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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I can do the plastering myself?

126 replies

CochonDinde · 18/01/2020 20:14

I'm fancying getting my downstairs rooms re-plastered. I'm fairly handy when it comes to DIY (single mum too so no partner to assist), but admittedly plastering is never something I've done. AIBU to reckon I can have a crack? Or am I likely to balls up my house? Anyone here do their own plastering?

OP posts:
Shadowboy · 18/01/2020 20:16

Plastering is hard. And it’s important to get a good finish- it can make or break the quality of a room. My husband had a go at my bathroom and he’s ace at DIY having helped build our extension. You could tell the difference between his work and the professional plasterer. I was glad it was just a bathroom

Shakirasma · 18/01/2020 20:19

Plastering well is a real skill. A patch job in a cupboard, by all means have a go. But I think you'd be crazy to think you could do whole walls well with no training or experience.

SidekickSally · 18/01/2020 20:20

I'd say plastering is a difficult skill to master and requires training. Painting and decorating, everyone can do to a certain extent but I'd leave the plastering to a professional.

NC4THISandTHAT · 18/01/2020 20:20

Try plastering a big cardboard box and see how that goes....I think you'll regret doing your house.

PinkiOcelot · 18/01/2020 20:21

You’re likely to balls up your house. Plastering is a trade and every man to his trade I say.

Hadtoask · 18/01/2020 20:22

I think you could do it. I do all sorts of building work. I have only plastered one wall and that was many years ago. I would definitely do it again. I’m a perfectionist too. That’s why I do all my own work!

lazylinguist · 18/01/2020 20:22

Plastering is much, much harder than it looks. Dh is pretty handy at diy and tried to plaster a small bit of wall once. I've rarely heard him swear so much and it ended up quite a mess!

Feelingpoorlysick · 18/01/2020 20:23

Patching up and area or even managing one wall is one thing but doing whole rooms is on a different level.
We do most things ourselves but plastering is one thing we pay for, it's a very skilled job. We've recently had a room plastered and seeing the guy work made me realise just how much effort and skill goes into getting a good finish.

Coughy4u · 18/01/2020 20:23

No its so hard you will make a mess.

DrWAnker · 18/01/2020 20:24

Yabu.
It only looks easy because it's being done by professionals.
You will end up paying to get it fixed anyway.

AiryFairyMum · 18/01/2020 20:26

Plastering is like cake decorating; way more difficult than it looks!

Fantababy · 18/01/2020 20:28

Definitely not. It's hard. My DH tries most things but wouldn't attempt plastering.

Motorbike311 · 18/01/2020 20:28

Plastering is all about processes, its a multi-stage job and requires a lot of skill to get right first time, nobody wants to bend hours with a sander trying to correct issues. Plastering say 40m2 of wall with a 10m2 ceiling would take two days, the cost of materials and tools may outweigh the cost of having a professional do it for you, Although, it is enjoyable skill to learn i would look for someone to do it if its just for a single room. Depending on your location, expect to pay around £220/day for labour and to provide/remove waste.

LeglessGiraffe · 18/01/2020 20:29

My Dad was in the building trade for years and I've never come across a DIY task he won't do... electrics, plumbing, installing bathrooms, building extensions etc... EXCEPT for plastering. He thinks it's the one job where it's worth paying a plasterer rather than do it himself, to save the hassle and get a decent finish.

InsertFunnyUsername · 18/01/2020 20:29

I tried once and never again. What makes it funnier (and I know MN frown upon using your DP) is my DP is a plasterer of over 10 years.He told me it wasn't as easy as I thought. I wanted to prove him wrong - I didnt.

TheNumberfaker · 18/01/2020 20:29

I wouldn’t bother. Some jobs are just better done by a professional.

Traffy · 18/01/2020 20:32

I can fill in and skim a small area easily enough but a whole room? Noooooo.

Get a professional :)

VirtualHamster · 18/01/2020 20:32

I've plastered every room that we've so far redecorated in our house, ceilings too. It's by far my favourite DIY job.

First room I did was an upstairs bedroom, with the thought that I'd give it a go, and if it didn't work out we were only down 50 quid or so of materials, and if it worked out we'd save ourselves hundreds.

Nooch · 18/01/2020 20:32

Doubt it.

StrawberryDreamX · 18/01/2020 20:33

Yabu, plastering is a job that should be left to a professional

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 18/01/2020 20:34

I know people who are really good at DIY who have tried it. It looked home done

hiphiphoorayback · 18/01/2020 20:37

My DH taught himself from youtube vids on the garage walls. He is a pen pusher so not linked to trades. If you are practical I would say yes. DH has done the whole house and is a perfect finish. The ceilings are tricky and you need to be fast and it is very physical work.

FairyBatman · 18/01/2020 20:38

It’s really hard to do well. My dad tried many times to teach me, I can manage a small patch but wouldn’t attempt a room.

Nottobesoldseparately · 18/01/2020 20:38

YABU.
In the words of a plasterer, you've got no fucking chance.
Don't even attempt it. You won't ruin your house but you'll make a right old mess and cost yourself a load of money.

Southmouth · 18/01/2020 20:39

I wouldn’t even attempt it, it’s a skill and not as easy as you’d think. OH is in the building trade and has done everything in our house, one wall needed plastering and he decided to have a go at it. To be fair he did do an ok job but it definitely wasn’t up to the standards of a professional and if it had been more than 1 wall needing doing then I would of called someone in to do it.