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Cheam · Surrey · SM2, SM3

Ceiling Plastering in Cheam

Cheam's handsome 1930s houses have one weak point: their ceilings. Ninety years of flexing between joists, textured coatings added in the 1970s, and the odd leak from ageing bathrooms all take their toll. We specialise in putting Cheam ceilings right — skimming sound ones flat, overboarding tired ones, and repairing damage so it disappears.

SJF Plastering plasters and repairs ceilings across Cheam, Cheam Village and North Cheam: skimming tired and textured ceilings flat, overboarding and skimming cracked or sagging ceilings, repairing water damage, and finishing new ceilings in extensions and loft rooms. Based minutes away in Sutton. Free quotations — call or WhatsApp 07967 302162.

This page covers ceilings only. If you need something broader, see our general plastering services in Cheam.

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SJF Plastering · Based in Sutton, Surrey · A few minutes from our Sutton base.

Sagging and cracked ceilings in 1930s Cheam houses

The original ceilings in Cheam's inter-war detached and semi-detached houses were plastered on lath or early board, and many now flex audibly when you walk on the floor above — the sign that the plaster has lost its key. Skimming over a ceiling like that is wasted money, because the movement cracks the new finish within months.

The lasting repair is to overboard: new plasterboard screwed through the old ceiling into the joists, joints taped, then skimmed. The old ceiling stays in place, the mess is minimal, and the finished ceiling is effectively new. In Cheam we do more of this than almost any other single job.

Artex and textured ceilings skimmed flat

Textured ceilings were added to a huge number of Cheam homes in the 1970s and 1980s, often over perfectly sound plaster. Where the coating is firmly bonded we skim straight over it — a flat, modern ceiling in a day, with far less mess than scraping the texture off.

Where the texture is flaking or the ceiling underneath is cracked, we overboard first and skim, so you still end up with a flat ceiling without any risk of the old finish letting go underneath the new one.

Ceilings after alterations and leaks

Opening up the two reception rooms is almost a Cheam tradition, and it always leaves ceiling work: the strip where the wall stood, the new steel to board and skim, and two ceilings to be finished as one so the join vanishes. We handle all of it, including making good the wall lines.

For leaks — usually from bathrooms above in these two-storey family houses — we wait for the area to dry, cut out what has failed and replaster flat. And because we are based in Sutton, a quotation visit to Cheam Village or North Cheam is a five-minute trip, so pricing up a ceiling costs you nothing.

Reviews

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.
Katie G, SW17 — verified customer review

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.
Ally T, CR0 — verified customer review

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!
Mark B, SM2 — verified customer review

Ceilings in Cheam — common questions

My Cheam ceiling cracks keep coming back — what is the fix?
Recurring cracks usually mean the ceiling is moving. The permanent fix is overboarding — new boards fixed to the joists over the old ceiling — then skimming. Patching alone will not hold on a flexing ceiling.
Can you make two ceilings match after removing a dividing wall?
Yes. We board and skim the beam, make good both sides and skim the ceilings so the opened-up room reads as one space with no visible join.
Is overboarding messy?
Far less than taking a ceiling down. The old ceiling stays up, dust is modest, and we sheet the room completely. A bedroom ceiling is typically overboarded and skimmed in one to two days.
How much does ceiling plastering cost in Cheam?
It depends on ceiling size and whether it needs skimming, overboarding or repair. Photographs by WhatsApp to 07967 302162 usually get you a same-day estimate, confirmed with a free visit.

Related services

Other work we carry out

Professional Plastering Services

Internal plastering for walls and ceilings, from single rooms to full house renovations, finished flat and ready for decorating.

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Wall & Ceiling Skimming

A fresh 2–3mm finish coat over sound existing surfaces to remove imperfections and leave a smooth, paint-ready wall or ceiling.

View service →

Plaster & Ceiling Repairs

Patch repairs to cracked, blown or damaged plaster — repairing only what needs repairing rather than replastering an entire room.

View service →

Get a ceiling quote for your Cheam home

Tell us what needs doing in your Cheam property and we will give you an honest price. Photographs by WhatsApp are often enough to get started.

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