Plaster Repairs & Finishing · Durham
Plaster Repairs & Finishing for Durham Homes
Durham's older streets deserve repair work that respects the buildings. PJ Plastering & Rendering Ltd patch, repair and refinish plaster across the city, from period terraces to student lets and modern estates, with damp treated at the cause and Artex handled safely. Free written quotes on every job.
Plaster Repairs & Finishing
Careful Work in an Older City
A historic city keeps its plasterers honest. Durham's older brick and stone properties do not always suit the hard, modern, one-size approach - some walls need to breathe, some original finishes are worth keeping, and a heavy-handed repair can cause more trouble than the damage it covers.
We assess each wall on its merits, match materials sensibly to the building, and tell you plainly when a property needs a gentler approach than standard gypsum-and-go. If your home is listed, some alterations need consent, and we will always advise you to check with the council before significant work rather than pretending the rules do not exist.
Why It Matters
Landlords and Rental Turnarounds
Durham's large student rental market means a steady stream of end-of-tenancy repairs: wall damage, tired ceilings, picture-hook craters and the general wear a busy shared house collects. We patch and refinish quickly between tenancies, working to your changeover dates, and we can quote from photos to get things moving before the keys are even back.
For letting agents and landlords with several properties, we are a single insured contact for plaster repairs, damp treatment and redecoration prep across the whole city.
Damp, Artex and Surface Preparation
Solid-walled period properties hold moisture differently to modern builds, so our damp-proofing treatment starts with diagnosis, not assumptions - penetrating damp, condensation and rising moisture each get a different fix, and the replastering afterwards uses materials that tolerate what the wall has been through.
Artex removal is handled with the same care. Textured coatings applied before 2000 can contain asbestos, so older ceilings get a sample test before anything disturbs them, and where a coating is sound we often recommend skimming over it instead - smooth result, nothing disturbed.
Straightforward Quotes
Every Durham job starts with a free written quote: the repair, the preparation, protection of your rooms and waste removal, all itemised. We are based in Houghton-Le-Spring, minutes up the A690, so visits are easy to arrange and easy to repeat if a job needs a second look.
Our Work
Recent Projects Around Durham
Questions Answered
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you repair old lime-plastered walls?
We assess them honestly first. Older solid walls were often finished in softer, breathable plasters, and patching them with hard modern materials can trap moisture and make things worse. Where the original finish matters we match the approach to the wall, and we will tell you plainly what your property needs rather than defaulting to the quick option.
My house in Durham is listed - can you still do repairs?
Like-for-like repairs are usually fine, but alterations to a listed building can need consent, and the rules are specific to each property. We will give you our honest read and always point you to the council's conservation team to confirm before significant work. No responsible tradesperson skips that step.
Do you handle student let repairs between tenancies?
Yes, and we are used to the deadlines involved. Send photos of the damage and your changeover dates and we will quote quickly, then schedule the work so the property is patched, smooth and paint-ready before the next tenants arrive.
What do plaster repairs cost in Durham?
Small patches are modest jobs; repairs involving damp treatment or older-building materials cost more because they take more care. Quotes are free and written after we have seen the job (or photos for small work), so the price is fixed before we start.
Do you cover the whole of Durham?
Yes. The city and its surrounding villages are an easy run down the A690 from our Houghton-Le-Spring base, well inside our 20-mile working radius.
Should Artex in an older Durham property worry me?
Not if it is sound and left alone. The caution applies to disturbing it: coatings applied before 2000 can contain asbestos, so we arrange a sample test before removal or sanding. If your ceiling tests clear we proceed normally; if not, we will explain the compliant options without drama.
Why does my solid-walled house get damp in winter?
Solid walls have no cavity to interrupt moisture, so failed pointing, leaking rainwater goods or plain condensation show up on inside faces quickly in cold months. Diagnosis matters more than anything: treating condensation as rising damp, or vice versa, wastes money. We identify the actual cause before recommending treatment.
How soon after a repair can the room be decorated?
A standard patch is usually ready for paint in about a week; deeper repairs and walls replastered after damp treatment need longer. We will tell you honestly when your wall will be ready, because painting too soon is the fastest way to spoil good work.
Can you make a patch invisible on a painted wall?
That is the standard we work to. The patch is cut clean, built up level and feathered into the wall, then prepared for decorating. Once painted, you should have to hunt for it.
Do you work on commercial buildings in Durham?
Yes. We cover domestic and commercial properties with full insurance, and for shops, offices and HMOs we can schedule work around trading hours and tenancy dates.
Free Quotes · Fully Insured
Repairs That Suit the Building, Not Just the Schedule
For careful plaster repairs, damp treatment or Artex removal anywhere in Durham, call PJ Plastering & Rendering on 07379 289929 for a free written quote.
CONTACT US
OPENING HOURS
Monday – Friday: 08:00 – 19:00
Saturday – Sunday: 09:00 – 12:00
PJ PLASTERING AND RENDERING LIMITED, registered as a limited company in England and Wales under company number: 15868013.
- Based in Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne and Wear.