I served my time with my father and others . He taught me to lay down with a float. Did you use parana pine floats? Siraphite was great for putting on the top of a house, it came back lovely when you trowelled it.
The later bagged British Gypsum Sirapite b stopped in 1989? ish? when Multi came out IIRC.
I still insist that a heavy coat of finish between beads is floated, I float all the lines in the likes o Dormer attics. I would float walls where I know downlighters are going to be fitted -that kind of thing. No harm to pull a float on internal angles either, and I invariablly float the reveals, especially with the heavier catnic thin coat angle beads.
Even a good sponge float can do the trick if used at the right time.
I also get any apprentices to be able to lay down with tthe float and float up finish, but to be honest, it is not needed in day to day plastering of houses and they probably roll their eyes behind my back when I go into "when I were a lad" mode.
I think the trade is splitting up , moving away from a more rounded trade. I even hear agents looking for "Skimmers" as opposed to plasterers. I know lads who refuse to do any floating, and indeed can't, but make great money skimming week in week out.
