The Drywall Finisher & Plasterer and Lather technicians assembles and installs support framework for ceiling systems, interior and exterior walls and buil ding partitions to produce plain or decorative surfaces. They are crucial to the construction trade and work closely with carpenters. Quite often, the skills and duties of these trades overlap. As part of their work, lathers prepare wall and ceiling layouts and apply tape and finish drywall. They usually work indoors in the residential, commercial, institutional and industrial construction sectors. They may also work on renovation projects, can specialize in installing particular types of materials, become estimators or advance to supervisory positions. With additional training, they may transfer their skills to the trades of carpentry or sheet metal worker. Fully qualified journeypersons can expect above-average incomes. They also use access equipment safely, such as ladders, scaffolds, swing stages, boson chairs and elevated work platforms applying a variety of finishes such as plastic, metal and fabric.

The Drywall Finisher & Plasterer and Lather mechanic may be exposed to unpleasant sights and smells. He/she may at times be exposed to dangerous and or toxic substances and must take necessary precautions to protect eyes, nose and skin from irritation and infection. The Drywall technicians has a physically strenuous and demanding job. He/she will be lifting, pulling and managing heavy equipment and objects.

 

Industry Changes

 

New building products and techniques are continually being developed for the construction trades. Those who do framing and install walls and ceilings have benefited from research and development that have produced simplified ceiling, wall and floor installations. Drywall sheets have become larger but lighter and are easier to handle. The use of exterior studs has also made work less labor intensive. The introduction of lasers to the trade, including laser alignment systems has increased the efficiency and accuracy of layout lines. These new materials and techniques have given businesses more quality control of workmanship. Building codes have also been updated to reflect these improvements in products and techniques.

Over the next ten years, the employment outlook is considered to be excellent. The lack of trained and qualified Drywall and Lather technicians and the expected increased retirement rate in these trades over the next decade highlight the opportunities within the industry for good potential jobs. Demand should also be high for those who stay informed about new developments in this field.

 

Safety

 

Safe working practices and accident prevention are the primary importance to the health and safety of all person(s) at any or all work place environments. All person(s) including employee, employer and government, share this responsibility in order to keep everyone free of any dangers or accidents that may cause an individual(s) serious bodily harm or death.

The Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations, should be consistently reviewed and enforced in every work place environment. Educating and understanding these regulations is everyone’s responsibility in order to keep a safe work place environment.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) has contributed to a safer work place environment. Health and safety has become a high priority in the workplace due to increased awareness of dangers and the identifications of hazardous materials.

Practicing health and safety is a tremendous contribution to a safe and accident free work place environment.

 

Job Tasks

• Access flooring systems

• Applying thermal and sound insulation or sound attenuation blankets, installing vapor barriers, sealing vapor barriers, installing baffles and arranging for inspection

• Carrying, lifting and installing large drywall panels into the metal framework

• Ceiling systems and ornamental shapes using hand and power tools

• Ceiling installation

• Corner beads and wire mesh around beams to which plaster is to be applied

• Cutting openings for electrical outlets, ducts, pipes and windows

• De-mountable partition systems used in commercial office spaces

• Decorative finishes and accessories

• Drilling

• Drywall, metal lath, mechanical and specialty ceilings

• Erecting

• Exterior prefabricated wall panels

• Exterior/interior metal or wood frameworks for walls, partitions

• Fabric walls, exterior prefabricated wall panels

• Framing

• Gypsum lath, metal lath and stucco wire for the installation of items such as metal door and window frames, access doors and wall insulation

• Maintain building interiors and exteriors

• Metal or gypsum lath to studs or furring using nails, screws, clips or wire ties

• Mix and pour cement and joint compounds

• Openings in lath for heating and ventilation piping, ducts and electrical outlets as well as enclosing elevator shafts and stairwells

• Painting

• Perform minor electrical repairs

• Putting metal frames together that will hold the drywall panels using a variety of hand tools

• Reading, interpreting and applying blueprints and specifications for job layout; checking other trades' blueprints for building services, and scheduling the job

• Sanding

• Scaffolding

• Scraping away excess compound, or sanding surfaces to give them a finished appearance, or applying textured surface on walls and ceilings

• Shielding and sound proofing

• Sound baffling and lead shielding

• Specialized wall and partition systems

• Trim work

• Vapor barrier and thermal and sound insulation

• …and much more

 

Tools

• Adjustable wrench

• Aluminum Hawk

• Ball peen hammer

• Chalk

• Corner trowel

• Drills

• Drywall Circle Cutter, Metal

• Drywall Cutter

• Drywall Utility Saw

• Drywall tape

• Dust masks

• Glue

• Grinders

• Joint compound

• Hand Sander

• Hack saw

• Hammer

• Levels

• Lifting kicker

• Measuring tape

• Mini pipe cutters

• Mud pan

• Needle nose pliers

• Pattern Pistol and Hopper

• Pencil

• Plumb bobs

• Pole sander

• Reciprocating saw

• Rulers

• Sandpaper or sanding screens

• Screw driver set

• Shapers

• Shop Vacuum

• Socket set

• Stilts

• Taping box

• Tin snips

• Tool belt

• Vacuum Sander,6 ft hose, dustless

• Vice grips

• Wood saws

• Wrenches

• Wire strippers

• 6-inch taping knife

• 10- or 12-inch taping knife or curved trowel

• …and much more

 

Skills

• Critical Thinking

• Decision Making

• Analytical Thinking

• Numerical

• Oral Communication

• Problem Solving

• Reading Blueprints and schematics

• Writing

• Computer Knowledge

 

General Wages

• Average -   $24.50

• Minimum -  $14.00

• Maximum - $33.00​

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Sample Q&A

 

1. In regards to water-resistant board, which of the following is true?

a. it cannot be used to install new tile work over existing surfaces

b. is not available in “C” wallboard form

c. never used on ceilings

d. it is used in high exposure areas such as saunas and steam rooms

Ans. D

 

2. What is the advantage of using steel studs rather than cold-rolled channels for ceiling furring?

a. allows for a double span

b. saves on wire

c. allows for greater strength

d. allows spacing for 24” O.C.

Ans. D

 

3. Which of the following statements is not true when vinyl trim for sheetrock has flanges of rigid vinyl plus flexible vinyl fins that compress during installation?

a. it replaces caulking

b. it reduces sound

c. it requires finishing compound

d. it provides structural stress relief at panel perimeters

Ans. C

 

4. Nail heads at joints should be covered with at least how many coats of joint compound?

a. 3 coats

b. 1 coat

c. 2 coats

d. 4 coats

Ans. A

 

5. How far should you feather out with joint compound for a corner bead?

a. 4in

b. 6in

c. 10in

d. 1-2in

Ans. C

 

6. What should be done last when installing drywall sheathing around a metal-frame window?

a. inspect fasteners

b. put sheetrock

c. install metal edge trim and apply acrylic caulk

d. apply building paper using staples

Ans. D

 

7. When hanging boards on a ceiling, how do you fix out-of-level trusses?

a. nail nominal 2” board over bottom chords to align them

b. wood shimming

c. apply extra thick compound

d. spray stucco to cover it

Ans. A