Kitchen plastering and decorating in Peckham

Why do people in Peckham 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 Peckham are keeping their units but want the whole room redecorated in a tougher, wipeable paint after years of steam and cooking marks. Our Greater London coverage reaches every part of Peckham (SE15) and out towards New Cross.

What is included in the work?

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

Walls re-boarded or skimmed so units and tiles fix to a flat surface
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
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

What does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Peckham?

The figures below are guide prices for Peckham, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across London. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Prices in London usually run above the national guide, mainly because labour and parking cost more.

What does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Peckham?
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 Peckham homes

In and around Peckham, homes range across 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.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Peckham

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.

Tips before you start

Pick the final paint colour for your Peckham kitchen while the plaster dries, testing samples on the dried mist coat rather than on bare plaster.
Keep a small tin of each paint used in your Peckham kitchen, labelled with the colour and finish, for touching up marks around handles and the bin.
Before final decorating in your Peckham kitchen, check that the new worktops and floor are covered, as paint splashes are much easier to prevent than to remove.
Choose a paint sold for kitchens or bathrooms, with a wipeable or scrubbable finish; standard matt emulsions can mark easily near the hob and bin.

Questions about kitchen plastering and decorating in Peckham

How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Peckham?

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

Which parts of Peckham do you work in?

All of them. Our Greater London coverage takes in the whole of Peckham, including the SE15 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as New Cross. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

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.

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 near Peckham

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