Things to know
Pick per-room or per-m² pricing and stay consistent within a single quote. Mixing the two on one document makes it hard for a customer to sanity-check the total. Per-room is easier for customers to follow at a glance. Per-m² is fairer when the rooms in a job are wildly different sizes, since a small en-suite and a large lounge shouldn't cost the same "per room" rate.
Prep work, like filling cracks, PVA sealing, and patching old plaster, is often the difference between a finish that lasts and one that cracks again within a year, but it's invisible once the skim coat goes on. Price it as its own line instead of assuming it's "included." That protects you on older properties where the walls need real work before you can even start the finish coat.
Drying time belongs in the notes, not merely in your head. "Allow 48 hours after the final coat before decorating" prevents the single most common plastering callback: a customer who scheduled painters too early and calls about a "ruined" finish that was actually just still curing when it got touched.
Old plaster in period properties sometimes hides lath-and-plaster construction instead of modern plasterboard, and the two require different techniques and materials. A note that the price assumes standard plasterboard/dot-and-dab, with re-quoting if lath-and-plaster is found once work starts, protects you. A visual survey can't always show what's really behind the wall.
Typical plasterer line items and UK prices
Indicative ranges, excluding VAT. Rates vary by region (London and the South East run higher) and by job size.
| Item | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Skim coat, medium room (walls) | per room | £400–£700 |
| Skim ceiling, average room | per ceiling | £250–£450 |
| Plasterboard + skim ceiling (overboard) | per ceiling | £450–£800 |
| Day rate (plasterer) | per day | £200–£300 |
| Re-render exterior wall (sand/cement) | per m² | £40–£70 |
| Asbestos test (Artex sample) | per sample | £30–£60 |
| Angle and stop beads | per room | £20–£60 |
| Hacking off + waste removal | per room | £150–£350 |
Common plasterer jobs and how to price them
- Skimming over existing plaster
- Price per wall or ceiling. Note that blown or loose plaster found on preparation is a variation.
- Overboarding Artex or damaged ceilings
- Fixed price including board, scrim and skim, with an asbestos test first if the coating is old.
- Patch repairs after electrical or plumbing work
- Minimum charge plus per-patch rate.
- Rendering
- Per square metre, with scaffold and bead work as their own lines.
Regulations and certificates to reference
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 — textured coatings like Artex applied before 2000 can contain asbestos. Test before sanding or scraping, and quote the test (and any licensed removal) as a separate item.
- Building Regulations Part L (thermal) — if you are dry-lining external walls with insulated plasterboard as part of a renovation, thermal upgrade rules can apply. Note the board type on the quote.
- Building Regulations Part B (fire) — fire-rated plasterboard is often specified for garage ceilings, integral garages and loft conversions. Say which board you are using where it matters.
Payment terms plasterers commonly use
- Small jobs: payment on completion.
- Whole-house skims: deposit for materials, balance on completion.
- Subcontract work: per stage or weekly, 14–30 days, with CIS deducted by the contractor.
Read more: Invoice payment terms explained · Payment methods to offer clients
VAT and CIS for plasterers
VAT
Standard-rated at 20% when VAT-registered. Renovating a home that has been empty for two years or more can qualify for the 5% reduced rate — the customer needs evidence of the empty period.
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
Plastering on a construction or refurbishment project is within CIS. Plasterers working mostly for builders often apply for gross payment status to avoid deductions affecting cash flow.
General guidance, not tax advice — check your position with HMRC or an accountant.
Read more: Do I need to charge VAT on my invoices? · What must an invoice include? (UK legal requirements)
What this template includes
- Per-room or per-m² pricing
- Skim, render, boarding separated
- Materials list (bags, beads, scrim)
- Prep work (PVA, repairs) as its own line
- PDF or tracked share link
Full guide
How to Start a Plastering Business as a Sole Trader
Frequently asked questions
Usually a few days to a week for a skim coat, longer for thick backing coats or in cold, damp weather. Put an indicative drying time in the notes and recommend a mist coat for the first paint.
Skimming over sound Artex does not disturb it, but scraping or sanding does. If the coating predates 2000 and will be disturbed, get a sample tested first and quote the test as its own line.
Customers understand per-room prices for skimming. Per square metre suits rendering and large commercial areas. Either way, list each wall or ceiling separately.
Agree it on the quote. Plasterers usually make good around existing boxes. Removing and refitting faceplates may need an electrician depending on what is involved.
Per room is simpler for customers to understand, but per m² is fairer for irregular spaces. Pick one approach and stay consistent across the whole quote.
Mention drying time in Notes — "Allow 48 hours after final coat before decorating" — so customers don't schedule painters too early and call you about a "ruined" finish.
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