Kitchen plastering and decorating in Derry/Londonderry

When does kitchen plastering and decorating make sense in Derry/Londonderry?

Some people in Derry/Londonderry are keeping their units but want the whole room redecorated in a tougher, wipeable paint after years of steam and cooking marks.

If you own an older solid-walled house in County Londonderry, the walls may have lime plaster, which is often better repaired with lime than covered with gypsum. We cover all of Derry/Londonderry, including the BT47 and BT48 postcode districts, and travel out to neighbouring towns across County Londonderry.

What is included in the work?

Your written quote lists everything included. For kitchen plastering and decorating, that normally means:

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
Free survey visit to check walls and ceilings and give an itemised quote
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

What should you budget for kitchen plastering and decorating in Derry/Londonderry?

The figures below are guide prices for Derry/Londonderry, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across Northern Ireland. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Labour rates in Northern Ireland are generally lower than in London and the South East, so these ranges are a little below the national guide.

What should you budget for kitchen plastering and decorating in Derry/Londonderry?
Typical project	Guide price
Skim kitchen walls and ceiling over sound plasterPrepared and skimmed	£310–£700
Hack off, re-board and skim a kitchenOld plaster removed back to the wall	£790–£1,600
Kitchen decoratedWalls, ceiling and woodwork	£350–£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 around Derry/Londonderry

You will find red-brick terraces, Georgian townhouses, rural bungalows and post-war estate houses throughout County Londonderry. Terraced houses in the city and in Coleraine often have a narrow kitchen in the return, while rural bungalows tend to have a larger kitchen with space for dining.

Steep streets in the city, terraces with limited parking and long country roads can each affect deliveries, so the route for worktops is checked at the survey. County Londonderry's mains water is generally soft, so limescale is rarely a big problem and taps and boiling water taps tend to stay cleaner.

Regulations for kitchen work in Derry/Londonderry

In Northern Ireland, plastering and decorating a kitchen needs no planning permission or building control application in most cases. In a listed building, listed building consent may be needed before original plaster or features are removed, and older solid walls may suit lime plaster better than gypsum. If an outside wall is being stripped back and re-lined, ask council building control whether insulation requirements apply.

The historic walled city is a conservation area with many listed buildings, so new external vents or changes to historic features there may need consent first.

Practical advice for Derry/Londonderry homeowners

Photograph the walls of your Derry/Londonderry kitchen before plastering, showing where cables and pipes run, so you know where not to drill when fitting shelves later.
Small hairline cracks can appear as new plaster dries; ask for them to be filled and sanded just before the final coats, not straight away.
Ventilate your Derry/Londonderry kitchen gently while new plaster dries, but avoid blasting heaters at it, as forcing it dry can cause cracking.
Plaster before the units go in: skimming around fitted cabinets is slower, messier and leaves edges that are hard to finish neatly.

Questions about kitchen plastering and decorating in Derry/Londonderry

How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Derry/Londonderry?

For skimming the walls and ceiling over sound plaster, budget around £310 to £700 including VAT in Derry/Londonderry. That reflects typical costs in Northern Ireland; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Do you work near Derry/Londonderry as well?

Yes. As well as Derry/Londonderry itself, we cover the rest of County Londonderry and nearby towns such as Strabane and Limavady. The process is the same wherever the kitchen is.

Should a kitchen be plastered before or after the units are fitted?

Before. Plastering is done after strip-out and first-fix electrics and plumbing, so new cables and pipes are chased in and covered, and before the base and wall units go in. Units then fix to a flat, finished surface, and the decorator only needs to cut in around them at the end. Patch repairs after fitting are possible but harder to hide.

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.

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.

Kitchen plastering and decorating in neighbouring towns

Close to Derry/Londonderry? We cover these nearby towns too: