Plaster & Repairs in North London

Professional Plaster & Repair Services

Perfect decoration starts with perfect surfaces. You can use the most expensive paint or wallpaper available, but if the wall underneath is damaged, uneven, or poorly prepared, the finish will look substandard. That's where our plastering and repair expertise comes in – we create smooth, sound surfaces that provide the ideal canvas for decoration.

Working across North London, we see the full range of issues that affect London homes. Victorian and Edwardian properties often have lime plaster that's cracked with age or damaged by inappropriate modern repairs. Post-war homes might have failing plasterboard or settlement cracks. Modern flats can have holes from previous fittings or damaged corners from moving furniture.

We handle everything from filling a few screw holes to completely re-skimming rooms, repairing structural cracks, and dealing with damp-damaged plasterwork. Most of our plastering work is done in conjunction with painting and decorating projects, ensuring seamless integration between repairs and finishing. We understand how plaster needs to be prepared for different decorative finishes – what works for emulsion paint differs from what's needed for premium wallpaper.

What's Included

Common Problems We Fix

London homes, particularly older properties, develop characteristic problems that need addressing before decoration:

• Settlement Cracks: Diagonal or stepped cracks, especially around doors and windows in older properties. These are often historical and stable, requiring filling with flexible filler and scrim tape to prevent reappearance.
• Ceiling Cracks: Common in Victorian homes with lath and plaster ceilings. May need bonding, scrim reinforcement, or in serious cases, replacement with plasterboard.
• Blown Plaster: Areas where plaster has lost adhesion to the wall, sounding hollow when tapped. Must be removed and replaced – patching over fails quickly.
• Damp Damage: Plaster affected by leaks, rising damp, or condensation becomes friable and discoloured. Needs removing, wall drying out, and replastering with appropriate materials.
• Poor Previous Repairs: Amateur filler work that's shrunk, cracked, or not been sanded properly. We remove and redo these properly.
• Artex & Textured Ceilings: Can be skimmed over to create smooth surfaces for modern decoration.
• Damaged Corners: Particularly common in narrow hallways and on stair walls where furniture impacts edges. We rebuild and reinforce these.

Our Repair Process

Professional repairs require proper technique and the right materials for each situation:

1. 1.
   Assessment – We inspect damage thoroughly, identify causes (especially recurring cracks or damp issues), and determine the appropriate repair method
2. 2.
   Preparation – Loose or blown plaster removed, cracks opened up slightly to key properly, surfaces cleaned and dampened if necessary
3. 3.
   Base Coat – For larger repairs, bonding or browning plaster applied first to build up depth and create solid foundation
4. 4.
   Reinforcement – Scrim tape or fibreglass mesh applied over cracks and joints to prevent reappearance
5. 5.
   Finishing Coat – Final skim of multi-finish plaster trowelled to smooth finish, feathered into surrounding areas for seamless repair
6. 6.
   Sanding & Preparation – Once dry, repairs sanded smooth and primed ready for decoration

Materials We Use

Different repairs require different materials. We select the right products for each job:

• Multi-Finish Plaster: Our standard finishing plaster for skim coats and final layers. Provides smooth, durable surface for painting or wallpapering.
• Bonding & Browning: Base coat plasters for building up depth on solid backgrounds or filling deep holes.
• Board Finish: Specifically formulated for plasterboard surfaces, including patch repairs.
• Flexible Fillers: For cracks subject to minor movement. These remain slightly flexible when dry, preventing re-cracking.
• One-Coat Plaster: For small repairs where speed is important – dries faster than traditional multi-finish.
• Damp-Resistant Plasters: Containing waterproofers for bathrooms, kitchens, or areas with previous damp issues.
• Scrim & Fibreglass Mesh: Reinforcement materials that bridge cracks and prevent reappearance.

We source professional-grade materials from trade suppliers, including products from British Gypsum, Thistle, and Knauf – trusted brands that provide consistent quality and workability.

Typical Timeline

Repair timelines depend on extent and drying requirements:

• Minor filling (holes/cracks): 1 day including drying and sanding
• Patch repairs (multiple areas): 1-2 days
• Skim coat single room: 1 day plastering + 2-3 days drying before painting
• Skim coat multiple rooms: 2-3 days plastering + drying time
• Major repairs (extensive damage): 3-5 days + appropriate drying

We can use fast-drying compounds for quick turnarounds, but traditional plaster generally provides the best long-term results. Most repair work is scheduled as the first stage of a painting project, with decoration following once surfaces are ready.

Aftercare & Drying

Plaster needs proper drying for best results:

• Keep rooms well-ventilated while plaster dries – open windows but avoid draughts directly on fresh work
• Don't use artificial heat (radiators, heaters) for at least 48 hours – this causes cracking
• Fresh plaster changes from dark to light pink as it dries – this is normal
• Small hairline cracks may appear during drying – these are usually surface tension cracks and fill easily
• For painting, fresh plaster needs a mist coat (watered-down emulsion) before full coats
• For wallpapering, plaster must be completely dry – typically 4-6 weeks, though moisture meters can confirm

Frequently Asked Questions

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Plaster & Repair Services Serving North London

We provide plastering and repair services throughout North London, including:

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