Kitchen plastering and decorating in Earlsfield

What prompts kitchen plastering and decorating in Earlsfield?

Once the old kitchen is out in an Earlsfield home, the walls behind it are often patched, chased and uneven, and a skim gives the new units a sound surface.

Landlords in Greater London often have a kitchen redecorated between tenancies, filling fixing holes and repainting walls and woodwork in a scrubbable finish that stands up to regular cleaning. We work throughout Earlsfield (SW18) and across the wider Greater London area.

What is in a typical job?

The exact scope is agreed after the survey, but a typical job in Earlsfield covers:

Chases around new sockets, cable runs and pipework filled and made good
Edges around units, worktops and splashbacks cut in neatly at the end
Loose or blown plaster hacked off back to the wall where needed
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

Kitchen plastering and decorating prices in Earlsfield

The figures below are guide prices for Earlsfield, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across London. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Labour in London generally costs more than the UK average, which lifts these ranges a little.

Kitchen plastering and decorating prices in Earlsfield
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 Earlsfield

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.

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. Permit parking, red routes and flats without lifts are common, so parking suspensions, stair carries and lift bookings may need arranging before delivery day.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Earlsfield

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 Earlsfield kitchen, check that the new worktops and floor are covered, as paint splashes are much easier to prevent than to remove.
If your Greater London home was built before 2000, arrange an asbestos test on any textured ceiling before plastering is booked, so the programme is not held up.
Photograph the walls of your Earlsfield kitchen before plastering, showing where cables and pipes run, so you know where not to drill when fitting shelves later.
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 Earlsfield

How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Earlsfield?

Kitchen plastering and decorating in Earlsfield typically costs £460 to £1,000 including VAT for skimming the walls and ceiling over sound plaster, based on prices in London. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Which parts of Earlsfield do you work in?

All of them. Our Greater London coverage takes in the whole of Earlsfield, including the SW18 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Tooting. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

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.

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.

Nearby places we cover

Close to Earlsfield? We cover these nearby towns too: