Kitchen plastering and decorating in Barnes

Why kitchen plastering and decorating for a Barnes home?

When new sockets, lighting and pipework have been chased into the walls of a Barnes kitchen, plastering and making good is what hides the routes cleanly.

Some people in Barnes are keeping their units but want the whole room redecorated in a tougher, wipeable paint after years of steam and cooking marks. Barnes sits about 5 miles west of Westminster, and our Greater London coverage takes in everything in between.

What we cover for kitchen plastering and decorating in Barnes

Here is what usually goes into kitchen plastering and decorating, adjusted to your Barnes kitchen after we have measured it:

Free survey visit to check walls and ceilings and give an itemised quote
Chases around new sockets, cable runs and pipework filled and made good
Edges around units, worktops and splashbacks cut in neatly at the end
Walls re-boarded or skimmed so units and tiles fix to a flat surface
Loose or blown plaster hacked off back to the wall where needed
Ceilings, walls, skirting, architraves and door frames decorated to finish the room

Guide prices for kitchen plastering and decorating in Barnes

These guide ranges include VAT at 20% and are adjusted for prices in London. We confirm your price in writing after a free survey visit. Expect costs in London to sit somewhat above UK averages, reflecting local labour rates.

Guide prices for kitchen plastering and decorating in Barnes
Typical project	Guide price
Skim kitchen walls and ceiling over sound plasterPrepared and skimmed	£460–£1,000
Hack off, re-board and skim a kitchenOld plaster removed back to the wall	£1,200–£2,300
Kitchen decoratedWalls, ceiling and woodwork	£520–£1,600

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 around Barnes

Across Greater London you will often find Victorian and Edwardian terraces, conversion flats, mansion block flats and 1930s semis, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Victorian terraces often have a narrow galley beside the side return, while conversion flats and mansion blocks usually fit the kitchen into a small room or along one living-room wall.

Permit parking, red routes and flats without lifts are common, so parking suspensions, stair carries and lift bookings may need arranging before delivery day. London's mains water is hard, so limescale builds quickly on taps and boiling water taps, and a scale-reducing filter is worth planning in.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Barnes

Skimming, re-boarding and decorating a kitchen in England need no planning permission or building regulations approval in most cases. In a listed building, listed building consent may be needed before original plaster is removed, and older solid walls may be better suited to breathable lime plaster than gypsum. Hacking an outside wall back to brick and re-boarding it may count as renovating a thermal element under Part L, so check with building control first.

Conservation areas are widespread across London, so a new extractor vent on a front wall may need permission, and leaseholders usually need the freeholder's written consent first.

Planning ahead

Before final decorating in your Barnes kitchen, check that the new worktops and floor are covered, as paint splashes are much easier to prevent than to remove.
Pick the final paint colour for your Barnes kitchen while the plaster dries, testing samples on the dried mist coat rather than on bare plaster.
Keep a small tin of each paint used in your Barnes kitchen, labelled with the colour and finish, for touching up marks around handles and the bin.
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.

Questions about kitchen plastering and decorating in Barnes

How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Barnes?

Guide prices in Barnes are about £460 to £1,000 including VAT for skimming the walls and ceiling over sound plaster. The final price depends on the size of the kitchen and what is moving, and is set out in an itemised written quote.

Do you cover all of Barnes?

Yes. We work across Barnes, including the SW13 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Chiswick and Roehampton. Book a free survey visit and we will arrange a time that suits you.

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.

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.

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 near Barnes

The same service is available a short drive from Barnes, including: