Kitchen plastering and decorating in Horsham

Why do people in Horsham choose kitchen plastering and decorating?

Landlords in West Sussex 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.

Homeowners in West Sussex 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. Our West Sussex coverage reaches every part of Horsham (RH12) and out towards Crawley.

What is in a typical job?

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

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
Chases around new sockets, cable runs and pipework filled and made good
Free survey visit to check walls and ceilings and give an itemised quote
Edges around units, worktops and splashbacks cut in neatly at the end

Guide prices for kitchen plastering and decorating in Horsham

The figures below are guide prices for Horsham, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the South East. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Expect costs in the South East to sit somewhat above UK averages, reflecting local labour rates.

Guide prices for kitchen plastering and decorating in Horsham
Typical project	Guide price
Skim kitchen walls and ceiling over sound plasterPrepared and skimmed	£400–£920
Hack off, re-board and skim a kitchenOld plaster removed back to the wall	£1,000–£2,100
Kitchen decoratedWalls, ceiling and woodwork	£460–£1,400

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%.

Local homes and their kitchens

The housing mix across West Sussex includes 1930s semis, flint and brick cottages, post-war new town houses and seaside bungalows, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Crawley's new-town houses often have a compact galley, while seaside bungalows in Worthing and Bognor Regis tend to have a small square kitchen beside the dining area.

Coastal flats may have no lift, and village lanes on the edge of the Downs can be narrow for delivery lorries, so the delivery route is checked at the survey. West Sussex has mostly hard water, so limescale on taps, sinks and boiling water taps is common and a filter is worth considering.

Regulations for kitchen work in Horsham

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 in the South Downs National Park, listed flint cottages and conservation areas such as central Chichester may need consent for a new external vent.

Worth knowing before the fit

Before final decorating in your Horsham kitchen, check that the new worktops and floor are covered, as paint splashes are much easier to prevent than to remove.
Photograph the walls of your Horsham kitchen before plastering, showing where cables and pipes run, so you know where not to drill when fitting shelves later.
Keep a small tin of each paint used in your Horsham kitchen, labelled with the colour and finish, for touching up marks around handles and the bin.
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 Horsham

How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Horsham?

For skimming the walls and ceiling over sound plaster, budget around £400 to £920 including VAT in Horsham. That reflects typical costs in the South East; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Do you cover all of Horsham?

Yes. We work across Horsham, including the RH12 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Crawley and Horley. Book a free survey visit and we will arrange a time that suits you.

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.

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.

Kitchen plastering and decorating in neighbouring towns

Close to Horsham? We cover these nearby towns too: