Study material

This material brings together the most important concepts in the stucco trade so you have an overview to return to while you learn. Use it as a reference sheet alongside the practical work.

The key concepts

• 01Stucco: decoration formed in plaster or lime
• 02Cornice: decorative moulding along the transition between wall and ceiling
• 03Rose: round decoration, often in the middle of the ceiling
• 04Pulling: guiding a template along fresh material to shape a profile
• 05Casting: pouring or pressing compound into a mould and letting it harden

The two basic methods

Pulling is used for straight, continuous profiles such as cornices that are made on site. Casting is used for repeated details where you make a mold from a model and can reproduce the element multiple times.

Material selection

Plaster hardens quickly and gives sharp details. Lime-based materials are used among other things in older buildings where the new must fit the original. Always choose material based on the task and the building.

Safety you must always remember

• 01Work safely at height with stable scaffolding or ladder
• 02Protect airways against dust during mixing and cleaning
• 03Keep the workplace tidy to avoid falls

How you practice best

Start with small profiles and simple shapes. Take time to measure and check your work as you go. The trade rewards patience: the more you practice your hand skills, the cleaner your marks and your castings.

“Plastering is learned with the hands. Read the concepts, but understand them only when you have shaped them yourself.”