How to choose a plasterer

Look at their work

Plasterers do not have to be registered, so ask for photos of recent jobs and for references you can contact. The Federation of Plastering and Drywall Contractors (FPDC) is the main trade body.

Questions to ask

Ask whether the wall needs a skim coat, a full replaster or plasterboard, and why. Ask how they will protect floors and furniture, and who clears the waste.

New plaster has to dry fully before it is painted. Ask how long that will take and whether a mist coat is needed first.

Older houses with solid walls were often built with lime plaster, which lets the walls breathe. If your home is old, ask whether the plasterer has worked with lime.

Get quotes in writing

Ask two or three firms to quote for the same job, in writing. A quote is a fixed price. An estimate is only a best guess, and the final bill can be higher.

The quote should say what is included: materials, waste removal, making good, and any access equipment.

Check insurance and pay in stages

Ask to see their public liability insurance. Agree staged payments tied to finished work. A deposit for materials is normal on bigger jobs, but avoid paying the full price before the work starts.

Your rights

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a trader must do the work with reasonable care and skill, in a reasonable time, and for a reasonable price if no price was agreed.

If you agree the job in your own home, you usually have 14 days to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. If you ask for work to start sooner, you may have to pay for work already done.

For free advice on a problem with a trader, contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline. In Northern Ireland, contact Consumerline.

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