FAQ
Some Common Questions:
How much does it cost?
The cost varies for a lot of different reasons, any enquiries about your particular room or job please do not hesitate to phone or email me for further advice/information.
Do you carry out insurance quotes and the work quoted?
Yes. I can deal directly with the insurance company or with the customer.
What work do you do?
Plastering, stud walls, plaster-boarding, partitioning, new ceilings, archways, boxing in, repair work, coving, artexing, paining and decorating and general home maintenance.
What kind of preparation do I need to do to my walls before you plaster them?
As long as all the wallpaper, flaky paint and loose plaster are removed, the walls can be plastered. Alternatively I could do all the preparation for you.
How long will it take to plaster my walls?
Normally a room of four square walls can be done in a day. Larger rooms or more difficult work can take longer.
My wall has a huge crack on it, do I need to fill it in first?
I can do all the preparation myself.
My ceiling has a hole in it, do I have to repair it before you Artex it?
No, I can prepare the ceiling for you then Artex over it.
How far in advance do we have to book you?
I can be booked, quite far in advance, so it’s best to contact me for availability as soon as possible.
I need all the work done in 1 day, can you arrange for multiple plasterers?
Yes, I have other plasterers that I can rely on.
When can the plaster be painted and what type of paint should be used?
Painting can be carried out after three days or so, using watered down emulsion or plaster sealer for the first coat.
When I paint on my newly plastered wall with watered down emulsion, how much water should I put in the paint?
Normally dilute to one quarter to three parts paint. This should be sufficient, depending on the quality of the paint.
Once you’ve plastered, do I need to sand down the wall?
Not normally, but sometimes on difficult shapes or angles. Sometimes a light rub is needed to remove any trowel lines.
Do you do artexing?
Yes. I have a pattern sheet that can be selected from. (I do not do ‘comb’ patterns.)
Can you plaster over wallpaper?
No. Wallpaper swells when it gets wet and bubbles. It would only be the wallpaper holding the plaster to the wall. Therefore, it is not recommended.
Can you put coving on top of wallpaper?
Yes, if you do not want to cut around the top of the wallpaper and ceiling, coving can be tacked to the walls using nails and coving adhesive can be used along the ceiling edge.
How long does plaster take to dry?
Normally, two to three days, depending on the ambient temperature.
How messy is plastering?
It’s not that messy, if the room is reasonably clear. Dust sheets are placed on the floors and any furniture and radiators. It’s best to take down nets and curtains for the walls to be plastered and a plastic bag over the lampshade when the ceiling is plastered.
Can brickwork be plastered?
Yes it can, first the brickwork has to be rendered, then a finishing plaster will be applied.
What about electric sockets and cables etc?
It is best to have all electrical work carried out before plastering begins, so that all cables are hidden.
What if I can't be there due to work or other reasons etc?
It can be arranged for the house key to be dropped off to me in person, or the key can be left with a neighbour or friend. Or perhaps a house sitter can be arranged.
Can Artex be skimmed over and made flat?
Yes. It can be done, providing the Artex is soundly adhered to the surface, with no signs of crumbling or bubbling off. If so, the affected area of Artex will be scraped off ready for plastering.
How far will you travel?
The areas covered are mainly Fareham, Gosport, Portsmouth and Southampton and their immediate surrounding areas.
Do you work on your own?
Mainly, yes, but on larger jobs I do team up with other plasterers.
Do you carry out decorating?
Yes. All aspects of decorating, i.e. painting, filling of new skirting board, also fitting curtain poles etc.