Creating walls with a smooth finish can be a time-consuming and expensive process. It requires a lot of labour and materials. There are a lot of steps involved with plastering that extend the time necessary to complete the job. Plaster is mixed in batches and poured onto sheets or panels called laths, then left to dry for up to twenty-four hours. The more coats applied, the smoother finish you will get – which increases your bill as well! Suppose there’s an issue like water damage at any point during the process. In that case, it’ll have to be skimmed over by applying another layer first before plastering will continue again, taking even longer than usual.

The type of material also plays into how much you pay for plasterer services: hardier natural products like cement render cost less than wetter synthetic materials like fibreglass, but both can still be equally difficult.

Plastering looks easy, but it’s a skill that takes time to learn. You can either get a plasterboard and roughcast kit, which you’ll need lots of time and patience with; alternatively, buy pre-mixed powdered plasters like lime putty – but note that these are much more expensive than ready mixed ones from your local builders’ merchants. Preparation is essential for DIY success: make sure you have enough space and a flat surface to work on, then cover it with newspaper or polythene sheeting. If you’re not so confident in your skills, we recommend hiring professional plasterers.

Plastering is a skilled trade, so it takes years of training and apprenticeship before someone is qualified. You can train at a local college and get your certificate as an apprentice. It can take around four years of training. It also requires you to be in good physical shape as plastering is a physically demanding job.

Plasterers charge  anywhere from £70 to £160 per day.

Fees may be higher if a plasterer needs to travel long distances to get to the job site or will need to spend more time on site for any reason, such as removing and reinstalling carpeting that was not removed before plastering walls. 

The fee can increase for extra work such as taping and filling large cracks in the plaster, or if there is a lot of other preparation required before plasterers can start working on the site.

If you are  looking to skim a wall yourself, then there are some things you should consider. You will need: plastering trowel, slater’s putty or mortar mix, tape measure and scraper (if the ceiling is not insulated). If you want a professional finish on your walls, it would be best to hire a plasterer.