Domestic · Plastering
Domestic plastering in Ipswich
Whether it’s one tired bedroom wall or a whole house after a rewire, we plaster homes across Ipswich so the walls and ceilings are flat, smooth and ready to paint. We check what’s underneath first, so the finish lasts rather than just looking good on day one.
When it’s the right choice
- Patchy walls after wallpaper removal or old repairs
- Cracked, uneven or Artex-covered ceilings
- Rooms opened up or altered during a renovation
- New extensions and loft conversions that need finishing
- Small areas: around new windows, sockets or a replaced doorframe
What we can do
- Skimming and re-skimming
- A thin finishing coat over suitably prepared, sound plaster or new board. It levels minor surface marks and gives you a smooth decorating base. Significant unevenness, failed paint or loose plaster needs preparation rather than simply covering it.
- Ceiling plastering
- We skim sound ceilings and assess cracked or textured ceilings for repair or overboarding. Sagging ceilings need their support and condition checked before any new lining is considered. Textured coatings in older homes may need testing before they are disturbed, and we’ll talk that through first.
- Full replastering
- Where plaster is blown, crumbling or stripped back to brick, we build up base coats before the finish so the wall is flat and solid again.
- Plaster repairs
- Patches, cracks, damaged corners and holes left by trades, blended into the surrounding wall as closely as the existing surface allows.
- Tacking and dot and dab
- Boarding ceilings and walls ready for a skim, including dot and dab onto masonry where it suits the job.
What the work involves
- 1
Look at the walls
We check whether the existing plaster is sound, hollow or damp, and explain what needs to happen before a finish goes on.
- 2
Protect the room
Floors, skirting and fittings are covered and sockets masked. It helps if furniture is cleared or moved to the middle.
- 3
Prepare and plaster
Loose material comes off, beads go on corners, surfaces are treated where needed, then the plaster is applied and trowelled smooth.
- 4
Clear up and hand over
We tidy the room and tell you how to look after the new plaster while it dries.
Want a price for your plastering?
Photos and rough measurements are a great start.
Things to know
- Drying before decorating
- Drying time depends on the thickness of plaster, the weather and ventilation. A skim dries quicker than full plastering. Decorate only when dry, using the paint manufacturer’s specified first coat and finish.
- Other trades first
- Electrics, plumbing and window fitting should be finished before plastering, so nothing is chased into fresh walls.
- What affects the price
- Room size, ceiling height, the state of the existing walls, how much needs removing, and access all change the cost. We price each job after seeing it or photos of it.
- Helpful for a quote
- Photos of each wall and ceiling in daylight, rough room measurements and a note of anything you’ve spotted, like cracks or damp patches.
- A finish coat is not a structural repair
- Skimming improves the surface of a sound wall. Recurring movement, leaks and loose backgrounds need investigating before fresh plaster covers them. Tell us if a crack keeps returning or a damp patch changes after rain.
Questions about plastering
Usually, if the paint is well bonded. We may treat the surface first so the new plaster grips properly.
Ask us about your projectIf the existing plaster is sound, a skim is normally enough. If it’s hollow, cracked through or crumbling, it needs to come off and be replaced. We’ll tell you which after looking.
Ask us about your projectOften, yes. Older textured coatings may contain asbestos, so they shouldn’t be sanded or scraped until tested. We’ll discuss this before planning the work.
Ask us about your projectPlastering involves water and dust, but we protect floors and fittings and clear up at the end of the job.
Ask us about your projectYes. We’re happy to quote for a single wall, a patch repair or the area around a new window.
Ask us about your projectThere is no reliable date from a photo alone. Coat depth, the background, temperature, humidity and ventilation all matter. Allow time between plastering and decorating, and check the whole surface is dry before applying the paint system.
Ask us about your projectSend the room dimensions, ceiling height, photos of the current surface and whether you need walls, ceilings or both. Mention wallpaper, textured coatings, loose plaster and outstanding electrical or plumbing work.
Ask us about your projectGet in touch
Tell us about your job using the form, or call or email us. Photos, measurements or drawings help us give a more accurate price.
Quote for domestic plastering
Tell us what you need. We’ll get in touch to discuss your project.