Plasterers, Drywall Installers and Finishers and Lathers (NOC 7284)
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. Most people who perform all of these duties in Manitoba and are referred to as Interior Systems Mechanics. They are employed by construction companies and by plastering, drywalling and lathing contractors, or they may be self-employed.
Return to top
Example Titles
- acoustical ceiling installer
- ceiling installer
- drywall applicator
- drywall finisher
- drywall installer and finisher apprentice
- drywall taper
- interior systems mechanic
- lather
- lather apprentice
- plasterer
- plasterer apprentice
- sheetrock applicator
- wood lather
>> View all titles
Return to top
Classified Elsewhere
- Supervisors of trade workers in this unit group (in 7219 Contractors and Supervisors, Other Construction Trades, Installers, Repairers and Servicers)
Return to top
Duties
Plasterers perform some or all of the following duties:
- 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.
Drywall installers and finishers perform some or all of the following duties:
- 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 perform some or all of the following duties:
- 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.
Return to top
Skills
Plasterers, Drywall Installers and Finishers and Lathers need the following skills and abilities:
Essential Skills:
- Good oral communication skills
- good physical health, strength and stamina
- good eye-hand coordination, vision, and good spatial abilities
- ability to work at heights
- ability to work independently or as a team
- good problem solving skills.
Technical Skills:
- general mechanical ability
- ability to read blueprints and technical specifications
- material management skills
- ability to operate power tools and equipment
- knowledge of safe operating procedures.
Return to top
Employment Requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a four year apprenticeship program in Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic) or several years of work experience in plastering, dry walling and/or lathing is usually required.
- Lather trade certification is available but voluntary in Manitoba.
- Some employers will require new workers to have a basic set of hand tools.
Return to top
Terms & Conditions
Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers usually work indoors, unless applying stucco to building exteriors. Fine dust is a common hazard on job sites and the use of protective masks in strongly recommended. As well, the work can be physically demanding, as it involves heavy lifting, bending and working overhead.
Manitoba's Drywall Mechanic regulations state that wages for apprentices, when not attending school, shall not be less than the provincial minimum wage plus:
50% during the first six months
65% during the second six months
75% during the third six months
80% during the fourth six months
85% during the fifth six months
90% during the last six months
Apprentices who work for a unionized employer are entitled to the rate specified by the collective agreement, providing this is equal to or exceeds the regulated wage.
Plasterers and lathers may experience seasonal layoffs during the winter months. Most (89%) work full time when work is available (i.e. a 40 hour week with occasional overtime). While the majority of people in this occupational group are employees, a high percentage (36%) are self employed as independent contractors.
Although employment in this occupation is primarily seasonal, the annual earnings reported below represent the prevailing wages, salaries, and/or net income for full time employment for the full year.
Return to top
Earnings
$30,300 per annum - starting
$39,900 per annum - average
$56,000 per annum - high
Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.
Return to top
Education / Training
- To become a certified Lather (interior systems mechanic) in Manitoba, apprenticeship training that combines on-the-job (practical) experience and in-school (technical) training is required. Contact the Apprenticeship Branch for more information and program requirements. http://www.apprenticemanitoba.ca/
The following institutions offer related training in this field:
- University College of the North offers a Drywall Applicator certificate.
- Some high schools in Manitoba offer a program in Building Trades and Technology.
Return to top
Career Paths
Plasterers, Drywall Installers and Finishers and Lathers are typically employed on building construction sites or home repair and renovation sites as work becomes available. Some are self-employed and contract their services for smaller jobs.
Workers may specialize in installation of drywall, taping, finishing, ceilings, metal wall systems, lathing, stucco, or plastering.
Progression to supervisory positions or estimating is possible with experience. Some workers may move to other construction trades such as carpenter.
Red Seal certification for lathers (interior systems mechanic) allows interprovincial mobility.
Return to top
Outlook
Employment prospects for plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers in the 2010 to 2014 period are expected to be good. Employment in Manitoba in 2010 is estimated at 1,310.
The demand for plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers is influenced by trends in the construction industry. The mild housing cycle in Manitoba will ease market demands and level recruiting activity in the early part of the forecast period. However, low interest rates and government stimulus programs will continue to encourage new residential, commercial and institutional construction and renovations in the early part of the forecast period, providing on-going employment for many of these tradespeople. Employment prospects are expected to expand again when residential construction rebounds later in the forecast period.
The younger than average age profile in this occupation limits retirements and corresponding opportunities. Recruitment activity is brisk in the spring as many firms operate on a seasonal basis or scale back for the winter and rehire in the spring.
Plasterers, drywall installer and finishers and lathers work on both new construction projects and the repair of residential and commercial buildings. The developments of better tapes and faster drying plasters have increased efficiency, and it is important to keep up to date with the latest techniques and materials.
Employment is fairly evenly distributed across the province. Most plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers work in the Construction sector (95%).
Return to top
Employment by Age Group
Return to top
Employment by Industry
Return to top
Employment by Region
Return to top
Employment by Gender
Return to top
Employment by Aboriginal Self-Identification
Return to top
Employment by Visible Minority
Return to top
Please Note - The source for above charts is the 2006 Census.
Professional Associations, Unions, and Regulatory Bodies...
- Carpenters & Lathers Local 343, 611 Erin Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3G 2W1.
- Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba, http://www.clram.ca
- Construction Safety Association of Manitoba, http://www.constructionsafety.ca/
- Construction Specifications Canada, http://www.cscwinnipeg.ca/
- Manitoba Building & Construction Trades Council, http://www.buildingtrades.ca
- Manitoba Federation of Labour, http://www.mfl.mb.ca/
- Manitoba Wall & Ceiling Association, 290 Burnell Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3G 2A7.
- Merit Contractors Association of Manitoba, http://www.meritmb.com
- Winnipeg Construction Association, http://www.winnipegconstruction.ca/
Return to top