For over 150 years the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA) has represented and trained plasterers and cement masons in the United States and Canada to skillfully work with ageless building materials that will not fall out of favor as long as there is a sufficient amount of workers who are skilled in the arts of installation and finishing. These materials – concrete and plaster – are as unforgiving as they are durable and beautiful.
Skilled hands and competent management must work together to achieve the desired result and to promote and protect this vital construction resource. OPCMIA members dedicate themselves to the promotion of these materials, the recruitment and training of skilled craftsmen to meet the demand of their industry, and hold themselves responsible to this commitment for the future of their industry and the welfare of all those who earn their living in it.
The OPCMIA represents workers in two major segments of the construction industry, plaster and concrete. Both segments have multiple specialties, fields and niche markets which are essential to maintaining the variety and quality of construction projects throughout North America. The following are examples of the various products and skill sets utilized by their journeymen and apprentice members.
Concrete
Concrete and its related products are the foundation of most homes and offices. It is used to make the sidewalks and roads necessary for transportation and lends its strength and versatility to build dams and power plants providing vital electricity to the country. OPCMIA Concrete Masons are trained to provide quality work in a various concrete uses including:
- Commercial
- Concrete Repair
- Curb and Gutter
- Decorative Concrete
- Flatwork Concrete
- Heavy and Highway
- Industrial
- Residential
Plaster
As durable as the ancient pyramids of Egypt, and as decorative as the Palace of Versailles; plaster is not just an old fashioned product. Thousands of years after its refinement as a building material, plaster still provides durable interior and exterior walls, it decorates shopping malls and amusement parks, and it provides fire resistance and durability in offices and schools. OPCMIA Plasters are trained to provide quality work in a variety of settings including:
- Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS)
- Fireproofing
- Free Form & Theme Plastering
- Historical Restoration
- Interior Gypsum Plaster
- Motion Picture & Special Effects
- Portland Cement Plaster
Headquarters
Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association
9700 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 200
Columbia, MD 21046
Phone: 301-623-1000
opcmia.org
General President: Daniel E. Stepano
General Secretary-Treasurer: Roger Bettermann