Kitchen plastering and decorating in New Malden

Why do people in New Malden choose kitchen plastering and decorating?

Homeowners in Greater London 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.

Some people in New Malden are keeping their units but want the whole room redecorated in a tougher, wipeable paint after years of steam and cooking marks. Homes right across New Malden are covered, as are nearby places such as Worcester Park, Surbiton and the villages in between.

What does the job involve?

Here is what usually goes into kitchen plastering and decorating, adjusted to your New Malden kitchen after we have measured it:

Edges around units, worktops and splashbacks cut in neatly at the end
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
Loose or blown plaster hacked off back to the wall where needed
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

What should you budget for kitchen plastering and decorating in New Malden?

Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in London, and are firmed up once we have seen your New Malden kitchen. Labour in London generally costs more than the UK average, which lifts these ranges a little.

What should you budget for kitchen plastering and decorating in New Malden?
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%.

Fitting kitchens in older and newer New Malden homes

Typical homes in this part of Greater London include Victorian and Edwardian terraces, conversion flats, mansion block flats and 1930s semis. 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.

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

Do you need approval for kitchen plastering and decorating in New Malden?

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.

Before you book kitchen plastering and decorating in New Malden

Before final decorating in your New Malden kitchen, check that the new worktops and floor are covered, as paint splashes are much easier to prevent than to remove.
Ventilate your New Malden kitchen gently while new plaster dries, but avoid blasting heaters at it, as forcing it dry can cause cracking.
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.
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 New Malden

How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in New Malden?

For skimming the walls and ceiling over sound plaster, budget around £460 to £1,000 including VAT in New Malden. That reflects typical costs in London; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Can you measure up in New Malden before quoting?

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

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.

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.

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.

Kitchen plastering and decorating in neighbouring towns

Close to New Malden? We cover these nearby towns too: