Kitchen plastering and decorating · Scotland
Kitchen plastering and decorating in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
We carry out kitchen plastering and decorating across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, from Aberdeen to the smaller towns, with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote as standard.
What prompts kitchen plastering and decorating in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
If you own an older solid-walled house in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, the walls may have lime plaster, which is often better repaired with lime than covered with gypsum.
Homeowners in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with textured ceilings in older kitchens often want them smoothed, and the first step is an asbestos test if the house dates from before 2000.
What does kitchen plastering and decorating in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire include?
After the survey visit we write the scope down. For kitchen plastering and decorating in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire it usually covers:
- Free survey visit to check walls and ceilings and give an itemised quote
- Loose or blown plaster hacked off back to the wall where needed
- Walls re-boarded or skimmed so units and tiles fix to a flat surface
- Chases around new sockets, cable runs and pipework filled and made good
- Ceilings skimmed or overboarded, after textured coatings in older homes are tested for asbestos
- Diluted mist coat on new plaster, then moisture-resistant, wipeable kitchen paint
- Ceilings, walls, skirting, architraves and door frames decorated to finish the room
- Edges around units, worktops and splashbacks cut in neatly at the end
How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
As a starting point for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in Scotland. Labour rates in Scotland are generally lower than in London and the South East, so these ranges are a little below the national guide.
| Typical project | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Skim kitchen walls and ceiling over sound plasterPrepared and skimmed | £330–£750 |
| Hack off, re-board and skim a kitchenOld plaster removed back to the wall | £850–£1,700 |
| Kitchen decoratedWalls, ceiling and woodwork | £380–£1,100 |
Guide prices are for a typical kitchen, with labour and standard materials for plastering or decorating; asbestos testing, structural repairs, damp treatment and lime plaster are not included and are quoted separately if needed. Prices include VAT at 20%.
Kitchens in homes across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
You will find granite tenement flats, granite villas, post-war council-built houses and farm cottages throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Granite tenement flats often have a small kitchen off the hall, while villas and bungalows across Aberdeenshire tend to have a separate kitchen beside the dining room.
Mains water across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is soft, so limescale is rarely a problem and taps, sinks and boiling water taps stay cleaner. Tenement flats without lifts mean carrying units up common stairs, and rural farm tracks can be narrow for delivery lorries.
In a granite tenement flat, the kitchen is often a small room off the hall, and opening it into the living room needs a building warrant if the wall is load-bearing, and can need one even if it is not, where the change affects the escape route or fire separation in a flat. Many rural bungalows are off the gas grid, so cooking is often electric.
Rules for kitchen plastering and decorating in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
In Scotland, replastering and decorating a kitchen do not normally need a building warrant or planning permission. Listed buildings may need listed building consent before original plaster, cornicing or other historic features are removed, and older solid stone or brick walls may be better suited to lime plaster than gypsum. If you plan to add insulation or alter walls rather than simply replaster, check with the local authority's building standards team first.
Homes in the Cairngorms National Park, listed granite buildings and conservation areas may need consent for new external vents, and tenement owners may need neighbours' agreement.
Before you start
- Fresh plaster usually needs three to six weeks to dry fully, so plan for a mist coat first and the final colour once it has dried.
- Choose a paint sold for kitchens or bathrooms, with a wipeable or scrubbable finish; standard matt emulsions can mark easily near the hob and bin.
- If your home was built before 2000, have textured ceiling coatings tested for asbestos before anyone sands, scrapes or drills into them.
- Older homes with solid walls may have lime plaster, which is often better repaired with lime than gypsum, particularly where the building is listed.
- If the house is listed or has solid walls, ask whether lime plaster is needed before the old plaster in your kitchen is stripped out.
- Before final decorating in your Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire kitchen, check that the new worktops and floor are covered, as paint splashes are much easier to prevent than to remove.
Questions about kitchen plastering and decorating in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
For skimming the walls and ceiling over sound plaster, budget around £330 to £750 including VAT in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. That reflects typical costs in Scotland; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.
Do you cover the whole of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
Yes. We carry out kitchen plastering and decorating across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, including Aberdeen, Peterhead, Inverurie and Fraserburgh. Every job starts with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote.
Can a textured kitchen ceiling be skimmed over?
Often, yes, but have it tested first if the house was built before 2000. Some older textured ceiling coatings contain asbestos, so a sample should be tested before anyone sands, scrapes or drills them. If the result is clear, the ceiling can usually be skimmed or overboarded. If asbestos is found, follow the report's advice and use a specialist asbestos contractor.
What paint should be used on kitchen walls?
A moisture-resistant paint with a wipeable or scrubbable finish, often sold as kitchen and bathroom paint, suits most kitchen walls. It copes with steam and can be cleaned without marking. Silk or eggshell finishes are easier to wipe than flat matt, and woodwork usually gets a satinwood or gloss. New plaster needs a diluted mist coat before any of these.
How long should new plaster dry before painting?
Fresh plaster usually needs three to six weeks to dry fully before full decorating, depending on its thickness, the time of year and how well the room is ventilated. It turns from dark to an even, pale colour as it dries. A diluted mist coat can usually go on sooner to seal the surface, with the final coats applied once drying has finished.
Kitchen plastering and decorating in towns across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Choose a town for local guide prices and postcode coverage:
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Aberdeen
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Peterhead
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Inverurie
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Fraserburgh
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Stonehaven