Plastering London
A flat, well-finished plaster surface is the difference between a decoration that looks sharp and one that shows every flaw under the light. Whether you are skimming a tired room before painting, patching cracks and blown areas, or re-boarding a wall back to a clean surface, plastering is the trade that everything else is decorated onto — so it pays to have it done properly.
- Fixed Written Quotes
- Guaranteed in Writing
- Free On-Site Survey
Plastering London
A flat, well-finished plaster surface is the difference between a decoration that looks sharp and one that shows every flaw under the light. Whether you are skimming a tired room before painting, patching cracks and blown areas, or re-boarding a wall back to a clean surface, plastering is the trade that everything else is decorated onto — so it pays to have it done properly.
Most plastering jobs fall into a few clear categories. Skimming a whole room for a smooth modern finish runs £300–£400. A small patch repair to a crack or blown area is £80–£120. Re-plastering a single wall is £100–£200, and dot-and-dab plasterboard followed by a skim coat is the route for uneven or solid walls. Ceilings, coving and larger areas are priced per square metre.
Our plasterers work across London on everything from a single patch to whole-property skims, and we are equally at home with the wet and lime plasters period properties need. Lime plaster lets old solid walls breathe — using modern gypsum on them traps moisture and the finish fails — so on Victorian and Georgian properties we plaster the way the building was built to perform.
What's Included
- Survey of surface condition and the right plastering method
- Skimming whole rooms to a flat, decoration-ready finish
- Patch repairs to cracks, blown and damaged areas
- Re-plastering single walls back to a smooth surface
- Dot-and-dab plasterboarding of uneven or solid walls
- Ceilings, coving and larger areas priced per square metre
- Lime and wet plaster for breathable period-property walls
- Floor protection, clean-down and fixed written quote with guarantee
What It Costs in London
These are guide prices to help you budget. We give you a fixed, written quote after a free on-site survey — no call-out charge and no surprises later.
| Work | Guide Price |
|---|---|
| Skim a roomWhole room skimmed flat for decoration | £300 – £400 |
| Patch repair (crack or blown area)Localised repair made good | £80 – £120 |
| Re-plaster a wallSingle wall back to a smooth surface | £100 – £200 |
| Plasterboard & skimDot-and-dab board followed by a skim coat | from ~£25 / sqm |
| Lime / wet plaster (period walls)Breathable finish for solid period walls | priced per sqm |
Guide prices only — every job is confirmed with a fixed written quote after a free survey. Prices exclude VAT where applicable; your written quote states the VAT position clearly.
Our Process, Step by Step
Survey & honest quote
We check the condition of the existing surface, work out whether it needs skimming, patching, re-plastering or boarding, and identify solid period walls that need a breathable lime finish rather than gypsum. You get a clear, itemised quote — per room, per wall or per square metre.
Prepare & protect
Furniture is moved or sheeted, floors are protected, and the surface is prepared — loose plaster cut back, walls PVA’d or scrim tape applied over joints and cracks — so the new plaster bonds properly and does not crack back.
Board, float & skim
Where needed we dot-and-dab plasterboard onto uneven or solid walls, then float and skim to a flat, polished finish. Period solid walls are plastered with lime or wet plaster so the wall stays breathable and the finish lasts.
Finish & clean down
The plaster is trowelled flat and left ready for decoration, the room is cleaned down and dust-sheets removed, and we advise on drying times so you do not paint before the plaster has fully cured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Skimming a whole room to a flat finish typically costs £300–£400. A small patch repair to a crack or blown area is £80–£120, and re-plastering a single wall £100–£200. Dot-and-dab plasterboarding followed by a skim coat starts from around £25 per square metre, with ceilings, coving and lime plaster priced per square metre after viewing. We quote a fixed price following a survey.
Skimming applies a thin finish coat of plaster over a sound existing surface — ideal for tidying up a tired but solid wall before decoration. Re-plastering goes further: it involves taking the surface back, floating out and building up the plaster where the old surface is blown, uneven or has been removed. We advise which your wall needs at survey so you are not paying for more than the surface requires.
Yes. Solid-walled Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian properties were built to breathe, and lime or wet plaster lets moisture move through the wall rather than trapping it. Using modern gypsum plaster on these walls can trap damp and cause the finish to blow and fail. On period solid walls we use breathable lime and wet plaster so the finish performs as the building was designed to.
Fresh plaster must dry fully before painting — typically a few days to a couple of weeks depending on thickness, ventilation and the time of year. It is ready when the surface has gone from dark patches to an even pale colour throughout. The first coat should be a thinned mist coat so the plaster can still breathe. We advise on drying times for your specific job at handover.
Yes. A textured or Artex ceiling can usually be sealed and skimmed over for a flat finish, and a damaged or sagging ceiling can be re-boarded and skimmed. Note that textured coatings applied before 2000 should be asbestos-tested before being disturbed — we check the property’s age and arrange testing where needed before any work begins.
Plastering, Painting & Decorating
Plasterers, painters and decorators for Central London homes and rentals — re-skimming, flawless preparation, period cornice restoration and full redecorating for homeowners and landlords alike.
View service Cost GuideLath and Plaster Ceiling Repair Cost in London: 2026 Guide
Lath and plaster ceiling repair in London costs £80–£120 for a patch up to full replacement. See costs by job plus overboard vs removal options here.
Read the guideAcross Every London Borough
We skim, patch and re-plaster walls and ceilings — including breathable lime plaster for period properties — across every London borough, from Camden and Islington to Wandsworth and Greenwich.
Get Your Free Survey & Fixed Written Quote
Book a free on-site survey and we'll return an itemised, fixed-price quote in writing — anywhere in London. No call-out charge, no surprises later.
- Same-day callback
- Fixed price, in writing
- Guaranteed workmanship