Kitchen plastering and decorating · Devon
Kitchen plastering and decorating in Exeter
From the survey to handover, kitchen plastering and decorating in Exeter is run by us as one job, with the fitters and trades booked in the right order.
When does kitchen plastering and decorating make sense in Exeter?
Once the old kitchen is out in an Exeter home, the walls behind it are often patched, chased and uneven, and a skim gives the new units a sound surface.
If you own an older solid-walled house in Devon, the walls may have lime plaster, which is often better repaired with lime than covered with gypsum. We work throughout Exeter (EX2) and across the wider Devon area.
What is included in the work?
Your written quote lists everything included. For kitchen plastering and decorating, that normally means:
- 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
- Diluted mist coat on new plaster, then moisture-resistant, wipeable kitchen paint
- Edges around units, worktops and splashbacks cut in neatly at the end
- Ceilings skimmed or overboarded, after textured coatings in older homes are tested for asbestos
How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Exeter?
Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in the South West, and are firmed up once we have seen your Exeter kitchen. Prices across the South West are broadly in line with UK averages.
| Typical project | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Skim kitchen walls and ceiling over sound plasterPrepared and skimmed | £360–£820 |
| Hack off, re-board and skim a kitchenOld plaster removed back to the wall | £930–£1,900 |
| Kitchen decoratedWalls, ceiling and woodwork | £410–£1,200 |
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 Exeter
Across Devon you will often find cob and thatched cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war houses and flats and seaside bungalows, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Victorian terraces in Exeter and Torbay often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war houses and seaside bungalows usually have a square room that suits an L-shape.
Much of Devon has soft mains water, which is kind to taps and appliances, though some eastern parts are harder, so check with your supplier. Single-track lanes, steep town streets and cottages with no parking can make deliveries slow, so long worktops and tall units need a planned route into the house.
Regulations for kitchen work in Exeter
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.
Homes within Dartmoor or Exmoor national parks, listed thatched cottages and conservation areas may need consent before a new extractor vent goes through an outside wall.
Tips before you start
- Photograph the walls of your Exeter kitchen before plastering, showing where cables and pipes run, so you know where not to drill when fitting shelves later.
- If your Devon home was built before 2000, arrange an asbestos test on any textured ceiling before plastering is booked, so the programme is not held up.
- Before final decorating in your Exeter kitchen, check that the new worktops and floor are covered, as paint splashes are much easier to prevent than to remove.
- Whether a wall can be skimmed or needs hacking off is often clear only once the old tiles and units are off, so allow some contingency.
Questions about kitchen plastering and decorating in Exeter
How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Exeter?
For skimming the walls and ceiling over sound plaster, budget around £360 to £820 including VAT in Exeter. That reflects typical costs in the South West; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.
Which parts of Exeter do you work in?
All of them. Our Devon coverage takes in the whole of Exeter, including the EX2 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Exmouth. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.
Do I need to replaster after removing kitchen tiles?
Usually, at least in places. Taking tiles off often pulls away the plaster skin or leaves adhesive ridges, so the wall may need skimming, patching or, where the plaster has come loose, hacking off and re-boarding. If you are retiling the same area, a flat, sound surface may be enough without a full skim. We check this once the tiles are off.
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 near Exeter
Close to Exeter? We cover these nearby towns too:
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Exmouth
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Tiverton
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Newton Abbot
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Honiton
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Torquay
- Kitchen plastering and decorating in Paignton
- Kitchen plastering and decorating across Devon