Skimming · Re-plastering · Ceilings
Plastering & skimming in Ilford
We skim and re-plaster walls and ceilings across Ilford, Redbridge, Romford, Barking and East London, for homes, rentals and refurbishments, and can decorate straight after.
Prices
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Room plastering | from £450 | Labour and materials included. |
Starting prices. The final price depends on size and condition; we measure for free and quote in writing. We are not VAT registered, so no VAT is added to our labour; where a price says “+ VAT”, that is the VAT our supplier charges on the materials, passed on at cost.
How much does it cost to plaster or skim a room?
Standard room plastering starts from £450, including labour and materials. The final price depends on the room size, whether walls need skimming or full re-plastering, ceilings, the condition of the old plaster, and access. We quote in writing after a free look.
Skim or full re-plaster?
A skim is a thin finish coat over sound plaster or new plasterboard. It hides cracks, old filler, wallpaper damage and uneven paint. It is the right choice for most rooms. A full re-plaster means hacking off old plaster back to brick and building it up again in coats. You need it where plaster is loose, hollow, crumbling or damaged by damp. Tap a wall: a hollow sound over a large area usually means it has come away. We test the walls at the free visit and only quote for re-plastering where it is needed.
Lath and plaster ceilings in older houses
Many Victorian and Edwardian houses in Ilford and Seven Kings still have lath and plaster ceilings. When they sag or crack badly, the usual fix is to overboard with plasterboard and skim, or to take the old ceiling down and replace it. Taking it down is very dusty and needs the room cleared. Overboarding is cleaner and quicker but lowers the ceiling slightly. Textured ceilings, often called Artex, in houses built before 2000 can contain asbestos, so they should be tested before anyone sands or scrapes them.
How a plastering job runs
- We protect floors, windows and furniture and clear the room.
- Loose material is removed, cracks are taped, and metal beads go on corners.
- Walls get a bonding coat where suction is uneven, then the skim, trowelled smooth.
- The room is cleaned and ventilated so the plaster can dry.
Drying and decorating
Fresh plaster is dark brown and turns an even pale pink when dry. Drying time depends on thickness, the season and ventilation. Keep windows open and avoid blasting heaters, which can make plaster crack. Do not use normal paint straight away. The first coat should be a mist coat, which is watered-down emulsion or a primer made for new plaster, so the paint grips. We can decorate once it has dried.
Cracks, patches and damp walls
Fine cracks along ceiling joints and at the corners of door frames are common, especially in older houses and new extensions as timber settles. They are usually cosmetic. A skim with scrim tape over the joints often stops them coming back. Wide or growing cracks, or cracks that run diagonally from windows and doors, can point to movement in the structure. Get those checked before plastering over them. Plaster damaged by damp should only be replaced once the cause is fixed. Otherwise salts and moisture push through the new plaster. Rising damp, a leaking gutter and condensation each need a different fix, so we look for the source first.
Plasterboard, bonding and lime
Modern work mostly uses gypsum plaster over brick or plasterboard. New partition walls and overboarded ceilings use plasterboard, taped at the joints and skimmed. Some older solid-walled houses were built with lime plaster, which lets the wall breathe. Repairing patches of it with modern gypsum can trap moisture. Where a wall is mainly lime, we tell you and discuss whether to repair like for like.
Areas we cover
Ilford, Gants Hill, Barkingside, Seven Kings, Goodmayes, Chadwell Heath, Hainault, Woodford, Wanstead, Redbridge, Romford, Barking, Dagenham, Chigwell, Loughton, Newham and the rest of East London and Essex.
Recent work
Real jobs by our team. More in the project gallery.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to plaster a room?
Standard room plastering starts from £450, including labour and materials. The final price depends on room size and wall condition.
Can you paint after plastering?
Yes. Room painting starts from £380 per room, and we can programme it once the plaster has dried.
Do I need a skim or a full re-plaster?
A skim is enough when the plaster underneath is sound. Loose, hollow or damp-damaged plaster needs taking back to brick and re-plastering. We test the walls before quoting.
Can you plaster over Artex?
Often yes, by skimming over it. In homes built before 2000 the Artex should be tested for asbestos first, because sanding or scraping it can release fibres.
How do I know new plaster is dry?
It turns from dark brown to an even pale pink with no dark patches. Then apply a mist coat before normal emulsion.
Visit or contact us
SK Design & Construct Ltd, 6 Spurway Parade, Woodford Avenue, Ilford IG2 6UU. Call or WhatsApp 07774 944042 or email info@skdesignconstructltd.com. Registered in England and Wales, company number 16582978.