a 1 day course - down the track, there are going to be houses all over the place with dubious quality limework, applied over substrates that have not been properly prepared (so many jobs we look at, the owners have 'prepared' the wall - only to be told to spend another week cleaning off the remains of paint or other finishes, patches of gypsum finish, etc., before we can get a good key with a scratch coat) It's an area for professionals - its like sending people on a 1 day course to learn to re-wire their house - would you do it.... I doubt very much... Working with lime is a craft, for which apprentices used to spend many years learning before becoming qualified in their own right.
1 day courses need putting in their perspective - they are there to give people a bit of basic info on how to understand the possible problems associated with doing work on their house - NOT to learn how to do it! We have a client at the moment who posts on this forum - when we actually spent time with him in his house, he willingly admitted that it was a much more involved and difficult job than he had realised - he is just about to start helping us with the internal plastering - but has had a crash course in preparing substrates first - its taken him nearly the last two weeks just to get ready for us. I've no doubt that by the time we've finished, he will be well informed and capable of doing a good job of small areas and patches of lime plaster - but we will be working with him for several weeks - not one day!
I think there is a great danger of loads of people going out there and using lime for the sake of it, because they have done a 1 day course - down the track, there are going to be houses all over the place with dubious quality limework, applied over substrates that have not been properly prepared (so many jobs we look at, the owners have 'prepared' the wall - only to be told to spend another week cleaning off the remains of paint or other finishes, patches of gypsum finish, etc., before we can get a good key with a scratch coat) It's an area for professionals - its like sending people on a 1 day course to learn to re-wire their house - would you do it.... I doubt very much... Working with lime is a craft, for which apprentices used to spend many years learning before becoming qualified in their own right.
1 day courses need putting in their perspective - they are there to give people a bit of basic info on how to understand the possible problems associated with doing work on their house - NOT to learn how to do it! We have a client at the moment who posts on this forum - when we actually spent time with him in his house, he willingly admitted that it was a much more involved and difficult job than he had realised - he is just about to start helping us with the internal plastering - but has had a crash course in preparing substrates first - its taken him nearly the last two weeks just to get ready for us. I've no doubt that by the time we've finished, he will be well informed and capable of doing a good job of small areas and patches of lime plaster - but we will be working with him for several weeks - not one day!
Nemesis
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Small acorns...
Gervase admits now that plastering he did at the outset he has since re-done, as he has learned more, and I reckon has more expertise now than most, but I do think anyone should go on a course and learn the basics. After that they can try patching small areas and learn more and build up from there.
There are people who post here who have built up enough expertise to plaster well, look at GK, in some cases, such as Nigel Watts, very well indeed to do all that decorative stuff, but Nigel is obviously someone with a feel for craft skills (he can do joinery as well) and the patience of a saint, but as with all things some will be better than others.
Whatever - it's all got to be better than many of the alternatives! And these courses help build a community with an interest in traditional repair and period buildings - no bad thing.
The downside for some is that of those who go on SPAB courses some never quite recover from close proximity to Marianne in her overalls, but that's another issue entirely.
Gervase admits now that plastering he did at the outset he has since re-done, as he has learned more, and I reckon has more expertise now than most, but I do think anyone should go on a course and learn the basics. After that they can try patching small areas and learn more and build up from there.
There are people who post here who have built up enough expertise to plaster well, look at GK, in some cases, such as Nigel Watts, very well indeed to do all that decorative stuff, but Nigel is obviously someone with a feel for craft skills (he can do joinery as well) and the patience of a saint, but as with all things some will be better than others.
Whatever - it's all got to be better than many of the alternatives! And these courses help build a community with an interest in traditional repair and period buildings - no bad thing.
The downside for some is that of those who go on SPAB courses some never quite recover from close proximity to Marianne in her overalls, but that's another issue entirely.
biffvernon
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You're right of course, Bournonite, but it's important that we professionals, even those of us who started as geologists rather than in the building trade, do not discourage people from having a go, by bombasting them with the subtle complexities of the trade. Pretty much anybody should be capable of covering a wall with lime plaster after few hours reading of this website and a few others. The result may not be perfect but it will be satisfying and probably do less harm to the building than many builders, with a lifetime's experience of cement render and gypsum plaster work, would achieve.
Read a book, go on a day-course, go on a month-course; whatever you fancy; the important thing is to pick up a trowel and join in the fun.
Read a book, go on a day-course, go on a month-course; whatever you fancy; the important thing is to pick up a trowel and join in the fun.
bournonite
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I must admit I was tempted to do a mariannne course for just that reason Nemesis - it was booked out, so I gave up!!
Biff - you know I've never once attempted to claim I can do it professionally - I run the show..- but you refer to the subtle complexities etc - they flippin well are - and lets try and make sure people are aware of them and dont make a mess of things. Totally agree about picking up the trowel - I do it all the time, but it'll be years before I can do what our chaps can do - try plastering a barrel vaulted ceiling which curves around a gentle bend in the passageway - so there isnt a single flat area - you can't use a trowel at all!!!!
Long live this forum though - I've directed a lot of people to it...
Biff - you know I've never once attempted to claim I can do it professionally - I run the show..- but you refer to the subtle complexities etc - they flippin well are - and lets try and make sure people are aware of them and dont make a mess of things. Totally agree about picking up the trowel - I do it all the time, but it'll be years before I can do what our chaps can do - try plastering a barrel vaulted ceiling which curves around a gentle bend in the passageway - so there isnt a single flat area - you can't use a trowel at all!!!!
Long live this forum though - I've directed a lot of people to it...