Who Does Plaster Work and What Is Their Job Like?

Plaster work is done by—you guessed it—a plasterer. These skilled tradespeople go through an apprenticeship process to gain the skills they need to work with this challenging building material. Hiring a plasterer is the best way to ensure your plaster work is done well, and this plasterer hiring guide will help you do it confidently.

Benefits of Hiring a Plasterer for Plaster Work

Working with plaster—a pasty substance composed of minerals like gypsum and limestone as well as water—can be challenging even for an experienced contractor. Many will tell you that plastering is an art as much as it is a trade, and hiring a professional plasterer with a lot of experience helps ensure that your new or renovated walls are smooth and strong.

And, let’s face it: A building is only as good as its walls are. That’s why, if you’re doing a serious renovation involving plaster or using this old-school technique as part of newer construction, hiring a local plaster pro is key. This is about as un-DIYable as it gets.

Can I Hire a General Contractor for Plaster Work?

While you may rightly trust your favorite general contractor with your life (or at least most parts of your home), when it comes to plaster, a plasterer is the best professional for the job. 

Plasterers go through years of specified training as an apprentice under a more seasoned professional working with all types of plaster. When it comes to something as integral as the structure of your walls, you want to make sure you’re getting someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.

How Do Plasterers Do Their Work?

Plastering is done using plaster and laths—narrow strips or sheets of wood, metal, or rock upon which they apply plaster paste.

These days, you likely won’t be hiring a plasterer to construct walls from scratch. Instead, they’ll use plaster to mold a frieze or other decorative element. Either way, a plasterer will use tools to smooth and shape the plaster before it sets. Then, they’ll don comprehensive personal protective equipment (PPE) to sand the dried plaster. (Plaster dust can be a health hazard without PPE.)

How Much Does Hiring a Plasterer Cost?

While the specific costs depend on the scale of your plastering project, plastering a single room costs $5,000 on average. It’s definitely not the most budget-friendly construction option, which is one reason why drywall comes out on top for many modern homeowners in the drywall versus plaster debate.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Plasterers are experts in working with plaster for all kinds of projects. Plaster offers a distinctive home atmosphere (and it’s a better sound insulator than drywall), but it is time- and energy-intensive to work with. Plus, it’s really difficult to remove after it hardens, so avoiding mistakes is crucial. Unless you have undergone training to become a plasterer, plaster work is always best left to the pros.