uk plastering takes years to perfect,to be able to skim walls quickly and flat,our british gypsium once applied is knock proof,and hard wearing,and fire proof,its not so much that we cant get it here,its the fact that its almost 3 times more exspensive here,ive done some plastering for a couple of french friends,as a sample of my work,and they were very impressed with finish and the fact that it was almost 100 perent knock proof, im not out to undermine the french workers but its chalk and cheese,different materials,different tools,different techniques,and a very differnet finish.[:)]