Kitchen plastering and decorating in Hove

Why do people in Hove choose kitchen plastering and decorating?

After a knock-through in a Hove home, the new opening, beam and surrounding walls need plastering before the new kitchen goes in, then decorating once the plaster has dried.

If you own an older solid-walled house in East Sussex, the walls may have lime plaster, which is often better repaired with lime than covered with gypsum. We work throughout Hove (BN3) and across the wider East Sussex area.

What does the job involve?

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

Diluted mist coat on new plaster, then moisture-resistant, wipeable kitchen paint
Walls re-boarded or skimmed so units and tiles fix to a flat surface
Free survey visit to check walls and ceilings and give an itemised quote
Ceilings skimmed or overboarded, after textured coatings in older homes are tested for asbestos
Ceilings, walls, skirting, architraves and door frames decorated to finish the room
Loose or blown plaster hacked off back to the wall where needed

What should you budget for kitchen plastering and decorating in Hove?

Typical kitchen plastering and decorating prices for homes in Hove, including VAT and adjusted for the South East. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Prices in the South East usually run above the national guide, mainly because labour and parking cost more.

What should you budget for kitchen plastering and decorating in Hove?
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

Across East Sussex you will often find Regency townhouses and flats, Victorian terraces, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Regency and Victorian houses split into flats often have small kitchens in former reception rooms, while 1930s semis usually have a compact kitchen at the back.

Seafront flats without lifts, permit parking and steep streets in the coastal towns can make delivery and waste removal slower, so access needs planning. East Sussex has hard water, so limescale builds up on taps, kettles and boiling water taps, and a filter or softener is worth considering.

Regulations for kitchen work in Hove

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.

Listed Regency buildings, conservation areas and homes inside the South Downs National Park may need consent for a new external vent, and flat owners usually need freeholder consent.

Tips before you start

If the house is listed or has solid walls, ask whether lime plaster is needed before the old plaster in your kitchen is stripped out.
Keep a small tin of each paint used in your Hove kitchen, labelled with the colour and finish, for touching up marks around handles and the bin.
Before final decorating in your Hove kitchen, check that the new worktops and floor are covered, as paint splashes are much easier to prevent than to remove.
If your home was built before 2000, have textured ceiling coatings tested for asbestos before anyone sands, scrapes or drills into them.

Questions about kitchen plastering and decorating in Hove

How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Hove?

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

Can you measure up in Hove before quoting?

Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation survey visit to your home in Hove. We measure the room, check the walls, floor and service positions, then send an itemised written quote.

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.

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.

Kitchen plastering and decorating near Hove

Neighbouring towns where we offer kitchen plastering and decorating: