Chris Frediani - Plastering Show

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Chris Frediani is finding out on this episode of the Plastering Show, as he invites a younger generation of experienced plasterers to share their fresh ideas, alternative methods and new approaches to the trade.

Chris is joined by Dylan White, Oliver Chapman and former apprentice Joshua Hutchings, who discuss everything from working more efficiently on the tools to running a modern plastering business and finding new ways to win work. T

hey’ll also explore where the older generation might be stuck in their ways, which rules are worth breaking, and why some traditional methods still stand the test of time.

Chris Frediani looks at how tradespeople are managing rising fuel costs, from fuel cards and changing how far they travel for work to considering electric and hybrid vehicles.

Thomas Nagy shares how he manages fuel costs across his business, while sole trader Carl Ruane explains what rising prices have meant for his margins and whether he’d consider changing the way he works.

Chris is also joined by Jon Jaznick of Drywall Contracts Limited to discuss the challenge of covering fuel costs across a larger workforce and multiple vehicles.

Chris Frediani looks at the challenges of working through autumn and winter, particularly for tradespeople carrying out exterior plastering and rendering.

Chris is joined by Ashley Johnson from Acorn Plastering, Arran Holdsworth and renderer Joel Cooke to hear how their summers went, how they deal with rain and changing temperatures, when they move inside for the winter and what the final few months of 2026 look like for their businesses.

From working through the summer heat to dealing with wet weather and planning around the winter months, it’s a look at how plasterers and renderers adapt as the seasons change.

Originally broadcast on 13 September 2026.

Chris Frediani looks at the trades that make construction work - and the different personalities, characters and challenges that come with working alongside them.

Chris is joined by Julian Perryman and Tom Davis to discuss the trades they find most reliable, the ones that can cause the biggest headaches, the hardest trades to find, and the people who are simply great to work with.

Chris also chats to plasterer Bob Hay about his experiences working with other trades, which tradespeople he trusts, who can be tricky to handle, and where plasterers fit into the wider picture

Chris Frediani looks at new protections announced by the Government to tackle rogue traders and poor-quality work in the home repairs market.
Chris is joined by carpenter and builder Simon Hodson, who discusses whether the new approved code and trusted payments system will benefit good tradespeople or create unnecessary extra work.
Chris also speaks to NFB spokesperson Rico Wojtulewicz, asking him whether the new measures will actually tackle rogue traders, or simply add more work for reputable tradespeople without stopping the cowboys from exploiting the system.
We also hear from plasterer and Fix Radio presenter Steph Leese, who gives her thoughts on what this will mean for tradespeople, and whether it will work in practice.

hris Frediani looks at one of the challenges that comes with working on bigger jobs — reaching high ceilings and the top of walls while still achieving a great finish.

Chris is joined by Dee Prosser and The Tape Slayer, Leigh Griffiths, to discuss their experiences using stilts and hop ups, how they approach working at height, the different equipment they've tried, and some of the slips and close calls they've encountered along the way.

Chris also shares his own experiences of working from height, including tackling particularly high walls and ceilings and what he looks for when choosing the right approach.

Chris Frediani speaks to two familiar faces who have both recently experienced major changes in their careers.

Plasterer, John Maison talks about being forced to hang up the trowel following shoulder surgery, how he’s adapted to life away from the tools, and whether retirement really means stepping away from the trade altogether.

Chris is also joined by long-time guest Gary Blackburn, who has recently retired from his role with British Gypsum.

Gary reflects on his career, why he moved off the tools, what he’ll miss, what he won’t, and what the future looks like now.

They also discuss the options available to tradespeople who are beginning to tire physically but still want to stay involved in the industry.

Material prices continue to put pressure on plasterers, builders and tradespeople across the construction industry.

In this episode, Chris Frediani speaks to plasterer Steph Leese, better known as The Pink Plasterer, and builder Ben Raynor about what’s costing them more, how their buying habits are changing and the impact rising costs are having on profit margins.

They discuss everything from changing merchants and material prices to finding ways to protect profits when the cost of doing business keeps going up.

Chris Frediani chats to fellow Plasterers, Carl Ruane & Barry Warman about their longest hours worked in the trade and the times where you really need to put a shift in to get the work done. Chris also asks about how to approach asking others to put a shift in and more.

Chris Frediani looks into why Citizens Advice have called for stronger protections as 4.8 million homeowners hit by repair problems.

Distrust in the market was changing consumer behaviour and taking business away from reliable tradespeople.

Around 28% of people who arranged home repairs in the past 18 months carried out work themselves because they did not think they could find a trustworthy trader, while 26% delayed or avoided repairs altogether for the same reason. 

Guests: Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders, James Naughton & Simon Hodson.