All news

Plastering Your Home

Plastering in Leeds is now an average cost of between £15-£25 per hour, or £150-£200 per day. Typical charges tend to be: £150 per ceiling, £250 per wall or between £400-£600 for the average room. The most frequently asked question is, how long does it take to plaster a room? This completely depends on the size of the room and walls. However, on average a single wall takes 3 to 4 hours, whilst a room can take up to a day.

 

How much does plastering cost?

Plasterers in London and the South of England can charge up to 20% more than other regions within the UK. The hourly rates of plasterers vary depending on the skill level of the professional and whereabouts they live. The price of plastering can also vary by quality and quantity of the materials also. Plasterers in Yorkshire will charge much less than plasterers in the South due to the geographical location.

The average cost of plastering completely depends on the size of the room/ceiling.

 

Estimated cost of plastering a room:

Small – £600 – £700

Medium – £650 – £900

Large – £1,000 – £1,500

 

Estimated cost of plastering a ceiling:

Small – £200 – £350

Medium – £250 – £450

Large – £400 – £750

 

Estimated cost of skimming a wall:

Small – £100 – £150

Medium – £150 – £250

Large – £200 – £400

 

Estimated cost of skimming a ceiling:

Small – £200 – £280

Medium – £280 – £380

Large – £400 – £550

 

Estimated cost of external rendering:

Small – £1900 – £2500

Medium – £3800 – £4500

Large – £4500 minimum

 

If you live in a property that is not a bungalow, a plasterer may need scaffolding to provide a sturdy platform when applying external render or internal plaster in a stairwell. Scaffoldings costs can be up to £1,000 to access an entire house, which would need to be added onto the original price.

 

Plastering onto new walls only usually needs to be damp for the plaster to stick smoothly. However, if you are planning on plastering over a decorated wall, the plaster would need something to fix to. Skimming over paint or wallpaper isn’t advisable as the new skim would attempt to bond with the paint not the underlying surface. In turn, the paint or wallpaper would gradually pull away from the wall and therefore the new plaster would collapse.

To avoid this, the plasterer would rub the surface using a wire brush to remove all excess masonry or paint. Holes will be filled with a sand and cement mortar and any existing paint would be removed by scabbling which is making small indentations in the surface.

Skilled plasterers in the area could also add cosmetic finishes to a plastered wall or even add plaster coving to the internal corners of the room.

 

Plastering an Entire House

Plastering an entire house would be cheaper than plastering one room for many reasons:

 

  • The plasterer doesn’t have to transport tools and materials back and forth as they will be ready for the whole house
  • Typically, the plasterer will plaster opposite walls in a room and start on other rooms to get the work done quicker.
  • They can remove old plaster and prepare other walls whilst the plastering is carried out in a different room
  • A skip can be hired for cheap

 

Factors which may affect the cost:

  • Room Dimensions – Typically a large room takes longer to plaster and therefore it costs more. However, don’t be fooled that plastering a small room can be equally as difficult as working in a large room.
  • Accessibility – The plasterer would need access to high walls and ceilings to carry out the job efficiently. For safe access of high ceilings/walls the plasterer may need scaffolding.
  • Location in the country – Plasterers in Leeds and up North would be much cheaper than plasterers in London and the South. Labour costs in the South of England can be up to 20% more than every else in the country.
  • The Size of the Company – Larger companies charge much more than solo tradesmen due to their high overheads. Therefore, single plasterers would take on minor jobs such as skimming one wall willingly.
  • Existing plaster condition – Usually, a contractor can plaster on top of existing plaster given the surface is stable, dry and adheres the wall. If this is not the case the price would increase dependent on the condition of the plaster such as if the surface needs scabbling or if the existing wall is damp.
  • VAT – Please keep in mind that plasterers’ initial quotes may not include VAT, and this may be added at the end.
  • Additional Hire Costs – These may include waste skips/ on-site toilet etc

 

How to Plaster

 

Wall:

  • Mortar and brick surfaces must be rough enough to ensure a good key to bond with the plaster.
  • Remove all loose particles, oil, and grease from the surface with a wire brush.
  • Wet the surface for about 6 hours before applying the plaster
  • Apply a base coat of sand and cement mortar to around 10 to 15mm
  • Let the base coat partially dry, scratch the surface with a trowel to provide a key for the finishing coat to bond.
  • Spread the finishing coat 3mm deep. Level with a wooden float then give it a smooth finish with a metal trowel.
  • Once the topcoat is on, allow it to cure without adding heat. Keep the wall moist for up to a week to allow the plaster to be hard with no cracking. Ventilate the room to remove excess moisture after the first couple of days.
  • Clean splashes from skirting boards and door frames before the plaster sets.

 

Ceiling:

  • Fix specific plasterboard sheets in place on the ceiling joists. This may require a certain thickness board for fireproofing.
  • Mix the plaster slurry and trowel into the grooves between boards
  • Press the plasterboard joining tape across the joint before the plaster dries
  • Smooth the plaster slurry over the tape to cover it
  • Apply a coat of finishing plaster on the plasterboard from the edges towards the middle using a wooden float to make the surface level.
  • Use a metal trowel to smooth the surface
  • Go round the edges removing any lumps before the plater has cured.

 

Types of plaster:

  • Browning plaster (a base coat used on brick or concrete block)
  • Multi-finish plaster (provides a smooth finish on different surfaces)
  • One coat plaster (acts as a 2-in-1 base and finishing coat
  • Bonding plaster (base coat for surfaces which aren’t absorbent)
  • Finishing plaster (finishing coat on top of browning plaster)
  • Board finish (only used on plasterboard)

 

Benefits of plastering:

  • Prevents dust by sealing rough brick/stonework.
  • Smooth plaster gives a hygienic surface when painted
  • Gives a fireproof barrier
  • Adds to the thermal and acoustic insulation on the wall
  • Can repair holes and cracks in existing plaster

 

Find Local Plasterers

Our maintenance team has a range of professional, fully qualified plasterers who have very reasonable prices.

https://valorpropertymaintenance.co.uk/