Unveiling the Secrets of the Most Difficult Trades

*This is a collaborative guest post

We all love to have a go at some DIY and most of our efforts are good enough for our own homes. However, some jobs require the expertise of tradespeople with excellent skill sets that take years to learn and develop. So which are the most difficult trades to learn?

Plasterer

Being a plasterer takes a great amount of skill, knowledge and experience and while it may look easy to an observer, it is one of the most difficult trades in construction. Plastering involves using the right tools, getting the plaster mix correct, precise timing and good technique. A plasterer has to produce perfectly smooth surfaces on walls and ceilings as these are on display for everyone to see, often just decorated with a couple of coats of paint. Not only is there an amazing amount of talent involved but it is also a tiring job as much of the work is done overhead. Next time you think plastering is easy, have a go yourself and see just how difficult it is to get right. 

Electrician

The road to becoming a qualified electrician is long and even when you are qualified, you must engage in continual professional development. There are a few routes to becoming a registered electrician, either via an apprenticeship, a diploma course or through an experienced worker assessment. Depending on the path taken, it can be four to five years before you are properly qualified. However, the learning doesn’t stop there and all electricians are required to keep up to date with the latest wiring regulations. Being an electrician is a hugely responsible job as the consequences of faulty wiring can be fatal or cause serious injury and this responsibility should not be taken lightly. 

Plumber 

Plumbers are always in demand and it can be a satisfying and rewarding career but it’s certainly not an easy job. To become a plumber, you can complete an apprenticeship which lasts four years. Alternatively, you can take a plumbing course, some of which are only a few months long although you won’t gain as much experience this way. However you choose to qualify as a plumber, there will be lots of jobs that are not pleasant. Think of the reasons why you would call a plumber and whether you’d want to be the one unclogging a sewer pipe, squeezing under a kitchen sink or fixing leaking pipes in freezing weather. 

Roofers

Roofers can be among some of the highest earners in the construction industry but it is a difficult job. Working at height requires adherence to strict regulations and roofers are exposed to the elements at all times of the year, hot weather in summer and cold, wet conditions in winter. As well as the working conditions and safety regulations, roofing work is also physically demanding and often quite dirty. Stripping an old roof can mean removing materials that have been in situ for decades with layers of dirt and debris. Other roofing jobs require excellent attention to detail, the ability to read architectural plans and structural engineering calculations. 

Bricklayers 

Despite the title, a bricklayer doesn’t just lay bricks but also concrete blocks and stone. This is a job that is done outdoors in all weather conditions and often requires working at height. Bricklaying can be learned through an apprenticeship which typically take 2 years to complete or through a specialised college course as an adult. As well as being ok with working outside doing a physically demanding job, bricklayers also have to have excellent attention to detail, patience and skill. The work they do is important to the structural integrity of a building therefore there is a lot of responsibility attached to this skilled trade.