Skim and re-plastering for walls and ceilings
Plastering
Plastering is the application of a smooth finish coat, or full replacement plaster system, to walls and ceilings, either as a skim over sound plasterboard or existing plaster, or as a full re-plaster where the background has failed or been removed.
Definition
What Plastering covers
Plastering covers two related jobs: skimming, where a thin finish coat of gypsum plaster is applied over plasterboard or a sound existing surface, and re-plastering, where old, failed or removed plaster is replaced with a full backing and finish coat system. The right approach depends on the condition of the wall or ceiling beneath, assessed at survey.
Suitable for
- New plasterboard walls and ceilings needing a skim finish before decoration
- Rooms where existing plaster is cracked, blown or has come away from the wall
- Making good after structural alterations, rewiring or replumbing
- Ceilings needing a smooth finish after removal of a textured (Artex-style) coating
Not suitable for
- Solid, older walls needing a breathable lime plaster system rather than standard gypsum plaster
- Damp walls where the underlying cause of damp hasn't been resolved first
Process
How the work is carried out
- 01
Survey
Assessing the condition of the existing wall or ceiling and confirming whether a skim or full re-plaster is needed.
- 02
Preparation
Removing failed plaster, repairing plasterboard, and applying bonding treatments where the background needs it.
- 03
Plastering
Applying backing coats where required, followed by a smooth finish coat, worked to a flat, even surface.
- 04
Drying and handover
Allowing the plaster to dry before decoration, with guidance on drying times for your specific job.
Typical timescale
Skimming a single room typically takes one to two days including drying time before it's ready to decorate; a full re-plaster of a room takes longer as backing coats need to dry between stages.
Cost guidance
Plastering typically costs £400–£900 per room in our area (or around £20–£30 per m² for larger areas), with a skim costing less than a full re-plaster where backing coats are also needed. We provide an itemised quotation after survey.
Limitations and exclusions
- Newly plastered walls and ceilings need to dry out fully before decoration; painting too soon can trap moisture and cause finish problems
- Damp-affected walls need the underlying cause resolved before re-plastering, or the problem will recur
- Older solid-wall properties may need a lime-based system rather than standard gypsum plaster — this is assessed separately
Areas we cover
Plastering across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and South London
Local property styles, planning authorities and neighbourhood coverage for plastering in each town we work in.
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FAQs
Plastering FAQs
How long does plaster need to dry before I can paint?
As a general guide, allow roughly a week per coat of plaster to dry, though this varies with room temperature, ventilation and the season. A mist coat (diluted emulsion) can often go on sooner to seal a new skim, with full-strength paint following once fully dry.
Do you skim over old plaster or take it back to brick?
It depends on condition. Sound existing plaster can usually be skimmed straight over; plaster that is cracked, blown (hollow-sounding when tapped) or damp-affected needs to be hacked off and re-plastered from the backing coat up. We assess this at survey.
Can plastering fix a damp patch on my wall?
No — plastering covers the symptom, not the cause. If a wall is damp, the source (rising damp, penetrating damp, a leak or condensation) needs identifying and resolving first, otherwise the new plaster will fail again.
Discuss your plastering project
Tell us about the property and what you have in mind, and we'll arrange a site visit.
Last reviewed 2026-07-28.