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A plasterer charges an average of £100 for a patch repair and around £1,350 for plastering a large room, though this can vary from £70 to £1,500+ depending on the job's scope.
Do you know how your home looks so finished? It is the work of plasterers to provide a smooth or textured surface coat of plaster to walls and ceilings, so that they may become smooth and durable. Plastering is important in both new constructions and renovation works, as it provides a neat finish on which painting or decorating may begin and also offers some insulation and fire resistance.
In the UK, most plastering work is requested for the interior walls and ceilings of homes or the repair of slightly damaged surfaces. Another type of plastering outside is rendering, which protects exterior walls from weathering and beautifies them. Then there are decorative types of plastering, like cornices and mouldings, that lend some character and style to interior spaces.
How much does it cost to replaster a wall in the UK? Check here the details before you start your repair or new plaster work.
The general plastering services cost between £10 and £35 per m², depending on the complexity of the job and price differences in various regions. A wall just skimmed (a finishing touch) costs less, between £10 and £15 per m². A plaster repair job also costs in the range between £20 and £35 per m².
In plastering, a small room (bedroom or box room) costs basis may be between £350 and £550.
Medium rooms generally range from £600 to £800, whilst large rooms or open-plan areas will cost about £900 to £1200+, depending on wall surface and ceiling height.
Skimming (putting an uppermost smooth coat on the existing plaster) is sometimes 25-40% cheaper than full plastering, which once scrapes off the old plaster and applies an initial bonding coat and finishing. Full plastering sometimes goes for around 20-30 pounds per square meter.
Labour consumption is the major element, usually 70 to 80% of the total cost. Material costs comprising plaster, boards, and bonding products usually account for only 20-30%, so hiring an expert network of plasterers will be a lot different in terms of cost.
Size and condition of the area:
Large rooms or full-house projects inflate the cost naturally in accordance with the extra labour and materials needed. The wall or ceiling conditions, too (be it cracks, dampness, or loose plaster), will add to the cost because of the repairing work necessary before the plastering.
Type of plaster used:
Based on the mechanics of installation, the ordinary gypsum plaster will be cheaper, whereas specialised plasters, like lime or cement-based plaster or insulated plasterboards, will add to the total; whereas decorative or textured finishes will require time and skill, thus adding to the price.
Place within the UK (regional price variations):
Prices may differ vastly amongst the regions. Usually, labour charges are higher in London and the South-East, while they tend to be lower in the North of England, Wales or Scotland. Additional travel costs will be folded in for rural or remote areas.
Accessibility of the property/room:
No areas are easy if you have high ceilings, stairways, or loft rooms, as these may require scaffolding or access equipment, all arrangements that add to time and money. The limited access to materials and tools is also going to diminish efficiency.
Preparation work required:
Jobs which need the removal of the old plaster, fixing the damaged substrate, installing new plasterboards, or the bond agent before the final coat are going to add to labour and material costs compared to the bare-skimming over sound surfaces.
Waste removal for old plaster:
Removal and disposal of the old or damaged plaster could bear some waste disposal charges or skip hire costs, usually around £50–£150 depending on its quantity.
Primer and finishing:
Applying a primer or mist coat and making the surface smooth enough for painting might add approximately £1–£3 per square metre, with the demand for multiple coats anything but unusual.
Scaffold hire (for high ceilings/external work):
Getting a scaffold erected for work at heights or in difficult locations will set you back anywhere between £200 and £500, depending largely on size and also time.
VAT and call-out charges:
Trade professionals sometimes include VAT (20%) in the price and charge an additional call-out fee for trips made to smaller or urgent jobs.
Compare Multiple quotes: Always try to get quotes from at least three different plasterers. By comparing prices, you can assess the fair market rates. This way, you can avoid being overcharged and try to bargain for a better price. Also, reviews, experience and descriptions of the scope of work from the contractors can help with decision-making.
Combining plastering with other renovation work: In the event you have other home improvement works to do (say, rewiring of electricity, insulation, decoration), then try and arrange for these to be carried out concurrently with the plastering operation. Bundling tasks can end up lessening labour costs, preventing multiple call-outs and easing transportation costs of materials. Contractors generally like to show some price flexibility for larger projects or those involving several disciplines.
Hiring reputable tradespeople from your locale: Hiring a local plasterer rather than one travelling from some other region should save you a considerable travel or call-out charge. Reputable local tradesmen rely on word-of-mouth recommendations and might price competitively to keep their good standing within the neighbourhood. However, credentials should always be checked, online reviews should be read, and job references ought to be sourced from their past employment to secure quality.
It is almost always worth paying extra for a plasterer that you know you can trust rather than dealing with substandard work in the future.
When selecting plasterers in the UK, warranties and certifications are the foremost concern to ensure that one gets quality and reliable workmanship.
TrustMark is one quality scheme to look for; this is a government-endorsed quality mark that looks into tradesmen with aspects such as technical competence, customer service and trading practices.
Membership in organisations such as the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is also something that should give comfort, as the members of such organisations have to meet certain industry standards and are bound by a code of practice.
While these industry memberships are important, it is equally important to check the plasterer for appropriate public liability insurance that will protect one in case of accident, damage, or injury that might occur during the conduct of the work.
Some contractors might even go one step further and provide you with workmanship warranties that apply from one to five years. This means that any faults that happen during that period as a result of poor workmanship will be fixed for free.
Products, such as lime or insulated plaster systems, may require training or manufacturer approval for the installer is most worthwhile to check, since this may be a prerequisite for maintaining the warranty on the product, and any time invested in verifying these things only serves to keep you from foregoing unnecessary risks. It adds to the warranty of quality and allows you to relax during the plastering work.
Cracking and uneven surface:
A very badly applied plaster will never adhere properly, or may be applied with varying thickness, creating cracks, bumps, or uneven texture. Such flaws do the visual appeal no favours and commonly lead to early peel-off of paint or wallpaper. Worse still, a serious case of loose plaster may detach in parts from the wall or ceiling, creating hazards.
Higher re-repair costs later:
Plastering may seem like a cheap short-term solution; instead, poorly done plastering will have to be fixed quite soon after its completion. The re-plastering of painted or poorly prepared surfaces ends up more costly than the original job because the defective areas must first be stripped back and properly prepared before a new plaster can be applied.
Reduced property value:
Surface imperfections or cracking visible on internal walls tend to pull down the overall appeal of a home, especially during transitions for sale or rent. Prospective buyers or tenants could be thinking that wider structural issues exist, or subtracting the cost of repairs from the negotiation. Superior plastering leads to a clean, professional end product that helps maintain or even improve a property's resale value.
Plastering is indeed a basic joinery task for smooth, hard-wearing, and aesthetically pleasing walls or ceilings, being a part of any building in the UK. Prices differ on account of area size, type of plaster, and sometimes preparation floor, as well as labour rates of the region, with extra costs for disposal and scaffolding charges. Results of bad plaster work are cracks, expensive repairs, and depreciation. To get a fair price and a good finish, one should always be in the habit of comparing quotes and getting a professional assessment of the site before commencing with the work.
Costs of various services and materials in this cost guide should be taken as estimates. These depend on location, preference and demands in the market.