Plastering Cost UK 2026: Per m², Per Room, Skim vs Full + Lime + Render
UK plastering in Q2 2026 costs £15-25/m² for a skim coat, £30-50/m² for full strip + re-plaster, and £40-90/m² for exterior render. A single-room skim is £350-550; a full 3-bed UK semi replaster runs £3,500-6,500. Verified Q2 2026 plasterer + materials data from British Gypsum (Thistle), Knauf, Tarmac and specialist lime suppliers — across all 519 UK towns we cover.
UK Plastering Cost 2026: 30-Second Answer
UK plastering costs in Q2 2026 break into three jobs: skim coat (£15-25/m²) refreshing existing surface; full strip + re-plaster (£30-50/m²) — old plaster removed and reapplied; exterior render (£40-90/m²) — wet dash, monocouche or silicone-finish. Plasterer day rates are £180-450/day depending on experience.
A typical UK single bedroom skim costs £350-550. A lounge or large bedroom skim runs £450-750. Full strip + re-plaster of a 3-bed semi: £3,500-6,500. Exterior render on a 3-bed semi: £4,500-9,500 including scaffolding.
Lime plaster (essential for period and listed properties) costs £50-90/m² — 2-3× standard gypsum but breathable and historically correct. Bottom line: gypsum plaster lasts 50-100 years if kept dry; lime plaster lasts indefinitely with periodic care.
UK Plastering Cost by Job Type 2026
| Job Type | Cost per m² 2026 | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skim Coat | £15-25/m² | 1-3 days per room | Refresh existing walls, smooth artex |
| Skim Over Artex / Textured Ceiling | £18-30/m² | 1-2 days per ceiling | Smoothing 1970s-90s artex (PBA test first) |
| Full Strip + Re-plaster | £30-50/m² | 2-5 days per room | Damaged plaster, post-DPC, post-rewire |
| Lime Plaster (period properties) | £50-90/m² | 3-7 days per room (slow cure) | Listed, conservation, breathable walls |
| Drywall (Plasterboard + skim) | £25-45/m² | 1-2 days per stud wall | Stud walls in extensions, partitions |
| Insulated Plasterboard (warm-wall) | £55-90/m² | 2-3 days per room | Solid wall insulation, EPC upgrades |
| External Render — Wet Dash / Pebbledash | £40-70/m² | 5-10 days + scaffolding | Traditional UK render, period homes |
| External Render — Monocouche (K-Rend) | £55-90/m² | 5-10 days + scaffolding | Modern smooth finish (no paint) |
| External Wall Insulation (EWI) + Render | £95-180/m² | 2-4 weeks + scaffolding | Solid wall homes, ECO4/Warm Homes route |
Plasterer day rates Q2 2026: junior £180-260, experienced £260-380, master £350-450. London + South-East +25-40%.
UK Plastering Materials 2026: British Gypsum vs Knauf vs K-Rend + Lime
| Product | Brand | Trade Price (25kg bag) | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thistle MultiFinish (skim) | British Gypsum | £8.50-10.50 | ~10 m² at 3mm |
| Thistle Hardwall (undercoat) | British Gypsum | £7.80-9.50 | ~7 m² at 11mm |
| MP75 Spray Plaster | Knauf | £9.80-11.80 | ~8 m² at 8mm |
| SBR Bonding Coat | Tarmac | £10.50-12.50 | ~6 m² at 11mm |
| NHL 3.5 Lime Mortar | Saint-Astier | £14-22 | ~7 m² at 10mm |
| Lime Putty Plaster | Mike Wye / Lime Stuff | £35-55 | ~6 m² at 10mm |
| K-Rend Silicone TC (render) | K-Rend | £11-15 | ~3 m² at 8mm |
| Weber Therm M EWI System | Saint-Gobain Weber | £80-130/m² (system) | System install only |
Trade prices via plasterer merchant accounts. RRP at B&Q + Wickes typically 30-50% higher. Materials are 15-25% of total quoted job cost — labour dominates.
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UK Plastering Cost FAQ · 2026
UK plastering Q2 2026: skim £15-25/m², full strip £30-50/m², lime £50-90/m², drywall £25-45/m², insulated plasterboard £55-90/m², render wet dash £40-70/m², monocouche £55-90/m², EWI £95-180/m². London/SE +25-40%.
UK bedroom (12-16 m² floor): skim £350-550, full strip £700-1,200. Lounge (18-25 m²): skim £450-750, full £1,000-1,800. Bathroom skim £280-450. Hallway+landing £550-900. Add £120-200 if artex removal needed (PBA test first).
UK plasterer day rates Q2 2026: junior £180-260, experienced £260-380, master (lime+render specialist) £350-450. London/SE +25-40%. Spray plasterers 30-50% faster, £350-500/day.
Solid-wall period (pre-1919) requires lime — breathable. Gypsum traps moisture causes decay. Listed buildings legally require lime. Lime 2-3× gypsum (£50-90/m² vs £30-50) but lasts indefinitely. Saint-Astier NHL 3.5 + Mike Wye lime putty dominate UK 2026.
Gypsum skim (3mm) 2-4 days. Full plaster (undercoat+skim, 14-18mm) 5-14 days. Lime cures slowly 2-6 weeks. Wait until pale-pink before painting. Cold/damp slows drying.
K-Rend (silicone monocouche) modern choice — smooth paint-free finish. £55-90/m² vs wet dash £40-70. Self-cleans, 30+ colours, 25-40 year lifespan. Wet dash traditional, more durable coastal, required by some conservation areas.
Quality gypsum kept dry: 50-100 years. Lime indefinite. External render: wet dash 30-60 years, K-Rend 25-40, polymer 20-30. Most common failure: damp ingress. Salt-contaminated plaster MUST be replaced.
Yes BUT pre-2000 artex may contain white asbestos. PBA test (£40-80 sample) first. Confirmed artex usually safe to skim OVER (binding agent + 3-4mm skim, £18-30/m²). Post-2000 artex asbestos-free, sand or skim directly.
Where Our 2026 Plastering Data Comes From
- FMB — UK plasterer Q2 2026 day rates
- CITB — apprentice + master wage benchmarks
- SPAB — lime plaster guidance
- RICS BCIS Q2 2026 — labour + materials index
- British Gypsum — Thistle MultiFinish + Hardwall
- Knauf — MP75 spray plaster
- K-Rend — silicone monocouche
- Saint-Astier + Mike Wye + Lime Stuff — NHL + lime putty
- Saint-Gobain Weber — Therm M EWI
All cost ranges reflect quotes from FMB/TrustMark-registered plasterers in Q2 2026 across 519 UK towns. Editorial standards: /editorial-standards.