Plasterers in the UK
A room skimmed ready for paint, a ceiling that has come down, or the front of the house rendered: find a local plasterer whose finish people rate, then get a quote directly.
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Finding a plasterer in the UK
Plastering is the trade that decides how every other finish looks. Paint shows every ripple, wallpaper every hollow, and a good plasterer leaves walls and ceilings so flat that the decorator's job becomes easy. It is also a trade that cannot be hurried or faked: the mix, the timing between coats and the trowelling as it goes off are learned over years, and the difference between a competent skim and a beautiful one is obvious the moment the light comes through the window.
Most domestic work is skimming, a thin finish coat over existing plaster or new plasterboard, which is what most rooms need before decorating. Re-plastering from the brick is the answer where old plaster has blown or is damp-damaged, and old ceilings that have sagged or come down are usually re-boarded and skimmed. Rendering is the same skill turned outwards: cement or lime render, and modern through-coloured and monocouche systems, on the outside of the house. Older houses need lime plaster, which breathes, rather than modern gypsum, and a plasterer who understands that is worth finding.
Plastering is not licensed, so the checks are reviews with photos, walls you can go and look at, a written quote that says how many coats and what preparation is included, and, for rendering and lime work, evidence of that specific experience. The listings here show each plasterer's reviews, opening hours and contact details, so you can compare who is nearby and whose walls local people are decorating without a second thought.
What plasterers do
Skimming and re-plastering: skim coats over existing walls and new plasterboard using multi finish plaster, the standard gypsum finishing coat, float and set from bare brick or block, patching and repairs, and taping and filling for a decorator's finish.
Ceilings: overboarding or replacing old lath-and-plaster ceilings, removing Artex safely, ceiling roses and cornice repair.
Rendering: cement, lime, monocouche and silicone render systems, insulated render, repairs to blown render, and pebbledash.
Specialist: lime plaster and lime render for period and listed buildings, Venetian and polished plaster, and decorative mouldings.
Related work: dry lining and plasterboarding stud walls, dot-and-dab boarding, and preparing walls after damp-proofing.
Before you book a plasterer
- Ask whether the room needs a skim or a full re-plaster; a good plasterer will tell you honestly after looking at the walls.
- Get a written quote that says the number of coats, whether boarding is included, and whether they remove furniture and protect floors.
- Look at photos of recent work in raking light, and reviews that mention how flat the finish was and how tidy the job.
- For an old house, ask whether they work with lime; gypsum on a solid wall traps moisture.
- For Artex, ask about asbestos testing before anything is scraped; older Artex can contain it.
- Ask how long the plaster needs to dry before decorating, and what paint to use first.
What plasterers charge in the UK
As a rough guide, skimming an average room, walls only, costs somewhere between £250 and £500, and walls and ceiling £400 to £750; a ceiling alone £200 to £400; a full re-plaster from bare brick roughly double a skim. Plasterers often charge a day rate of around £150 to £250 plus materials. Rendering a typical semi-detached house runs from about £3,000 to £6,000 depending on the system and scaffolding, with monocouche and insulated render at the top; lime work is priced higher for the skill and the slower process.
Access, the state of the existing walls and how much preparation is needed move the price, so compare two or three written quotes that describe the same job. A plasterer who is booked a few weeks out is usually the one worth waiting for.
How much does it cost to plaster a room?+
Skimming the walls of an average room typically costs £250 to £500, and walls and ceiling £400 to £750, in labour and materials. A full re-plaster from the brick costs roughly twice a skim. Larger rooms, high ceilings and walls needing a lot of preparation cost more. Ask for a written quote that says how many coats and whether boarding is included.
Should I skim or re-plaster?+
If the existing plaster is sound and firmly attached, with only cracks, dents or a poor finish, a skim coat is enough and much cheaper. If large areas sound hollow when tapped, are crumbling, damp-stained or bulging, the old plaster needs to come off and the wall be re-plastered. A plasterer will tap the walls and tell you; ask them to show you where it is blown.
How long does plaster take to dry before painting?+
A skim coat is usually dry enough to paint in three to seven days, longer in cold or damp weather; it changes from dark pink to a uniform pale colour as it dries. Use a mist coat of watered-down emulsion first so the paint bonds. A full re-plaster or render takes weeks to dry fully, and lime plaster longer still.
What is rendering and does my house need it?+
Rendering is a coat of cement, lime or a modern polymer system on the outside walls, for weather protection, insulation or looks. If existing render is cracked, hollow or letting water in, it needs repairing or replacing; if bare brick is fine, rendering is a choice rather than a necessity. Through-coloured monocouche and silicone renders need no painting; insulated render systems can transform a cold solid-walled house.
Why does an old house need lime plaster?+
Houses built before about 1919 have solid walls designed to breathe: moisture moves in and out through lime plaster and lime render. Modern gypsum plaster and cement render trap that moisture, which causes damp and decay inside the wall. A plasterer experienced with lime uses the right materials and lets each coat cure slowly. It costs more and takes longer, and it is the correct thing to do.
Can a plasterer remove Artex?+
Yes, but Artex applied before the mid-1980s can contain asbestos, so it should be tested before anything is scraped or sanded. If it is asbestos-free it can be scraped or steamed off and the ceiling skimmed; if not, the safe options are to overboard and skim, or have it removed by a licensed contractor. A good plasterer will insist on the test.
What is Venetian plaster?+
Venetian plaster is a decorative, polished finish built up in thin layers, traditionally lime-based with marble dust, then burnished to a smooth, marble-like sheen. It is applied by hand over several coats rather than skimmed in one pass, so it costs considerably more than a standard skim and is usually chosen for a feature wall rather than a whole house. Ask to see a finished example before booking, as the quality of the polish varies a lot between plasterers.
What is multi finish plaster?+
Multi finish is the common name for a gypsum finishing plaster (Thistle MultiFinish is the best-known brand) applied as the final skim coat over plasterboard or a basecoat on most ordinary backgrounds. It is what most plasterers mean by a standard skim, as distinct from a bonding or board-finish plaster used underneath on trickier surfaces.
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