Plastering & Skimming Cost Derby (2026 Guide)

Per room and per wall costs in Derby

For a straightforward skim over sound plasterboard or existing plaster in reasonable nick, Derby plasterers typically charge £4.50 to £7 per square metre for labour, or roughly £250-£400 to skim a standard box bedroom (around 10-12 square metres of wall plus ceiling). A typical three-bed semi living room, larger and often with a bay window, tends to land at £350-£550 fully skimmed.

Per wall, expect £70-£130 for an average 9-10 square metre wall, though most plasterers price the room as a whole rather than wall-by-wall since setup and clean-up time doesn't really change. Ceilings usually cost a bit more per square metre than walls — figure £6-£9 per square metre — because working overhead is slower and more tiring, and a botched ceiling skim shows up worse under any light.

Whole-house jobs (say a 3-bed semi, every room skimmed) often work out at £1,800-£3,000 in Derby including materials, with the exact figure hinging on how many rooms, whether staircases and hallways are included, and how much prep the walls need first. Always ask whether the quote is skim-only or includes making good around sockets, coving, and skirting lines.

Artex removal and what it adds to the bill

Artex ceilings are still common in Derby's 1960s-80s semis and bungalows, and removing it properly costs more than a straight skim because of the extra labour and, in some cases, asbestos considerations. Textured coating applied before the early 2000s can contain asbestos, so if your Artex predates that, get it tested before anyone starts scraping — a specialist test typically costs £40-£90, and it's not worth skipping.

If the Artex tests clear, plasterers usually either skim straight over it (cheapest option, around £8-£12 per square metre for the ceiling, as the texture needs a bonding coat first) or scrape it off and re-skim, which runs £15-£25 per square metre once you account for the mess, dust sheeting, and disposal of scraped material. Skimming over is faster and less disruptive; scraping off gives a truer flat finish but takes a full day or more per ceiling and creates considerably more dust.

If asbestos is confirmed, you're into licensed removal territory, which is a different job entirely and can run into four figures depending on the area and disposal requirements — get a specialist asbestos contractor out rather than asking a general plasterer to touch it. Budget an extra day or two on the overall timeline if testing and removal need to happen before the plastering can even start.

Day rates and what changes the price

Most Derby plasterers charge £180-£260 a day for a single tradesperson, or £280-£380 a day for a two-person team, which is standard for bigger jobs like extensions or full renovations where per-square-metre pricing gets fiddly. A skilled plasterer working solo can usually skim two to three average rooms in a day once walls are prepped, so day-rate and per-room pricing often land in a similar place — it's worth asking for both and comparing.

Wall condition is the single biggest swing factor: cracked or crumbling old lime plaster, damp patches, or walls that need hacking back to brick before re-plastering (rather than just skimming over sound plasterboard) can add 50-100% to the cost and a day or more to the job. Uneven Victorian or Edwardian walls, common in parts of Derby like Chaddesden and Normanton's older streets, often need dot-and-dab or a browning coat before the finish skim, which is a different price bracket to a quick refresh.

Access and disruption matter too — furniture removal, tall stairwells, awkward bay windows, and how much dust sheeting and floor protection is needed all add time. A tidy, empty room with good access will always come in cheaper than the same square footage in a cluttered, lived-in house, so clearing rooms yourself before the plasterer arrives is one of the easiest ways to keep the quote down. If you're posting the job for quotes, mention room sizes, ceiling height, and Artex up front — it saves everyone a wasted call-out and gets you more accurate first-time prices.

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