Plastering needs no statutory licence in South Africa, so you can start once you have the skill, the kit and a registered business. The recognised qualification is the Occupational Certificate in Plastering and Tiling (CETA and QCTO accredited), with a trade test available at accredited centres such as ETC. Most of your early work will come from sub-contracting to general builders, so price per square metre or per day as a market estimate, because no body publishes plasterer rates.
How to register and get qualified
Plastering is unlicensed, but a qualification and a tidy business setup help you win builder contracts.
- Qualification. The Occupational Certificate in Plastering and Tiling, accredited by CETA (Construction Education and Training Authority) and the QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations), is the recognised route. A trade test is available at ETC and other NAMB-accredited centres. NAMB is the National Artisan Moderation Body, which moderates trade tests.
- College route. TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges run the N1 to N3 Building and Civil Engineering courses, a useful theory base alongside on-site experience.
- Business registration. Register a sole proprietor or a Pty Ltd (private company) with the CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission), get a SARS (South African Revenue Service) tax number, and register for COIDA (Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases) once you employ anyone. VAT (Value-Added Tax) registration is compulsory only once turnover passes R2.3 million in a 12-month period, the threshold from 1 April 2026; it is voluntary below that.
Kit and start-up costs
Plastering is one of the cheaper trades to enter. Figures are approximate retail prices, so confirm before buying.
- Hawk, pool trowel, corner trowels and a finishing trowel: about R2,500.
- Angle grinder for keying and prep: about R2,000.
- Bucket mixer and paddle: about R2,500.
- Wheelbarrow, shovels and a mixing bath: about R2,000.
- Dust mask, goggles, gloves and knee pads: about R1,200.
- Scaffolding: hire at roughly R500 to R1,500 per day, and buy later only with a heavy workload.
- A spray machine for texture or skim: hire at first (about R500 per day), then buy at about R10,000 once established.
A realistic launch kit lands at roughly R10,000 to R15,000. The spray machine and scaffolding are the two items to hire until the work justifies owning them.
What you can charge (estimates)
No South African body publishes plasterer rates, and public data is thin, so the figures below are guidance estimates only. They vary by number of coats, finish, access and province, so quote each job.
- Plastering labour: roughly R80 to R180 per square metre, depending on coats and finish type.
- Day rate for a skilled plasterer: roughly R600 to R1,000 per day.
If you take on workers, remember the national minimum wage is R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026, which sets a floor for what you pay them.
Standards
SANS 10400-A and SANS 10400-K (South African National Standards within the National Building Regulations, covering general principles and walls) govern wall finishes and surfaces. SANS 10185 covers plastered finishes and how they should be applied; confirm the current edition before relying on a specific detail. Plaster mixes are typically about 4 parts sand to 1 part cement for a scratch coat, and 5 to 1 or 6 to 1 for a finish, but the right mix varies by product, so follow the bag.
Common mistakes
- Getting the mix wrong. Too rich and it cracks, too weak and it fails to bond; follow the product specification rather than habit.
- Buying a spray machine and scaffolding too early. Hire both until the workload clearly justifies owning them.
- Quoting a flat rate for every wall. A two-coat float and set is not a quick skim; price the number of coats and the finish.
- Skipping prep on damp walls. Plastering over a damp problem guarantees a callback; sort the damp first or quote the remediation.
Know someone who needs this?
Keep reading
Was this guide useful?
Didn't find what you were looking for?
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email us at hello@kilnguides.co.uk.
In crisis? SADAG 0800 567 567 ·