Increasingly, plasterers apply insulation to the exteriors of new and old buildings. They apply an additional coat of this material with a decorative finish. Plasterers sometimes do complex decorative and ornamental work that requires special skill and creativity. For example, they mold intricate wall and ceiling designs. Following an architect's blueprint, they pour or spray a special plaster into a mold and allow it to set.
Workers then remove the molded plaster and put it in place according to the plan.
Because plaster can freeze, heat is usually necessary to complete plastering jobs in cold weather. Sometimes plasterers work on scaffolds high above the ground. Plastering is physically demanding, requiring considerable standing, bending, lifting, and reaching overhead. Employment Plasterers held about 32,000 jobs in 1996. Most plasterers work on new construction sites, particularly where special architectural and lighting effects are part of the work.