How long should plaster dry before painting?

Typically several days to a few weeks depending on thickness, ventilation and the time of year, and it should look a consistent pale colour with no darker patches before anyone paints. The first coat should be a watered down mist coat rather than neat emulsion, or the paint will not bond.

Is a skim enough or do I need a full re-plaster?

A skim works over existing plaster that is sound and well bonded. If the existing plaster is blown, meaning it sounds hollow when tapped, skimming over it will fail, and the wall needs hacking off and re-plastering. A plasterer should tell you which they are pricing.

Getting plastering quotes in the UK

Plastering is priced by the square metre and judged by the light, and the two things that ruin it are the surface underneath and being painted too soon.

How do I get plastering quotes, and what should I expect to pay for?

A plastering quote should say whether it is a skim over sound plaster or a full re-plaster, give the area in square metres with ceilings separated, and cover preparation, backing coats and waste. The commonest way a good job is spoiled is painting it before it has dried, or using neat emulsion.

By Mike Fellows, Founder, Tradelynx · IT and service management backgroundPublished 16 September 2026Last reviewed 16 September 2026

What a real quote itemises

Ask for these in writing. Somebody who works properly will be glad to list them, because it is how their price gets justified against a cheaper one.

Skim or full re-plaster. A skim over sound existing plaster is a different job and price from hacking off to brick and re-plastering. If a wall is blown, a skim over it will fail.
The area, in square metres. With walls and ceilings separated. Ceilings are slower and priced higher.
Preparation. Removing wallpaper, PVA or bonding agent, scrim tape on joints, beading on external corners.
Backing coats. Bonding or hardwall where needed, which is a real cost and not optional on bare masonry.
Waste and protection. Old plaster is heavy and the removal has a cost. Who is protecting floors.
Drying and what happens next. See below. It is the commonest way a good job gets spoiled.

No statutory register, so judge the work and the cover

Plastering needs no legal registration. The checks that remain are public liability insurance and the company being real, plus something specific to this trade: ask to see finished walls in raking light rather than photographs taken straight on. Plastering faults are invisible head on and obvious from an angle, which is also how you will see them for the rest of the time you live there.

Painting it too soon

Fresh plaster has to dry fully before it is painted, typically several days to a few weeks depending on thickness, ventilation and time of year, and it should be sealed with a watered down mist coat rather than neat emulsion. Painting early traps moisture and the paint peels; using neat emulsion on new plaster means it will not bond properly. If a decorator is booked in behind the plasterer, make sure the two of them have agreed the timing, because neither will own the problem afterwards.

Three quotes, and the general checks

Get three for anything beyond a small job. You are not looking for the cheapest, you are looking for the outlier. Then run the same three checks you would for any trade: the registration their trade requires, current public liability cover, and the company on Companies House. Those checks are here.

Can Tradelynx introduce you to one?

Not in this trade yet, and we would rather say so. We have nobody in this trade on the platform at the moment. We are still building our supply, and a page implying otherwise to catch a search would be worth nothing to you. We only route work in Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Southampton, and only in the trades we have people for: right now that is builder, carpenter, electrician, handyman, landscaper and roofer / guttering. Everywhere else, and in every other trade, we are still building our supply and would rather say so than pretend.

What is worth keeping afterwards

Which rooms were done, whether it was a skim or a full re-plaster, and the date. The next decorator will want to know how old the plaster is.

A HomeLynx Passport is free and covers every UK home, whether or not we route work near you. If you already have somebody you trust, they can run your job through Tradelynx wherever you both are.