Kitchen plastering and decorating in Torquay

Why do people in Torquay choose kitchen plastering and decorating?

When new sockets, lighting and pipework have been chased into the walls of a Torquay kitchen, plastering and making good is what hides the routes cleanly.

If your Torquay 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. Torquay sits about 28 miles east of Plymouth, and our Devon coverage takes in everything in between.

What is in a typical job?

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

Chases around new sockets, cable runs and pipework filled and made good
Loose or blown plaster hacked off back to the wall where needed
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
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

What does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Torquay?

As a starting point for Torquay, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in the South West. Costs in the South West sit close to the national guide.

What does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Torquay?
Typical project	Guide price
Skim kitchen walls and ceiling over sound plasterPrepared and skimmed	£360–£820
Hack off, re-board and skim a kitchenOld plaster removed back to the wall	£930–£1,900
Kitchen decoratedWalls, ceiling and woodwork	£410–£1,200

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 Torquay homes

Across Devon you will often find cob and thatched cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war houses and flats and seaside bungalows, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Victorian terraces in Exeter and Torbay often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war houses and seaside bungalows usually have a square room that suits an L-shape.

Single-track lanes, steep town streets and cottages with no parking can make deliveries slow, so long worktops and tall units need a planned route into the house. Much of Devon has soft mains water, which is kind to taps and appliances, though some eastern parts are harder, so check with your supplier.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Torquay

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.

Homes within Dartmoor or Exmoor national parks, listed thatched cottages and conservation areas may need consent before a new extractor vent goes through an outside wall.

Tips before you start

Ventilate your Torquay kitchen gently while new plaster dries, but avoid blasting heaters at it, as forcing it dry can cause cracking.
Small hairline cracks can appear as new plaster dries; ask for them to be filled and sanded just before the final coats, not straight away.
If your Devon home was built before 2000, arrange an asbestos test on any textured ceiling before plastering is booked, so the programme is not held up.
Older homes with solid walls may have lime plaster, which is often better repaired with lime than gypsum, particularly where the building is listed.

Questions about kitchen plastering and decorating in Torquay

How much does kitchen plastering and decorating cost in Torquay?

Guide prices in Torquay are about £360 to £820 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 work near Torquay as well?

Yes. As well as Torquay itself, we cover the rest of Devon and nearby towns such as Paignton and Newton Abbot. The process is the same wherever the kitchen is.

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.

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.

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.

Nearby places we cover

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