Welcome from the Editors
Welcome to Issue 18 of Lath and Plaster Magazine.
This issue takes it back to what matters—getting the basics right and understanding the craft properly. We kick off our Basic Fibrous Skills series, focusing on tools, mixes, and laying solid foundations, and we look at Heritage Work—what still works and why it still matters today.
Alongside the magazine, The Plasterers Podcast – The Mick & Dave Show continues to grow, giving the trade a proper voice and bringing real conversations to the forefront.
As always, this is about real plasterers, real knowledge, and keeping standards where they should be.
Thanks for the continued support.
Master Plasterers David Winchester & Mick Hargreaves
Editors, Lath and Plaster Magazine
If you want, I can make a slightly more punchy version that leans harder into the podcast side 👍
Basic Fibrous Skills –
Part 1 Tools, Mixes & Getting It Right
Fibrous plastering isn’t magic. It’s not some lost art only a handful can master. But it is a craft—and like any craft, if you get the basics wrong, everything that follows will show it. This first part is about foundations: the tools you use, the mixes you knock up, and the small details that separate a clean run from a mess on the bench.
Heritage Work
What Still Matters – Lessons from the Past That Build the Future
Walk into a building that’s 150 years old and still standing straight, and you’re not looking at luck.
You’re looking at decisions.
Decisions about materials, methods, and standards—made by people who understood that what they were building had to last. Not for a warranty period, but for a lifetime.
And if we’re honest, that’s where modern work sometimes loses its footing.
Tale from the Trade
A Costly Mistake on Site: The Day We Broke a 300-Year-Old Church Statue
What happens when a routine job in a historic church turns into a full-blown panic? One tradesman recalls the day a priceless statue met an unfortunate accident…
Mick and Dave Load of Bollocks Podcast Show
The Mick & Dave: Load of Bollocks Podcast Show is back—and it’s exactly what you’d expect… absolute chaos, zero filters, and a whole lot of nonsense 😂
This week:
– Mick goes off on a rant you won’t see coming
– Dave somehow makes it worse
– Questionable opinions? Plenty.
– Facts? Debatable.
If you like your podcasts loud, unfiltered, and just the right amount of ridiculous, this one’s for you.
👇 Tune in now and decide for yourself—is it genius or just a load of bollocks?
Join Mick and Dave along with Cody and Justin from Florida to celebrate their 10,000 downloads
#Podcast #NewEpisode #ComedyPodcast #Unfiltered #MickAndDave #LoadOfBollocks
🧱 Wanker of the Week
Calling It As It Is
Every trade has its characters.
Some graft hard, take pride in what they do, and leave a job better than they found it.
Others… well, they cut corners, blame everyone else, and somehow still think they’re doing a top job.
That’s where Wanker of the Week comes in.
Listen on our podcast to discover this week wanker of the week
Visit our website
The Mick & Dave Load of Bollocks Music Quiz
Think you can outscore Quiz Master Mick? Take on 20 music questions and clips to put your knowledge to the test.
Sit back, grab a brew, and enjoy the usual Mick & Dave banter while you play along!
Thinking of changing your career from being on the tools and stepping into teaching?
Then From Trowel to Teacher, the six-part series from The Plasterers Podcast, is an absolute must-listen.
Across Episodes 1–6, Mick and Dave break down the reality of moving from site work into the classroom—no sugar-coating, just honest insight. From the interview process and early nerves, to handling students and finding your confidence, they cover everything you actually need to know.
This isn’t about an “easy option” off the tools—it’s about a completely different challenge. One that tests your patience, communication, and ability to pass on your skills to the next generation.
If you’ve ever thought about making the switch, this series gives you the full picture—the highs, the struggles, and what it really takes to succeed.
🎧 Real talk. Real experience. Real guidance.
Don’t miss it.
Episodes
1: The Overview
2: The Interview
3: The First Two Years (Rabbit in the Headlights)
4: The Ups and Downs of Teaching
5: From Trowel to Teacher – The Assessment Process
6: From Trowel to Teacher – So It’s Ofsted Week… Why Worry!!
Lath and Plaster 
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