Houghton-Le-Spring's Interior Plastering and Skimming Specialists

It depends on the size of the room and the condition of the existing walls. A straightforward re-skim of an average room is one of the more affordable ways to transform it, while boarding and skimming costs more. We visit, measure and give you a free written quote before anything is booked in.

Fresh plaster needs to dry fully before decorating, which usually takes around a week depending on heating and ventilation. It is ready when it has turned a uniform pale pink with no dark patches. Always start with a watered-down mist coat so the paint bonds properly.

In most cases, yes. If the existing plaster is sound we prepare it with the right bonding treatment and skim straight over. Where it is blown or crumbling we take the loose material back first, because skimming over a failing background just moves the problem a year down the road.

Yes. Wallpaper, loose paint and flaking material all have to come off so the new plaster can grip. We can include stripping in the quote, or you can do it yourself before we arrive to keep the cost down.

We do. We board walls, ceilings and stud partitions, including dot and dab onto masonry, and finish everything with a skim coat. Overboarding is often the quickest fix for a badly damaged ceiling.

Yes, ceiling repairs and resurfacing are a regular part of our work. Depending on the condition we will either patch and re-skim, or overboard and skim the whole ceiling for a completely fresh surface. We will always recommend the option that makes sense, not the biggest job.

Yes. We fit decorative coving and cornicing, and we can also produce bespoke plaster details if you want something beyond the standard profiles. It is a cost-effective way to finish a freshly skimmed room properly.

Less than most people fear when it is done properly. We sheet floors and furniture, contain the work area and clean up at the end of each day. You will need to clear small items and give us space to work, but you will not be scrubbing plaster off your carpets afterwards.

A standard room re-skim is normally done in a day. Boarding and skimming, or a full house, takes longer and we will give you a realistic timescale in your quote. Drying time before decorating is extra, usually around a week.

Yes. We are based in Houghton-Le-Spring and cover a 20-mile radius that takes in Sunderland, Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Washington, Chester-Le-Street, Seaham, Hetton-le-Hole, Peterlee and Consett. If you are just outside those areas, call us and we will confirm.

No. We take on single walls and one-room skims as happily as full renovations. Small jobs are usually slotted in quickly, and the quote is free either way.

Yes, we work for shops, offices and landlords as well as homeowners across the North East. We can schedule work around trading hours or between tenancies, and we are fully insured for commercial premises.