How to become a Wall and Ceiling Liner
Wall and ceiling liners make, apply and fix the internal and external linings of commercial and domestic buildings. These linings may include office partitions, non-structural walls and ceilings.
Personal requirements for a Wall and Ceiling Liner
- Enjoy practical work
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Able to work at heights
- Able to work neatly and accurately
- Able to read, interpret and work from plans
Education & Training for a Wall and Ceiling Liner
To become a wall and ceiling liner you usually have to complete an apprenticeship. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.
Additional information
In some states and territories, those carrying out building work valued more than a certain amount must either be registered as, or work under the supervision of, a registered building practitioner.When working at heights, industry standards require wall and ceiling liners to obtain a licence to Perform High Risk Work issued by the WorkCover or WorkSafe body in each state and territory. To gain a licence, you will need to complete units of competency at an approved Registered Training Organisation and work under the supervision of a licensed operator. You will also need to keep an approved logbook to record competencies achieved during training. Assessment by a licensed assessor will then be required. The Perform High Risk Work Licence is issued under the National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work. You must be 18 years of age to be eligible to obtain a Perform High Risk Work Licence. However, training may commence at a younger age.All those who work in the construction industry must undergo safety induction training and be issued with a Construction Induction Card (CIC).
Duties & Tasks of a Wall and Ceiling Liner
Wall and ceiling liners:
- Measure room walls, work out plasterboard layout and install insulation and moisture barriers
- Measure and mark cutting lines on plasterboard
- Cut plasterboard, lift and position panels, and nail, screw or glue them to walls, ceilings or wooden strips (battens)
- Prepare corner beading panel mouldings, ceiling centres and other plaster fittings
- Cover joins and nail holes with wet plaster or sealing compounds and smooth them using wet brushes and sand paper
- Fix precast cornices and panel mouldings, ceiling centres and other plaster fittings
- Install fire-rated wall barriers
- Spray fibrous materials over surfaces to be covered
- Install acoustic walls and treatments
- Make fibrous plaster moulds in factories.
Tasks
- Creating decorative textures in finishing coats
- Plumbing and straightening corners, angles and wall and ceiling surfaces
- Preparing corner beads and securing them in position
- Applying and finishing acoustic, insulating and fireproofing materials bonded with plaster, plastic cement and similar materials
- Measuring, marking and cutting plasterboard, lifting and positioning panels, and securing them to walls, ceilings and battens
- Fixing pre-cast cornices, panel mouldings, ceiling centres and other plaster fittings
- Determining plasterboard layout, and installing insulation and vapour barriers
- Covering joins and nail holes with wet plaster and sealing compounds, and smoothing them using wet brushes and sand paper
- Mixing and applying coats of plaster, cement and render to structures using trowels, and levelling and smoothing coats to uniform thickness
Working conditions for a Wall and Ceiling Liner
Wall and ceiling liners usually work in dusty conditions. They may work alone or in teams of two or three, both indoors and outdoors. They may have contact with the public.
Employment Opportunities for a Wall and Ceiling Liner
Wall and ceiling liners are employed by plastering subcontracting firms, building and construction companies, and businesses that manufacture plaster products. Many wall and ceiling liners are self-employed and work on a subcontract basis. The demand for wall and ceiling liners depends on activity in the building industry, particularly in the housing sector.Trade qualifications are sought after, but are not essential. Demand is subject to changes in building activity. Qualified tradespeople are less likely to be affected by downturns in demand.
Specializations
Fixer
A fixer installs plasterboard sheets and cornices in buildings.
Modellers Hand (Plaster)
A modellers hand (plaster) makes plaster moulds.
Sheet Hand
A sheet hand makes fibrous enrichments.
Wall and Ceiling Liner
Wall and ceiling liners make, apply and fix the internal and external linings of commercial and domestic buildings. These linings may include office partitions, non-structural walls and ceilings.
Average age
39
Future Growth
Neutral
Gender Share
3% female
Average full-time
43 hours
Weekly Pay
N/A
Skill level rating
Medium skill
Unemployment
Average unemployment
Full-Time Share
89%
Employment Size
29,600
Employment by state
ACT: 1.2%
NSW: 26.5%
NT: 0.6%
QLD: 21.4%
SA: 6.6%
TAS: 1.9%
VIC: 26.9%
WA: 14.9%
Age brackets
15-19: 3.8%
20-24: 10.9%
25-34: 30.1%
35-44: 23.7%
45-54: 20.1%
55-59: 6.4%
60-64: 3.6%
65 and Over: 1.5%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 3.3%
Bachelor degree: 2.1%
Below Year 10: 0%
Certificate III/IV: 50.1%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 0.5%
Year 10 and below: 21%
Year 11: 6%
Year 12: 17%
Years 11 & 10: 25.5%
