For homeowners · Plastering advice
How to find a good plasterer
Plastering is a finish trade, which means the quality is judged in daylight for the next decade. The good news is that it is easy to assess: ask to see finished walls, not work in progress.
Know which job you are asking for
- Skimming — a thin finish coat over existing sound plaster or over plasterboard, to give a flat paintable surface.
- Re-plastering — removing failed or blown plaster back to brick and building up base coats before skimming.
- Boarding and skimming (dot and dab) — fixing plasterboard to walls, then skimming.
- Rendering — external work, in sand and cement, monocouche or a through-coloured silicone system.
- Repairs — patching, filling cracks, or restoring lath and plaster in older properties.
What to check before hiring
- Photographs of finished rooms taken in natural light, ideally after painting.
- Experience with your property type — lath and plaster, lime plaster and modern gypsum all behave differently.
- Public liability insurance in the business name.
- Whether they prepare, protect and clean up, or whether that is your job.
- How they handle drying times before you decorate.
How plastering is priced
Most plasterers price by the room, the wall or the day rather than per square metre. Ceilings cost more than walls for the same area. Removing old plaster, chasing out for sockets, extra beading and awkward access all add time. Get the price basis in writing and confirm whether materials, skip hire and protection are included.
Questions worth asking
- Does the existing plaster need removing, or can it be skimmed over?
- How long before I can paint, and what mist coat do you recommend?
- Will you protect floors and furniture, and remove waste?
- Is any damp or movement causing the problem, and should that be fixed first?
Damp comes before plaster
If plaster is blown, stained or crumbling at low level, something is usually making it wet. Replastering over an unresolved damp problem simply buys a year or two. Ask the plasterer what they think the cause is, and be prepared to bring in another trade first.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does plaster take to dry before painting?
- Typically several days to a couple of weeks depending on thickness, ventilation and the time of year. The colour should be uniformly pale before you paint, and the first coat should be a thinned mist coat.
- Can you skim over artex or old plaster?
- Often yes, if the surface is sound and well bonded. If it is hollow when tapped or crumbling, it needs taking off. Artex applied before the year 2000 may contain asbestos, so it should be tested rather than sanded.
- How long does it take to plaster a room?
- A typical room takes one to two days to skim, longer if walls are being boarded or re-plastered from brick.
Need plastering? Post the job and hear from plasterers covering your postcode.
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Sources and further reading
This guide is general information for UK readers and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Where a decision depends on your circumstances, speak to a suitably qualified professional.