Gary Bolles is president of Buffalo Plastering and Architectural Casting. The company is based in Buffalo, N.Y., and has an ornamental casting studio capable of custom architectural sculpture. The subcontractor has worked with designers, architects, custom homebuilders and historic restoration contractors since beginning the business. For more information, visit www.BuffaloPlastering.com.
As a 20-year-old in the early ’80s and working as an apprentice plasterer, I remember my first union meeting; the next youngest member was in his 50s. One of the old timers turned to me and mumbled that I could never make a living at this trade anymore. The consensus was that drywall had done us all in and there were just not enough plastering jobs anymore.