Plasterers in London.

Where a plasterer covers your postcode, single-room skimming can often be booked within the same week. Loacally is still growing across London, so check who covers your postcode first. Plastering is a clean, contained job for a skilled trade, so most are able to schedule small work quickly. Larger jobs, such as rendering a whole facade or a multi-room re-skim, are typically planned a couple of weeks out.

Plastering is not a licensed trade in the UK, so quality is judged on the finish rather than a register. Every plasterer’s application is reviewed by hand before their profile goes live, and the strongest evidence of skill is the smoothness of their previous work, visible in their profile photos and reviews from London homeowners. For older properties with original lath-and-plaster or solid walls, look for a plasterer who lists heritage or lime work, because modern gypsum skim does not suit every period surface. A good plasterer also manages dust carefully and protects your floors and fittings.

Most London plasterers charge a day rate starting from £240, rising to around £320 for experienced or specialist trades. Skimming a single wall or ceiling typically costs £150 to £400, and a full average-sized bedroom (walls and ceiling) runs £400 to £900. External rendering is usually priced per square metre at £40 to £80. London rates sit above the national average, and access in flats and terraced houses can affect the price.

Skimming is a thin finishing coat of plaster applied to interior walls and ceilings to give a smooth, paint-ready surface, and it is the most common plastering job in London homes. Rendering is a thicker coat applied to external walls for weather protection and appearance, using sand-and-cement or modern through-coloured systems. They are different skills with different materials, so check the plasterer covers the specific job you need. Plasterboarding, or dry-lining, is a third option where boards are fixed and then skimmed.

Fresh plaster needs to dry fully before painting, which in a normal London home takes anywhere from four days to a few weeks depending on thickness, ventilation, and the time of year. The plaster is ready when it has turned an even pale pink with no darker damp patches. The first coat should be a watered-down mist coat to seal the surface, followed by your normal finishing coats. Painting too soon traps moisture and causes the paint to flake, so it is worth the wait.

You pay your plasterer directly after the visit, in whichever method they accept (bank transfer, card, or cash). Loacally does not take payment for the work. The visit price you see on the profile is the price the plasterer has agreed to honour, captured at the moment of booking. For multi-day jobs, the payment schedule is agreed in their quote.