Kitchen plastering and decorating in March

Who usually needs kitchen plastering and decorating in March?

If your March kitchen has blown plaster behind old tiles, hacking off and re-boarding is usually more reliable than patching over it, and gives the new tiles and units a firm base to fix to.

Once the old kitchen is out in a March home, the walls behind it are often patched, chased and uneven, and a skim gives the new units a sound surface. Homes right across March are covered, as are nearby places such as Wisbech, Ely and the villages in between.

What does kitchen plastering and decorating in March include?

After the survey visit we write the scope down. For kitchen plastering and decorating in March it usually covers:

Walls re-boarded or skimmed so units and tiles fix to a flat surface
Loose or blown plaster hacked off back to the wall where needed
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
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 March

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

Guide prices for kitchen plastering and decorating in March
Typical project	Guide price
Skim kitchen walls and ceiling over sound plasterPrepared and skimmed	£380–£860
Hack off, re-board and skim a kitchenOld plaster removed back to the wall	£970–£1,900
Kitchen decoratedWalls, ceiling and woodwork	£430–£1,300

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%.

Fitting kitchens in older and newer March homes

The housing mix across Cambridgeshire includes Victorian terraces, 1930s semis, post-war estate houses and fenland bungalows and farmhouses, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Terraced houses in Cambridge and Peterborough often have a narrow galley at the back, while Fen bungalows tend to have a simple square kitchen beside the living room.

Water across Cambridgeshire is very hard, so limescale on taps and boiling water taps is common and a filter or softener is worth thinking about. Fen roads and farm tracks can be narrow for delivery lorries, and city-centre terraces often have permit parking and no rear access for long worktops.

Regulations for kitchen work in March

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 houses in historic centres such as Cambridge and Ely may need consent for internal changes or a new vent, although a straightforward kitchen fit needs no planning permission.

Planning ahead

If your Cambridgeshire 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 March kitchen before plastering, showing where cables and pipes run, so you know where not to drill when fitting shelves later.
Ventilate your March kitchen gently while new plaster dries, but avoid blasting heaters at it, as forcing it dry can cause cracking.
Fresh plaster usually needs three to six weeks to dry fully, so plan for a mist coat first and the final colour once it has dried.

Questions about kitchen plastering and decorating in March

How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in March?

For skimming the walls and ceiling over sound plaster, budget around £380 to £860 including VAT in March. That reflects typical costs in the East of England; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Do you work near March as well?

Yes. As well as March itself, we cover the rest of Cambridgeshire and nearby towns such as Wisbech and Ely. The process is the same wherever the kitchen is.

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.

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

The same service is available a short drive from March, including: