Plastering advice
How Much Does Plastering Cost? 2026 UK Price Guide (Sutton & Surrey)
Short answer
As a 2026 UK guide, skimming a sound wall costs about £15–£25 per m2 and a full board-and-skim or re-plaster about £25–£45 per m2. Skimming the walls of a small room is typically £400–£650, a large room £600–£900, and an average ceiling £250–£450. London and the South East usually run 20–30% higher. These are market ranges, not a quote — the condition of the existing surface matters more than the size of the room.
Typical 2026 UK guide prices (labour and materials)
The figures below are the ranges homeowners most often ask about when searching for how much plastering costs or the plastering cost per m2. They include labour and materials for ordinary domestic work in reasonable conditions.
| Job | Typical guide price |
|---|---|
| Skim over a sound wall | About £15–£25 per m2 |
| Board and skim / full re-plaster | About £25–£45 per m2 |
| Skim an average bedroom or living room ceiling | About £250–£450 per ceiling |
| Skim the walls of a small room | About £400–£650 |
| Skim the walls of a large room | About £600–£900 |
| Minor patch repairs | About £100–£300 depending on extent |
These are general UK market guide ranges for labour and materials, not an SJF Plastering price list or quotation. London and the South East typically run 20–30% higher than the national average. Every SJF price is fixed after we have seen the job.
What drives the price
Two rooms with the same floor area can price very differently. The surface already on the wall usually matters more than the size of the room, because preparation is where the hidden time goes.
- Condition of the existing plaster — sound, hollow, cracked, blown or previously patched
- Whether the job is a skim over sound plaster or a full strip and re-plaster
- Ceiling height, stairwells and awkward access, which slow every stage down
- How much cutting out, beading, patching and making good is needed first
- Whether new plasterboard is required, and how much
- How much furniture, flooring and fittings need protecting or moving
- Removal of old plaster and waste, which can add a skip or extra trips
- Location — labour costs in London and the South East are higher than the UK average
Skim versus re-plaster: why the cost of plastering a room varies so much
Skimming is a finishing job: a thin coat of finish plaster, typically a couple of millimetres, applied over a wall or ceiling that is already sound. It is the most common domestic plastering job and the cheapest way to get a smooth, paint-ready surface.
Re-plastering means removing the old plaster back to brick or block, then building the surface back up — or boarding it and skimming the boards. It involves more material, more labour, far more mess and usually a skip, which is why the cost per m2 is roughly double.
Many walls fall between the two. A wall can be mostly sound with a few hollow patches; the honest answer is to cut out and patch those areas, then skim the whole wall, rather than re-plaster the lot. Part of a good quotation is being told clearly which one your walls actually need.
Replastering a house: what does it cost?
Replastering a house cost is the question with the widest answer, because it depends on how many rooms, how much is genuinely failing, and whether ceilings are included. As a rough way to think about it, add up the walls and ceilings you need doing using the per-m2 and per-room ranges above, then allow extra for stairwells, waste removal and making good around sockets, frames and skirting.
Whole-house jobs are often cheaper per room than single rooms, because set-up, protection and travel are shared. They are also the jobs where a visit matters most — older houses in Sutton and the surrounding area frequently mix sound plaster, lath-and-plaster ceilings and earlier repairs in the same property.
How to keep the cost down
Most of the savings available to a homeowner come from reducing the time spent on preparation that is not plastering.
- Clear the room as far as you can — furniture out, or at least moved to the centre
- Strip wallpaper before the plasterer arrives, unless you have agreed otherwise
- Remove curtains, blinds, pictures, shelves and wall-mounted TVs
- Arrange for an electrician to loosen sockets and switches if they need to come off the wall
- Fix leaks or damp before plastering, so the work is only done once
- Group rooms together into one visit rather than booking them separately
- Ask whether a skim will do before assuming you need a full re-plaster
What is normally included in a plastering quote
A clear quote should tell you exactly what you are paying for, so you can compare like with like. When we quote, we set out the following.
- Which walls and ceilings are included, and whether it is a skim, overboard or re-plaster
- Preparation: bonding, PVA, scrim tape, beads and patching of defective areas
- Protection of floors and furniture, and clearing up at the end of each day
- Waste removal, if old plaster or boards are coming out
- What is not included — for example decorating, electrical work or carpentry
- Expected duration and drying time before you can decorate
Why a quote still beats a table
Guide prices are a useful starting point for budgeting, and that is all they are. They cannot see a hollow patch behind the wallpaper, a ceiling that is sagging between joists or a wall that has been painted with something plaster will not bond to.
Every SJF Plastering price is fixed after we have seen the job, either in person or from clear photographs sent by WhatsApp for an initial idea. The price we give is the price you pay unless you change the scope of the work.
Frequently asked questions
How much does plastering cost per m2 in 2026?
As a UK guide, skimming a sound wall is about £15–£25 per m2 and a board-and-skim or full re-plaster about £25–£45 per m2, including labour and materials. London and the South East typically run 20–30% higher.
What is the cost of plastering a room?
Skimming the walls of a small room typically costs about £400–£650, and a large room about £600–£900. Add roughly £250–£450 if the ceiling is being skimmed as well. Poor existing plaster or a full re-plaster will cost more.
How much does it cost to skim a ceiling?
An average bedroom or living room ceiling is usually about £250–£450 to skim if it is sound. Ceilings that need overboarding or replacing cost more — see our ceiling cost guide for the detail.
Is skimming cheaper than re-plastering?
Yes. Skimming is a thin finish coat over sound plaster, so it uses less material and labour and creates far less mess. Re-plastering removes the old plaster first and typically costs around twice as much per m2.
Do plasterers charge per day or per job?
Practices vary. Day rates are common for small or open-ended work, but most homeowners are better served by a fixed price for a defined job. SJF Plastering gives a fixed quotation after seeing the work.
Does the price include materials?
The guide ranges in this article include labour and materials. A written quote should always say whether materials, waste removal and protection are included.
Why are plastering prices higher in London and Surrey?
Labour, travel, parking and waste disposal all cost more in London and the South East, so prices here typically run 20–30% above the UK average.
Can I save money by stripping the wallpaper myself?
Usually, yes. Stripping wallpaper and clearing the room before the plasterer arrives removes non-plastering time from the job. Just avoid digging into the plaster underneath.
How much does it cost to replaster a house?
It depends on the number of rooms, the condition of the plaster and whether ceilings are included. Use the per-m2 and per-room ranges as a starting point, then get a visit — whole-house work is the hardest to price from a table.
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!