Wall and Ceiling Installers play an important role in the construction industry particularly in commercial, high-rise and residential buildings.

Wall and Ceiling installers install, handle, erect and apply materials that are component parts in the construction of ceilings and walls. They install support frameworks for ceiling systems, interior and exterior walls and building partitions to prepare for the installation of drywall or plaster walls and ceilings. They also install curtain walls, perform acoustical installations, and install shielded walls. Wall and Ceiling Installer is designated as Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic) under the Inter-provincial Red Seal program. (Find out about Red Seal in the Trades Lingo section.)

What do these workers do?
(Source: BC Work Futures)

Lathers are also called interior systems mechanics because they install the a structure inside a building's concrete shell, making it ready for drywall installers, plasterers, plumbers and electricians to finish the building. These are some of a lather's responsibilities:

Read Blueprints. Lathers often start with an open floor plan and must follow blueprints to install wall partitions in the right place. This involves careful measuring and the translation of planned dimensions to actual dimensions, including making decisions about what to build when the building's exterior walls don't quite match the plans.

Build metal stud framing. Stud framing is sometimes built in factories and shipped to the construction site for installation. Otherwise wall partitions must be built from metal railing and plate stock. Even when wall partitions are manufactured off site, the lather will have to do some custom fabrication work on site. Good welding skills are an important part of this job.

Install metal stud framing. Metal studs usually form the interior walls of high rises and warehouses. These must be solidly anchored to the floor and ceiling, by a variety of methods. For example, some installations require deep holes to be drilled in concrete while light-duty walls can be anchored with power- or hand-driven nails.

Build ceiling frameworks. High-rise buildings and warehouses usually have suspended ceilings. These ceilings are made of tiles fitted to a framework that is hung from the concrete floor above, or from steel beam structure. Lathers often install the ceiling tiles or do design work for special acoustical and architectural effects. Suspended ceilings are also an important part of the fireproofing a building.

Install beading and framing. Lathers prepare framing and reinforce corners for drywall installation and they install traditional wood lathing and wire mesh for stucco.

Install plaster and drywall. In residential and renovation work, some lathers also install and finish drywall and plaster.

Read the full Lather profile (40Kb pdf)

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