Plastering is applying a smooth finishing coat of plaster to walls and ceilings, either as a thin skim over sound surfaces or as a full re-plaster after removing failed plaster, creating a flat surface ready for decoration.
Thinking about plastering and skimming in Heavitree? We take charge of the whole project, co-ordinating every trade involved, and one person keeps you updated. Guide prices for the South West sit at £550–£1,650 including VAT, and a typical job takes 1–3 days per room, plus drying time. Your own figure depends on what the survey finds and the specification you settle on.
- Guide price
- £550–£1,650 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 days per room, plus drying time
- Postcodes
- EX1, EX2 and EX4
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Devon
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for plastering and skimming in Heavitree?
What should you budget for plastering and skimming in Heavitree? Use the figures below as a starting point. Prices in the South West sit about 2% above the national guide, so the range here is £550–£1,650 including VAT. Your fixed price comes in writing once we've surveyed the property, at no charge.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Heavitree |
|---|---|---|
| Patch repairs or one wall | Repairing cracks, filling cable channels after a rewire or skimming a single wall. | £150–£500 |
| One room, walls and ceiling | Skimming or boarding and skimming the walls and ceiling of a typical room. | £550–£1,650 |
| Whole house | Skimming or re-plastering most rooms in a typical 3-bed house during a renovation. | £5,100–£12,000 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Total wall and ceiling area to be plastered
- Skim over sound plaster or full re-plaster back to brick
- Ceiling height, stairwells and access
- Number of corners, windows and openings to bead
What do you get?
- Removal of loose or failed plaster and old wallpaper
- Plasterboard fixed to ceilings or walls where needed
- Angle beads and stop beads for straight corners and edges
- Skim coat or full two-coat plaster to agreed areas
- Patching around new sockets, pipes and windows
- Waste removal and a tidy finish ready for decorating
What are homes like around Heavitree?
Devon is known for cob and thatch cottages, especially in mid and east Devon, alongside granite on Dartmoor and red sandstone around Exeter. Exeter and Plymouth have Georgian and Victorian terraces, Plymouth's centre was largely rebuilt after the war, and seaside towns such as Torquay and Exmouth have rendered villas and newer estates.
Mild but wet, with strong coastal winds; exposed elevations need render and pointing specified for driving rain, and cob walls must be kept dry at the base.
Knowing the typical building types in Devon helps, but a survey of your own home in Heavitree is what decides the right approach to plastering and skimming.
Do you need permission in Heavitree?
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Heavitree comes under England, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
Internal work such as a new kitchen, bathroom, flooring, plastering or decorating does not need planning permission in England, unless the house is listed, when listed building consent may be needed even for internal changes.
Some internal work is covered by Building Regulations: new electrical circuits and work in bathrooms (Part P), new drainage, structural changes, extractor ventilation and any new window. Notifiable work is certified by a registered installer or by building control.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Survey and measure
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for plastering and skimming, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Written quote
After the survey we send a quote for plastering and skimming that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Plan and prepare
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
On site to finish
Our trades complete plastering and skimming while your point of contact keeps you updated. When everything is finished, we clear the site, take away waste and go through the result with you before handover.
How we work
Questions about plastering and skimming in Heavitree
Do I need planning permission in Heavitree?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Heavitree is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Do you cover Exeter, Exmouth and Tiverton?
Yes. As well as Heavitree, we cover Exeter, Exmouth and Tiverton and the rest of Devon. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
What is the difference between skimming and re-plastering?
Skimming applies a thin finishing coat, a few millimetres thick, over plaster or plasterboard that is still sound. Re-plastering removes the old plaster back to the brick or block and applies new base and finishing coats. Skimming is quicker and cheaper, but if the existing plaster is loose, hollow or crumbling, a skim will not hold. We tap-test walls to decide which is needed.
How long does new plaster take to dry?
A skim coat usually dries in a few days in a warm, well-ventilated room, while a full re-plaster can take one to four weeks depending on its thickness and the weather. Plaster turns from dark brown to an even light pink when dry. Keep windows open where possible, but avoid blasting heaters, which can cause cracking. We advise on drying before you decorate.
Should older houses be plastered with lime?
Older homes with solid walls and no damp-proof course are often better with lime plaster, because it lets moisture move through the wall and evaporate. Modern gypsum plaster can trap moisture in these walls, which can cause damp patches and blown plaster. Lime takes longer to apply and dry, so it costs more. We check your wall construction before recommending a material.
Near Heavitree
Homes across EX1, EX2 and EX4 in Heavitree are within our coverage, as are those in Exeter, Exmouth and Tiverton. If you are just outside these areas, ask anyway, because we work right across the UK.