Plastering advice
How Much Does It Cost to Plaster a Ceiling? 2026 UK Guide
Short answer
As a 2026 UK guide, skimming a sound ceiling costs about £20–£35 per m2, roughly £250–£450 for an average room. Overboarding and skimming a poor ceiling is about £30–£45 per m2 (roughly £400–£650 a room), and taking down and replacing a failed lath-and-plaster or water-damaged ceiling about £40–£70 per m2. London and the South East typically run 20–30% higher; SJF quotes are fixed after a visit.
Typical 2026 UK guide prices for ceilings
If you are wondering how much to plaster a ceiling, the first question is what kind of job it is. The table below covers the common options, including labour and materials.
| Ceiling job | Typical guide price |
|---|---|
| Skim over a sound ceiling | About £20–£35 per m2 (roughly £250–£450 for an average room) |
| Small ceiling (bathroom or hall) | About £150–£300 |
| Overboard and skim an existing poor ceiling | About £30–£45 per m2 (roughly £400–£650 for an average room) |
| Replace a failed lath-and-plaster or water-damaged ceiling (take down, new board, skim) | About £40–£70 per m2 |
| Skim over sound Artex (bond coat + skim) | Roughly £300–£500 per room |
Waste removal or a skip can add a few hundred pounds when a ceiling comes down, and high ceilings or awkward access add a premium. These are guide prices, not a quote; London and the South East typically run 20–30% higher. SJF Plastering quotes are fixed after a visit.
Skim, overboard or replace: how a plasterer decides
The cost to plaster a ceiling depends far more on what is already up there than on the size of the room. Before pricing, a plasterer checks whether the ceiling is firmly fixed, flat enough, and free of cracks that indicate movement.
Skimming suits a ceiling that is sound and reasonably flat but tired, patched or marked. It is the cheapest option and the least disruptive, which is why skimming ceiling cost is the figure most people start with.
Overboarding means screwing new plasterboard through to the joists over the existing ceiling, then skimming the boards. It suits ceilings that are cracked, uneven, heavily textured or slightly loose, and avoids the mess of pulling the old ceiling down.
Replacing — taking the old ceiling down, boarding and skimming — is the answer when the ceiling has failed: sagging lath and plaster, plaster coming away from the laths, or boards that have been soaked by a leak. It costs the most, mainly because of the extra labour and waste.
Lath-and-plaster ceilings in Victorian Sutton homes
Many Victorian and Edwardian houses in Sutton, Cheam, Carshalton and Wimbledon still have their original lath-and-plaster ceilings. Where they are sound they can often be skimmed or overboarded; where the plaster has lost its key to the laths it may bulge, crack in a map pattern or feel loose when pressed gently.
A ceiling that is sagging should not be skimmed over — the weight of new plaster can make matters worse. Overboarding with long screws into the joists or replacing the ceiling is usually the safer route. Taking a lath ceiling down is dusty work and produces a surprising amount of waste, which is why replacement sits at the top of the price range.
Water-damaged ceilings: fix the leak first
Ceilings often take the brunt of a leak from a bathroom, a flat above or the roof. The leak must be found and fixed, and the ceiling allowed to dry, before any plastering. Plastering over a wet ceiling traps moisture and leads to staining, blown plaster and failed paint.
If the boards are only stained and still firm, a stain-block and skim may be enough. If they have softened, sagged or come away from the fixings, the damaged section or the whole ceiling will need replacing. Where an insurance claim is involved, photographs and a written quotation help.
Artex and textured ceilings
Sound Artex ceilings can usually be bonded and skimmed flat, roughly £300–£500 per room as a guide. Textured coatings applied before 2000 may contain asbestos, so they should never be sanded or scraped. Our Artex and popcorn ceiling removal guide explains the options in full.
How long it takes and when you can paint
Skimming an average ceiling is usually done in a day. Overboarding and skimming, or replacing a ceiling, typically takes one to two days depending on size, access and waste removal.
New plaster then needs to dry to an even pale colour before decorating — often several days to a week in good conditions, longer in cold or poorly ventilated rooms. Apply a mist coat of diluted emulsion first, then your normal paint.
Ceiling plastering in Sutton and nearby
SJF Plastering skims, overboards and replaces ceilings across Sutton and South West London, with dedicated pages for ceiling plastering in Cheam, Banstead and Wimbledon. See the related links for our ceiling service, local pages and Artex skimming.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to plaster a ceiling?
As a 2026 UK guide, skimming a sound ceiling is about £20–£35 per m2, or roughly £250–£450 for an average room. Overboarding and skimming is about £30–£45 per m2 and full replacement about £40–£70 per m2. London and the South East typically run 20–30% higher.
How much to replaster a ceiling that has failed?
Taking down a failed ceiling, fitting new plasterboard and skimming typically costs about £40–£70 per m2, plus waste removal. Access and ceiling height affect the price.
What is the typical skimming ceiling cost for a small room?
A small ceiling such as a bathroom or hall is typically about £150–£300 to skim if it is sound.
Is overboarding cheaper than taking the ceiling down?
Usually, yes. Overboarding avoids most of the demolition, dust and waste, so it normally costs less than full replacement — provided the existing ceiling and joists are sound enough to fix through.
Can you skim over a cracked ceiling?
Fine surface cracks can be taped and skimmed. Cracks caused by loose plaster, sagging or movement need the cause dealing with, often by overboarding or replacing the ceiling.
Can a lath-and-plaster ceiling be skimmed?
If it is firmly keyed to the laths and not sagging, often yes. If it is loose or bulging, overboarding or replacement is the safer option.
How long does it take to plaster a ceiling?
Skimming an average ceiling is usually a one-day job; overboarding or replacement typically takes one to two days.
When can I paint a newly plastered ceiling?
Once it has dried to an even pale colour, often several days to a week. Apply a mist coat first, then your finish paint.
Do I need to fix a leak before replastering the ceiling?
Yes. The leak must be repaired and the ceiling dried out first, otherwise the new plaster will stain, blow or fail.
Need this doing?
SJF Plastering covers Sutton, Surrey and South West London. Call 07967 302162 or message us on WhatsApp for a free quotation.
What customers say
Good communication, job arranged quickly
Steve was in touch straight away, gave a very reasonable quote and was good at communicating what was needed and when he would be able to do the work. Steve arrived on time on the day, did a good job and carried out the work in very good time. I would use Steve again for any similar work.
Replacing ceiling due to leak
Steve and his team did an amazing job on our ceiling. We had to get it replaced due to a leak from the flat above and Steve was super communicative, friendly and helpful throughout.
Excellent job!
Had a large hole in the wall which Steve fixed for me, told me the price and gave other options as well all before starting the work. He did an excellent job, got the work done without any fuss!