Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers – NOC : 7284

Unit Group

7284 Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers

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. They are employed by construction companies and by plastering, drywalling and lathing contractors, or they may be self-employed.

Example Titles

acoustical ceiling installer

ceiling installer

drywall applicator

drywall finisher

drywall installer and finisher apprentice

drywall taper

lather

lather (interior systems mechanic)

lather apprentice

plasterer

plasterer apprentice

sheetrock applicator

wood lather

View all titles

Main 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.

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Completion of a three- or four-year apprenticeship program in plastering, drywalling or lathing
or
A combination of over three years of work experience and some high school, college or industry courses in plastering, drywalling or lathing is usually required.
Plasterer trade certification is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Drywall installer and finisher trade certification is available, but voluntary, in British Columbia.
Trade certification for lathers (interior systems mechanics) is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Yukon.
Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified lathers (interior systems mechanic) upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Additional information

The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Classified elsewhere

Supervisors of trade workers in this unit group (in 7205 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers )