But, not having to spend big on expensive machinery or a kitted-out vehicle, it can be easy to think that once you’ve got your toolkit in hand you’re sorted for life.

Even the trustiest tools have a shelf-life, and unfortunately, plasterers’ tools tend to be quite short-lived.

So, what should you be considering when it comes to keeping your plasterer’s toolkit present, correct, and in full working order?

1. Spending when you’re starting out

When starting out you’ve got lots of choices to make, but one of the most important is how much to spend on your first toolkit.

It can be tempting to scrimp on quality to save some cash, and a higher-end kit will certainly cost you more upfront, but it’s also likely to last you longer making it more cost-effective in the long run.

If your basic tools are of decent quality it’s also less likely you’ll need to replace them all at once, which is helpful when it comes to budgeting for replacements.

For a rough guide, we’d say spending between £500-600 on a base set of plastering tools and equipment is a good place to start.

2. Include replacement costs in your day rate

You’re going to need to replace tools along the way, so make sure you factor the cost of them into your day rate so that you’re always slowly building up a reserve, especially for tools that you can dip into when equipment wears out.

It’s also good to factor in upgrades you might want to make if new and improved tools come on the market that could make life easier.

This brings us on to…

3. Upgrading, is it worth it?

There are loads of upgrades on the market, and some newer tools genuinely do make life easier.

But there are also plenty of times when a design hasn’t needed improving and the older, cheaper option actually still works best!

We generally take the, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, approach and recommend you only think about changing your tools if they’re:

a) not doing the job well enough

b) making life difficult

c) actually broken

With the exception being…

4 . Word of mouth wins

If you’re hearing glowing reviews about the same new tool from every other plasterer in town, it’s worth stopping to investigate.

If there’s a buzz around a new product that lasts for more than just a few days and is backed up by reviews online, then it could be worth thinking about an upgrade.

We also find it tends to be worth listening out for hype about mixers, as new models often improve on older versions.

So, there you have it. With these four considerations in mind, you can keep your toolkit in top condition without breaking the bank.