The average room takes around 1 – 3 days to plaster in most cases.
Plastering is a very popular choice for finishing walls and making sure they are ready for paint and wallpaper, but if you’re planning your own room or house renovation project, you may be wondering how long it takes to plaster a room.
The size of your plastering project makes the biggest difference to how long it will take to complete.
Jobs can be broken down into small, medium and large:
- Small: Plastering a ceiling or single wall
- Medium: Plastering a whole room and ceiling
- Large: Plastering several rooms or the entire house
Understandably, the size of the room and the condition of the walls before the job begins will impact the length of time to prepare and complete the job, and also the cost of plastering.
How long does it take to plaster a wall?
It will take a skilled plasterer around 3 – 4 hours to complete an individual wall.
This is assuming the wall is in reasonable condition, doesn’t require too much preperation and only needs a skim coat.
How long does it take to plaster a ceiling?
Ceilings, when straightforward, will take around 8 – 12 hours to plaster.
Plasterboards are often fitted if not already present, and then skimmed over with a thin layer of plaster to complete the finish. Artex can be used to add texture, although this is less fashionable these days.
If your ceiling is particularly high, your plasterer may need to use scaffolding or other specialist heights equipment which will need to be installed before the work can begin in order to access all those hard to reach places.
How long does it take to plaster a 3 bedroom house?
It will take between 5 to 8 days on average to complete the plastering of a 3 bedroom house.
This however depends on the job requirements and whether you are having a full replaster or a simple skim.
How long does it take to skim a room?
It takes about a day to skim a room.
If your room is particularly large expect it to take longer.
Skimming is a quicker process than a full plaster. A thin layer of plaster is spread over plasterboard or existing plaster to create the same smooth consistent, decoration-ready finish as a full replaster but without the need to add multiple layers.
It’s perfect for touch-ups on existing walls with a few cracks and holes, or to prepare a plasterboard wall for wallpapering or painting.
We’ve written a handy guide to help you understand the difference between plastering and skimming.
If the walls need to be prepped extensively or you need additional work such as pipe-work concealing, it will take longer.
Special details such as ceiling roses can be added as extra decorative features, they can look very effective but are more intricate so allow additional time before you expect the job to be finished.
What factors affect the time it takes to plaster a wall or ceiling?
Condition of the wall
All walls will need some form of preparation before plastering can start.
A clean, clear wall will take the shortest amount of time to plaster. A wall that needs to be scrubbed of any old crumbling plaster and paper will add some time to the job. Plasterboards may need to be installed first before skimming can begin.
Size of the room
Naturally, large rooms and open plan living areas will take longer to complete than small box rooms.
Intricacy of the job
If you wish to add any special or less straightforward finishes such as coving, cornices it will take longer to complete. Odd shaped rooms or high ceilings may require special heights equipment so allow time for that to be erected safely.
Get your free quote from a local plasterer today.