Kitchen plastering and decorating in Pimlico

What prompts kitchen plastering and decorating in Pimlico?

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.

When new sockets, lighting and pipework have been chased into the walls of a Pimlico kitchen, plastering and making good is what hides the routes cleanly. We cover all of Pimlico, including the SW1 postcode district, and travel out to neighbouring towns across Greater London.

What is included in the work?

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

Loose or blown plaster hacked off back to the wall where needed
Ceilings, walls, skirting, architraves and door frames decorated to finish the room
Edges around units, worktops and splashbacks cut in neatly at the end
Free survey visit to check walls and ceilings and give an itemised quote
Chases around new sockets, cable runs and pipework filled and made good
Ceilings skimmed or overboarded, after textured coatings in older homes are tested for asbestos

What does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Pimlico?

Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in London, and are firmed up once we have seen your Pimlico kitchen. Expect costs in London to sit somewhat above UK averages, reflecting local labour rates.

What does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Pimlico?
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%.

What kind of kitchens do we fit in Pimlico?

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.

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

What rules apply to kitchen plastering and decorating in Pimlico?

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.

Planning ahead

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 Pimlico kitchen, labelled with the colour and finish, for touching up marks around handles and the bin.
Before final decorating in your Pimlico 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 Pimlico

How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Pimlico?

Guide prices in Pimlico are about £460 to £1,000 including VAT for skimming the walls and ceiling over sound plaster. The final price depends on the size of the kitchen and what is moving, and is set out in an itemised written quote.

Do you cover all of Pimlico?

Yes. We work across Pimlico, including the SW1 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Westminster and Battersea. 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.

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.

Also covering nearby towns

We also carry out kitchen plastering and decorating in these towns near Pimlico: