You wouldn’t try to decorate the walls of your home without having a coat of plaster to give a smooth surface, would you? If your existing plaster walls are looking a little worn down you may consider having the surfaces re-plastered.
Plastered walls can reach an age where the only way to tidy them up is to give them another coat. If the replastering job is anything more than filling a few holes, you will want to call in a professional.
Plastering is something you cannot learn from manuals or YouTube videos. This guide will explain the costs associated with plastering a room and how much you can expect to spend.
We discuss the advantages of hiring a professional plasterer. Finally, answering some common questions that we’re often asked.
DIY vs Hiring A Professional
Plastering takes many years of practice and is a trade best left to the professionals. Also:
- A professional will have his own set of plastering tools which you may not have
- Plastering can take years to learn, it is even harder to do without any experience.
- You cannot learn the trade from DIY guides or plastering videos online. A skilled plasterer will learn via an apprenticeship and then years of experience.
- Plasterers work at height. Reputable plasterers have insurance to cover them for compensation claims. Typical incidents include damage to property and injury to themselves or even members of the public.
- Professionals will always do a perfect job and make the wall’s surface as smooth as possible.
Tip: Plaster is hard to mix smoothly and difficult to apply. Hire a professional.
Average Plastering Costs
A plasterer will already know his business overheads and the cost of a bag of plaster. Most plasterers will offer you plastering prices per m2 or “square metre”.
3 Common Plastering Jobs
Plastering jobs generally fall into three types: fresh plastering, re-plastering, and skimming ceilings.
Ask for a full quotation from the plasterer before any work begins.
Be sure that the tradesman’s price includes VAT so there’s no shock when the bill arrives. If you’re London based, be aware that this will command a premium.
1. Fresh Plastering
Fresh plastering jobs involve applying layers of plaster to recently built block walls. It can also involve skimming over original plaster that needs resurfacing.
Adding a skim coat to a small room (2m x 2m) will cost about £450 and take about 1.5 days. Next, a medium room (3.5m x 3.5m) will cost about £480 and take 2 days. A large room (6m x 5m), the cost will be about £650 and take 3 days.
2. Re-Plastering (Skimming) Walls
Skimming walls involves laying a top coat onto an existing layer or laying a thin coat onto plasterboard walls. Both methods give a smooth surface. Plasterboard nailed to timber frames called ‘dry lining’. This removes the need for plaster base coats, instead, it uses a top, skimming coat.
A typical price to dry line and skim small rooms will be about £640 and take about 2 to 3 days to complete. Likewise, for medium-sized rooms, the job will set you back by about £800 and take about 3 days. For large rooms, the work will cost you about £1,300 and take about 4 days.
3. Plastering Ceilings
This is one of the most difficult plastering jobs. It is only a plaster skim laid onto plasterboard, but all the work is overhead and puts a strain on the plasterer’s arms. It is also difficult to keep the surface smooth.
In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a boom in housebuilding and Artex covered ceilings. This was because it was quicker and easier for the tradesman if he wasn’t very skilled. The material fell out of favour because it contained asbestos. Plastering over Artex solved the problem caused by Artex dust.
Small rooms will cost about £275 and take about 10 hours to skim a ceiling. Next, medium ceilings cost about £350 and take about 12 hours to skim. Finally, large ceilings cost about £550 and take 2 to 3 days.
Plastering Price List (estimates)
The above was a rough indication, for a more detailed breakdown you can use the table below.
| TYPE OF JOB | FULL DESCRIPTION | TYPICAL QUOTE | PRICE RANGE (£) | ESTIMATED DURATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaster room – small | Room size approx 7’ x 7’1” (2.13m x 2.16m). Walls only. Remove existing plaster. Dry line and skim, cosmetic finish. | ~£630 | £600 – £670 | 2-3 Days |
| Plaster room – medium | Room size approx 10’10” x 9’ 10” (3.3m x 3m). Walls only. Remove existing plaster. Dry line and skim, cosmetic finish. | ~£750 | £570 – £920 | 2-3 Days |
| Plaster room – large | Room size approx 20’ x 16’6” (6.1m x 5.03m). Walls only. Remove existing plaster. Dry line and skim, cosmetic finish. | ~£1300 | £1000 – £1370 | 3-4 Days |
| Re-plaster room – small | Room size approx 7’ x 7’1” (2.13m x 2.16m). Walls only. Over skimming/cosmetic finish 5-8mm on top of existing plaster. | ~£440 | £370 – 500 | 1-1.5 Days |
| Re-plaster room – medium | Room size approx 10’10” x 9’10” (3.3m x 3m). Walls only. Over skimming/cosmetic finish 5-8mm on top of existing plaster. | ~£480 | £430 – £550 | 1–2 Days |
| Re-plaster large room | Room size approx 20’ x 16’6” (6.1m x 5.03m). Walls only. Over skimming/cosmetic finish 5-8mm on top of existing plaster. | ~£650 | £530 – £690 | 2-3 Days |
| Plaster ceiling – small | Room size approx 7’ x 7’1” (2.13m x 2.16m). Overboard and plaster | ~£270 | £210 – £430 | 6-10 Hours |
| Plaster ceiling – medium | Room size approx 10’10” x 9’10” (3.3m x 3m). Overboard and plaster. | ~£340 | £270 – £430 | 8-12 Hours |
| Plaster ceiling – large | Room size approx 20’ x 16’6” (6.1m x 5.03m). Overboard and plaster. | ~£540 | £410 – £730 | 2-3 Days |
Data Source: Which? 2012 Survey of Plastering Costs (updated 2018)
These costings are approximate, they include labour and materials but not VAT.
A reputable plasterer will only give you an accurate estimate of the work once he has seen the job.
Every room is unique, there may be problems with access and you might need scaffolding. Plastering is a messy operation so it will take longer if the room isn’t empty.
You can use online plastering cost calculators to get a rough idea on costs.
Top Tips For Hiring a Plasterer
Skilled plasterers are tradespeople who work with solid wall plaster, plasterboard or both. To get someone reputable who you know will do a good job, consider the following points:
- Vague requirements will result in vague quotes. Take an approximate measure of the room and keep this to hand.
- Ask for a written quotation. You want a formal document showing specific amounts.
- Ask the contractor how he or she will protect the rest of the house from wet plaster.
- Ask for their availability.
Tip: Ask for evidence such as photos of previous work.
Plastering F.A.Q
Should my plasterer be a member of a trade organisation?
Not always! The plasterer could be part of a specialist trade organisation, but there are good contractors who choose not to join these organisations.
A skilled plasterer will likely have an NVQ or City & Guilds qualification, but it’s not essential.
The biggest test will always be the quality of the work, so look for previous references and a portfolio of work.
Why plaster walls?
There are many reasons for plastering a wall. It hides the rough and sometimes scruffy surface of concrete blocks. It prevents dust from escaping from the bare wall underneath. It gives a smooth surface to allow decorating. Finally, it hides utility services like water pipes and electricity cables.
What are the disadvantages of plastering?
Plastering, by its very nature, is wet and messy. Plaster powder is mixed with water to form a slurry something like very runny porridge.
The plasterer scrapes the slurry onto the wall or ceiling where it sticks to the surface. Sometimes, yet, if the plasterer has mixed or applied the slurry incorrectly, it will slide down the wall onto the floor. For this reason, everything in a room or on the floor has to be protected or removed so they don’t become splashed. Once plastering is complete, the slurry must dry out for a few days before the furniture can return.
Following this, the new walls shouldn’t be painted for about a couple of weeks. Newly dried plaster absorbs moisture very quickly. The surface needs a primer coat of paint to seal the surface before painting it.
Is there any alternative wall finishes to plastering?
Plastering walls doesn’t have to be the only option. Instead, you can have other surfaces:
- Fix plasterboard to wood or metal battens and decorate onto its surface. This only works if you use wallpaper, otherwise, you can still see the board texture and joints.
- Fit wooden panels or tongue and groove boards to the battens and varnish or paint. But, if you cover all the walls with panelling, the room can feel small and claustrophobic. So, it is a better idea to only cover one or two walls with panelling and make it into a feature. Depending on the wood type, this can look either rustic or very grand indeed.
- If the bare walls are brick or stone with good condition mortar pointing, you can opt for a feature wall. This gives a feeling of quality and sophistication.
- An unusual method of wall finishing is to use upholstery. Only upholster one or two walls, otherwise, the room will look like a recording studio or a padded cell!
How long does plaster take to dry?
Drying times will vary depending on the temperature and the humidity of your area. Factors include:
- Time of year will have a significant impact.
- Maximising natural ventilation in the room.
- Whether the plastering is on solid walls or plasterboard.
Don’t try to speed up the drying time too much by using heat as this will only make the plaster crack.
You can use natural ventilation or a dehumidifier to help remove the water. When the plaster has changed from dark brown to a light pink colour you know the surface is ready to paint.
Skimmed plasterboard dries in 2 to 3 days, while solid walls take about 4 to 6 days. But, it is far better to wait for about a week or two, to be sure, before starting to paint or tile.
Can you plaster over wallpaper?
The plaster may adhere to the wall for a while, but, the only thing holding the plaster will be a layer of paper. Eventually, the paper will give way and all the plaster will fall to the floor.
- Generally, it is always better to remove wallpaper before plastering.
- What can I do to prepare my room for plastering?
- Remove all furniture and carpets.
- Take the opportunity to add or move electrical power points.
- Remove any crumbling or loose plaster yourself.
- Use masking tape to seal around internal doors to prevent dust from escaping.
Do You Need Scaffolding?
This depends on the access to, and height of the walls and ceiling surfaces. As a general rule, if the tradesman has to lay plaster above shoulder height to a wall, or when plastering a ceiling, if the plasterer’s arm is bent to an angle of more than 90 degrees at the elbow, he or she will need some kind of access platform. The platform in most cases will only need to be between 300mm and 600mm above floor level if ceilings are of standard height, but will need to be higher if the ceilings are above standard height.
The best types of scaffolding to use are prefabricated folding platforms that can be rented from the local hire shop. These can be used for particularly high ceilings and can be adjusted to suit the required height. Otherwise, most plasterers use upturned plastic beer bottle crates with scaffold boards resting on top, this gives just the right elevation to reach a standard ceiling.
The rental cost of a folding platform can be for a day, weekend or a week. There are many hire shops in the UK, both small independent and large national companies. Although different, all their rental costs will be approximately the same.
| First 24 hours | Next 24 hours | Weekend | Week |
| £48.00 | £25.00 | £65.00 | £95.00 |
If you decide to hire, ensure you know how to erect and use the platforms safely before you attempt to use them.
What are the materials & steps involved?
First, strip any old wallpaper from the walls and wash with detergent and water to remove grease and dust. This gives the plaster the best chance to adhere to the wall. Next, check the walls for any cracks, hollow plaster or holes and remedy these problems. If there are particularly wide or deep cracks or holes then use scrim tape to reinforce the repair.
Old plaster, concrete block and brick have a very high rate of water suction because it is so dry. Give a coat of PVA solution onto the existing wall to seal the surface, so the new plaster won’t dry out too fast. For smooth surfaces, you can use a bonding agent such as Blue Grit which improves the key for the new plaster.
Next Steps
Now that we have explored how much plastering rooms cost, together with the different aspects of plastering. You can now deal with professionals with confidence.
