Plastering Quotes

[Joop21]

Hi all,

We're in the midst of doing a two storey wraparound extension. We are sourcing our own trades so don't have a contractor managing it as such. Have just had one quote back for plastering (plasterboard and skim in the majority) which floored me.

In summary:
One large open plan kitchen /diner with two sets of bi-folds and one small vaulted ceiling - to plasterboard and skim whole area incl ceiling

• small utility and downstairs toilet - plasterboard and skim incl ceiling
• hall, stairs and landing - to chip off one wall (probably about 6m2 in total) plasterboard and skim incl ceilings

• small study room - to plasterboard and skim incl ceiling

-one larger bedroom - to plasterboard and skim incl ceiling

• small ensuite - ceiling only.
• medium bedroom - to take down ceiling, chip off X2 walls of old plaster and replaster whole room incl ceiling
• X3 areas to patch up on other rooms (probably equate to three walls of a medium sized room on total).

Quote was 17k which didn't include materials as we are sourcing our own.

Just to help with my budgeting, is this to be expected with other quotes?

Thanks in advance 😊

It sound high but not crazy, I have paid about 1k for a large room inc materials. I wonder if the removal of plaster or something put the price up sometimes they hate the time that sort of thing takes sometimes. Maybe worth asking for a breakdown per room and making sure it was labour only or letting them source. I don’t think you gain providing plaster the merchant told me they make a loss on it so there is no point providing if it upsets the trades. And getting other quotes!

It’s probably about right. I just had a new build 4,500 sq ff house plastered. I paid someone to do the dry lining which was about 7k and plastering was 16k. Straightforward job as new build.

They actually said it'd be easier to quote for labour only bizarrely 🤣. They've been recommended by a family friend who gives them quite a lot of work through his business so I'd like to think they're not over inflating prices.

My brother in law has a trade account as he's in the industry so we tend to save quite a lot on materials (which are still eye wateringly expensive).

I don't mind paying for good quality work (pay cheap, pay twice) but I naively had budgeted about 10k max for the work.

Thank you. I guess we've got a lot of steel beams for them to navigate on the ceilings in the kitchen/diner and in one of the bedrooms upstairs.

I'll need to practice my "not shocked" face 🤣

Sorry, should add that we're in Manchester.

I think £17k for just labour sounds on the high side. We paid £5k recently for a 3 bed house reskim, all walls and ceilings, though there wasn't any boarding to do.

Can you ask for an estimate of how many days they expect to be working for so you get an idea of what they're charging per person per day?

I did a new build 4 years ago and the increase in cost for everything is huge.

we also supply all our own materials - it’s much cheaper to do it that way if you can get trade discounts.

Oh they've already said it's £250 labour per day (for 2 of them) and £120 for the labourer.
They also want to get two boarders in who are £200 per day (for 8-9 days)

3.5 - 4 weeks.

We had our house reskimmed in 2018 when we moved in and that was just under 2k for a typical 3 bed semi detached (and included the labour too).
That's why I was so taken aback (granted there was no boarding to do).

Per day those numbers seem about right. Sounds like they're being sensible and open to let you know the rates.

So they're saying 8-9 days of boarding for 2 people - £3200

And 22 days at £620 per day for the plastering.

I guess see if they'll do it on the day rate and make sure they take the time they say they do.

My plasterer is very skilled, makes absolutely no mess to the extent that he doesn't look like he has done any plastering, his clothes are pristine. The walls are like glass he is so good. He charges £250 a day plus materials. He does the boarding himself. I am not in London though.

So I think £200 for a boarder and £250 for a plasterer is a good price.

Thank you.

We've been stung before with other tradesmen so I think it makes me second guess a lot.

I didn't think it'd take as long to skim all of the walls (but I'm not a plasterer so have very little knowledge on the subject)

It does sound like a long time, especially with a labourer. We only had two people doing the whole house, about 1200sf, and it took them probably 12 days. But we don't know the size of your house so it's hard to know.

See if you can agree to the day rate and that you'll add it up at the end. Feed them plenty of coffee and the occasional cake/bacon sandwich at 10ish if you're there at all. Good will and being a good customer does help in my experience.

But plastering is such a skill and so physical so I can see why they're paid what they are. It's not a job you can work in for many years.

Just did a rough calculation, and our house is probably half the size.

It's so difficult to try and get quotes here, as a lot of tradesmen don't turn up

Yes it’s smaller, but add on the cost of the dry lining (takes it up to 23k)and the fact that there was no remedial work to do ….