How Much Does Plastering Cost in the UK?

Plasterer Day Rates UK 2026

Plasterers typically charge £150–£250 per day depending on location and experience. London and South East rates are higher at £200–£350 per day. Most plasterers quote a fixed price per room or per job rather than a daily rate.

Skim Plastering a Room

Skim plastering a standard bedroom (applying 2–3mm finishing coat over existing plaster): £200–£400 for a typical 12x12ft room. A larger living room costs £300–£600. A full house skim typically costs £1,500–£3,000 depending on size.

Re-Plastering a Room (Full Plaster)

Hacking off existing plaster and applying new plaster from scratch costs £400–£800 for a standard bedroom. This is necessary when existing plaster is cracked, damp-damaged, or has failed. Add cost for making good and priming.

Artex Removal

Removing artex (textured ceiling and wall finishes) costs £200–£500 to steam strip and skim a standard room ceiling. The process is messy and time-consuming. Some artex contains asbestos if installed before 1985 — get tested before removal (test kit £20–£50, professional asbestos survey £200–£400).

New Plasterboard and Skim

Fitting new plasterboard and skimming in a standard bedroom: £400–£800. This is used when starting from bare brickwork or blockwork, or when new stud partition walls are built.

How Long Before Decorating?

Fresh plaster must dry completely before decorating — typically 2–4 weeks for full drying depending on depth, ventilation, and time of year. Painting over wet plaster causes flaking and failure. Apply a mist coat (diluted emulsion) as the first coat to help the plaster dry evenly.