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.
In Lancashire, we price plastering and skimming against our guide for the North West, £500–£1,500 including VAT, then adjust it once we have surveyed your home. We work across Preston, Burnley, Blackburn and Blackpool and the rest of the county or region. Planning and building control requirements follow the rules for England, and we look into your property's position before a written quote is sent.
- Guide price
- £500–£1,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 days per room, plus drying time
- Planning rules
- England
- Price level
- About 5% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 19
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Plastering and skimming prices in Lancashire
Prices for plastering and skimming vary from house to house, but in Lancashire most projects fall within £500–£1,500 including VAT. That reflects costs in the North West, about 5% below the national guide. Treat the table as a budgeting aid; the written figure follows a survey we carry out for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Lancashire |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Skim over sound plaster or full re-plaster back to brick
- Ceiling height, stairwells and access
- Removing artex, wallpaper or failed plaster first
- Number of corners, windows and openings to bead
What’s included?
- Survey of walls and ceilings, including tap-testing for hollow plaster
- 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
- Waste removal and a tidy finish ready for decorating
Homes in Lancashire
East Lancashire mill towns such as Burnley, Blackburn and Accrington have long rows of stone and brick terraces, while Preston is mostly red brick. Lancaster uses sandstone for its Georgian centre, Blackpool and the Fylde coast have guest-house terraces and many bungalows, and interwar and newer estates surround most towns.
Mill-town terraces commonly suit attic conversions, kitchen extensions and repointing. Bungalows on the coast often take loft rooms and porches, and stone properties may need lime pointing and roof repairs.
Westerly winds and high rainfall are the norm, with gales on the Fylde coast and wetter, colder conditions on the Pennine side.
Planning and building rules in Lancashire
As Lancashire is in England, read the following with that system of planning and building control in mind. We check what applies to your house with the council before you receive a quote.
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.
How does the job run?
We look at the job
First, someone visits your home in Lancashire 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.
Quote in writing
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.
Getting ready
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.
Build and hand over
On site, the agreed plan is followed and any change is put in writing first. At completion we do a final clean, go through the snagging list with you and leave you with the relevant documents.
How we work
Questions about plastering and skimming in Lancashire
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
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.
When can I paint new plaster?
New plaster can be painted once it is fully dry and evenly pale in colour. The first coat should be a mist coat, which is watered-down emulsion or a specialist primer that soaks into the plaster and seals it. Applying normal emulsion straight on can cause peeling. Vinyl or wipeable paints should be avoided for the first coat, because they stop moisture escaping.
How much will plastering and skimming cost in Lancashire?
As a guide, expect to pay £500–£1,500 including VAT for plastering and skimming in Lancashire. That range is adjusted for the North West, which runs about 5% below the national guide. Where your project lands depends on size, materials, access and the condition of what is already there. We confirm a fixed price in writing after a free survey of your home.
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.
Towns in Lancashire
Below is our list of Lancashire towns for plastering and skimming. If yours isn't shown, we may still cover it, so it is worth asking us directly.