Plastering Tools Checklist: Essential Tools Every Plasterer Needs

When it comes to plastering, having the right tools is key. Whether you're patching a wall, skimming plasterboard or completing a full-room renovation, having the right plastering tools makes all the difference.

The right equipment helps plasterers work faster, achieve a smoother finish and avoid costly mistakes on site. In this guide, we cover the essential plastering tools every tradesperson should have, from mixing equipment and trowels to floats and finishing tools.

Our Complete Plastering Tools Checklist

Need a quick plastering tools checklist? Make sure these items are part of your kit:

• Plaster
• Plastering Bucket
• Paddle Mixer
• Floor Protection
• Plastering Trowels
• Plastering Hawk
• Filling Knife
• Mortar Stand
• Plastering Scarifier
• Scrim Tape & Plasterboard Corner Beads
• Tin Snips
• Plasterer’s Float

Basic Plastering Kit for Beginners

If you’re plastering for the first time, you might not need the complete professional’s toolkit. Here’s a smaller beginner’s plastering kit for those looking to tackle some DIY at home:

• Plaster
• Plastering Bucket
• Paddle Mixer
• Floor Protection
• Plastering Trowels
• Plastering Hawk
• Filling Knife
• Scrim Tape
• Plasterer’s Float or Sponge

Read on for details on each piece of kit below.

Plaster

First things first, don’t forget to bring some quality plaster!

While gypsum plaster is a material that dates back centuries, there are now various styles with different features for different jobs:

• Fill & Finish – Great for jointing plasterboard and filling small cracks.
• Bonding Plaster – A good undercoat on low-suction (smooth) surfaces.
• Hardwall Plaster – A stronger undercoat on high-suction surfaces.
• Finishing Plaster – Creates a smooth finish.

Plastering Bucket

A quality plastering bucket can make jobs so much easier, ensuring you can mix enough plaster for your job. Look for a flexible, heavy-duty plastic bucket, ideally with volume guides, that can be easily cleaned between jobs to avoid contamination.

Paddle Mixer for Plastering

If you’re doing lots of plastering jobs, you’ll want to invest in a paddle mixer. While mixing by hand (with something like a stick of timber) is fine for small jobs like repairs, if you’re doing anything significant, you’ll want a machine mixer to ensure a smooth, consistent texture to your plaster.

Paddle mixers are available as attachments to drills (suitable for smaller amounts) or as their own dedicated machines (better for larger quantities).

Floor Protection for Plastering

Plastering can get messy, which is why it pays to make sure everything in the space is protected. Failing to have adequate protection can lead to some very annoying cleaning tasks and potentially costly repairs.

Plastic floor sheets are a great way to help protect the floor – most plaster comes off smooth surfaces neatly, so plastic can make it relatively hassle-free. Make sure to tape the plastic sheets into place to avoid gaps and reduce trip hazards.

You may also want to invest in some dust covers to protect other features in the room where you’re working.

Plastering Trowels

Having the right trowels will go a long way to making your jobs quicker and easier. There’s also no end of options for you to choose from, which is great for professional plasterers working on various jobs.

There’s various factors that will go into deciding what trowels you need, including:

• Size: Bigger trowels are great for larger surfaces.
• Shape: Various shapes are suited for applications in different areas, such as round blades for smoothness and sharp ends for more precision.
• Handle: the trowel needs to feel comfortable in your hand; some people prefer wooden handles, while others prefer plastic or rubber.
• Material: Stainless steel trowels are more durable and long-lasting, while carbon trowels break in quicker but need more care.

Plastering Hawk

If the trowel is your paintbrush, then the hawk is your palette. Using a plastering hawk will help make your jobs much quicker while also giving you more control over the amount of plaster being applied at one time.

Filling Knife

While trowels do a lot of heavy lifting, filling knives are useful for the finer touches. Often thinner and more flexible than trowels, filling knives are designed for filling small gaps, ideal for minor repair work or to ensure a smoother surface after applying plaster with a trowel.

Mortar Stand

Somewhat similar to the hawk, a mortar stand can be a lifesaving accessory for plasterers. It is a quick and simple way to create an elevated surface, meaning you don’t have to bend down to the ground time after time.

Having a quality mortar stand not only helps you complete jobs quicker, but it can also help protect your back day after day.

Plastering Scarifier

If you’re applying multiple coats, you’ll need a scarifier. This large metal comb allows you to make grooves in the first layer of plaster, helping the top layer to blend and bond effectively.

A decent scarifier doesn’t need to cost more than £10, making this a cheap and easy thing to keep in your plastering kit.

Scrim Tape & Plasterboard Corner Beads

Scrim tapes, plasterboard joints, and corner or angle beads all play a crucial role in ensuring a neat finish to your plaster. All of these products are designed to ensure a smooth finish over joints or across walls, reducing the risk of cracking while drying.

All these products are used in different spaces. Scrim tape, often sold as a roll of tape, tends to be used between plasterboard sheets, while beads, which are often straight metal or plastic strips, do a similar job at the edges of walls.

Tin Snips

If you’re working with corner beads, you’ll want to keep a pair of snips handy. Make sure your pair can cut through metal if you’re using metal beads. Longer snips can make cutting through tough materials a little easier.

Plasterer’s Float

Plastering floats are a must for any project. Often shaped like a trowel but with a softer base, the float allows for a final smoothing of the surface to get it looking as spotless as possible.

Floats come with a few different base options, but it’s most common to use sponge. If you want a perfect finish to your plaster, mastering how to use the float is a great step.

As mentioned, there is some stuff in this list that is more suited to larger jobs than smaller ones, and there may be more specialist kit not included here. However, if you’re a plasterer or regularly plastering as part of your work, having these bits in your toolbox will help make all your work more efficient and of better quality.