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.
We arrange plastering and skimming for homeowners in Swinton and the wider Greater Manchester. The job is planned, priced and managed by us and carried out by tradespeople engaged under our contract, so there is one agreement and one contact. On a typical home the work takes 1–3 days per room, plus drying time, and guide pricing in the North West is £500–£1,500, VAT included.
- Guide price
- £500–£1,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 days per room, plus drying time
- Postcodes
- M6, M27, M28 and M30
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Salford
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does plastering and skimming cost in Swinton?
Every figure below is a guide for plastering and skimming in Swinton, inclusive of VAT. Regional pricing for the North West works out about 5% below the national guide, and the overall span is £500–£1,500. The survey costs you nothing, and after it we commit to a firm price for your specification in writing.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Swinton |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | £500–£1,500 |
| Whole house | Skimming or re-plastering most rooms in a typical 3-bed house during a renovation. | £4,800–£11,500 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Total wall and ceiling area to be plastered
- Skim over sound plaster or full re-plaster back to brick
- Ceiling height, stairwells and access
- Removing artex, wallpaper or failed plaster first
What do you get?
- Floor and furniture protection with dust sheets and masking
- Removal of loose or failed plaster and old wallpaper
- 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
Building in Swinton
Rows of Victorian red-brick terraces fill much of Manchester, Salford and the mill towns, with stone terraces in the Pennine fringes around Oldham and Saddleworth. South Manchester has Edwardian semis and villas, Wythenshawe was built as a large interwar garden suburb, and city-centre apartments and new estates continue to grow.
Two-up two-down terraces commonly suit loft conversions, kitchen extensions and kitchen refits. Many need repointing and roof work, while semis in the suburbs often take side extensions, driveways and replacement windows.
That mix of housing shapes how we approach plastering and skimming in Swinton: the age and construction of your home affect the materials, the method and, in the end, the price.
Planning and building rules in Swinton
The notes below cover England, which is where Swinton sits. Rules change and every property is different, so we speak to the council before pricing your job.
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
We look at the job
First, someone visits your home in Swinton to see the space, take measurements and note anything that could affect the work, such as access or the condition of what is there. There is no charge for this visit.
Written quote
We turn the survey notes into a written quote. The price is fixed for the specification we agree, and the document sets out materials, scope and payment stages in plain language.
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.
The work itself
The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.
What you can expect from us
Frequently asked questions
Can you plaster over artex?
Artex and similar textured ceilings can usually be covered, either by applying a bonding coat and then a skim, or by fixing new plasterboard over the top and skimming that. Some older textured coatings contain hazardous fibres, so they should not be sanded or scraped until a sample has been tested. We can arrange a test before quoting and choose a method that avoids disturbing the coating.
Which postcodes in Swinton do you cover?
We cover M6, M27, M28 and M30, along with the rest of Greater Manchester. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
What happens at the survey?
We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from plastering and skimming, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.
Why is my plaster cracking?
Fine cracks in new plaster are usually shrinkage cracks from drying too fast and are easily filled before decorating. Cracks along plasterboard joints often mean missing tape or movement in the boards. Larger or diagonal cracks over doors and windows can point to structural movement and should be looked at before re-plastering. We assess cracks during the survey and explain the likely cause.
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.
Nearby towns
Live in Swinton? Our coverage takes in the M6, M27, M28 and M30 postcode areas and reaches out to Eccles, Walkden and Salford, so homes on the outskirts and in the next town along are included.