Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 September 2026
Belfast's housing stock throws up a fair few plastering challenges that plasterers elsewhere might not see as often. You've got Victorian terraces around the Holylands and Sandy Row with lath and plaster ceilings that need careful stripping out, red-brick semis in Belmont and Cregagh with damp issues from solid walls, and newer builds in Titanic Quarter and Cathedral Quarter where dry lining and skimming is the more common job. Weather off the Lough plays its part too, with damp patches showing up in older properties around the Antrim Road and Falls Road that need proper diagnosis before anyone reaches for a trowel. A plasterer who knows the difference between a snagging job on a new-build and a full re-plaster on a hundred-year-old terrace will save you time and money.
The businesses featured here are pulled from public business listings and ranked mainly by review rating and how many reviews they've built up, with a modest boost for those showing a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage ourselves to confirm plastering is genuinely what they do, which stops general builders or unrelated tradespeople sneaking onto a list like this. Any listing flagged as permanently closed gets removed automatically, so you're not left ringing a number that's gone dead. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge, that business has gone further and passed our full verification, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information. You'll find the full detail on our How We Verify page. For businesses without that badge, they've met our baseline checks but haven't been through that deeper process, so it's worth doing your own homework before you book.
Before agreeing to anything, ask to see examples of recent work, ideally similar to your own job, whether that's a smooth skim finish or a full render on an exterior wall. Confirm whether they're VAT registered, ask about drying times if you're on a tight schedule, and check what's included in the quote, materials, skip hire, making good around sockets and skirting. Get two or three quotes before deciding, since prices for the same job can vary by a few hundred pounds across Belfast depending on the plasterer's workload and the finish you're after. A written quote with a start date and rough timescale protects both sides if things overrun.
How We Select & Rate The Best Plasterers in Belfast
Rankings are driven by review rating and review count from public business listings, with a small lift given to businesses that show a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm plastering work is what they primarily offer, which keeps unrelated trades off this page. Listings flagged as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have gone further, passing our full verification covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information; see our How We Verify page for the complete list. Other businesses here haven't been independently verified by us, and appearing on this page isn't an endorsement. Do your own checks before hiring anyone.
Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
Internal plastering, skimming, and Artex cover-ups are among the core services offered by CT Plastering, which operates across Belfast and the surrounding area. The company also carries out plaster repairs and restoration work, making it suited to projects ranging from minor patching to full ceiling plastering. A Google rating of 5.0 from 227 reviews reflects consistent results across its work.
P&S Plastering Services works largely on older Belfast terraces and semis, where uneven walls and ceilings need skimming or re-plastering before decoration. The firm also takes on new build snagging and renovation projects across BT6 and neighbouring areas. Its 5-star rating from 34 reviews reflects consistent finish quality on repeat domestic jobs.
Ornamental cornicing and ceiling roses form the core of Belfast Mouldings' work, alongside general plastering repairs across the city. The BT7 area firm restores period detailing in older Belfast properties as well as applying standard finishes to new builds, matching existing profiles where sections need replacing rather than a full re-plaster.
Transparency notice: Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
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A single skimmed ceiling typically runs from around £150 to £250, while a full room re-plaster (walls and ceiling) tends to sit between £600 and £1,200 depending on size and condition of the existing plaster. Rendering an exterior wall on a terrace house can cost £1,500 upwards, more if there's damp to sort first. Prices shift with access, whether furniture needs moving, and how much making good is needed around doors and windows. Getting two or three quotes is the norm in Belfast, and it's worth asking whether the price includes materials and skip hire or just labour.
How long does plastering work usually take in Belfast?
A single ceiling or small room skim can be done in a day, sometimes less if the plasterer's experienced and the walls are in decent condition. A full house re-plaster, common in older Belfast terraces being renovated, might take a week or more once you factor in drying time between coats. Damp weather off the Lough can slow drying, so plasterers working through autumn and winter often build in extra days. Ask upfront how many coats are planned and how long you'll need to leave the room before decorating.
Do I need to move out or empty the room before a plasterer starts?
You don't need to move out, but the room should be cleared as much as possible. Furniture, curtains, and anything on the walls need to come down, and carpets are usually best covered or removed since plastering is a messy job. Most plasterers will dust sheet floors and skirting, but it's worth asking in advance whether that's included or if you need to do it yourself. If it's just a ceiling, you can often still use the room afterwards once it's dry.
What's the difference between skimming, rendering and dry lining?
Skimming is a thin top coat of plaster applied to existing plasterboard or old plaster to give a smooth finish ready for paint or wallpaper, common in Belfast when redecorating. Rendering is applied to exterior brick or block walls, both for weatherproofing and appearance, often seen on the front of semis in areas like Stranmillis or Finaghy. Dry lining involves fixing plasterboard to walls (often over insulation) before skimming, and it's typical in new-builds or extensions around Titanic Quarter and other newer developments. Ask your plasterer which approach suits your walls, since older solid-brick Belfast terraces sometimes need different treatment to newer cavity-wall builds.
Can a plasterer fix damp patches or do I need someone else first?
Plasterers can re-plaster over a damp patch, but if the damp isn't dealt with first, it'll come straight back through the new plaster within months. Common causes in Belfast's older housing include rising damp in solid walls, penetrating damp from failed pointing, or condensation from poor ventilation, especially in bathrooms without extractor fans. A good plasterer should flag if they think the damp needs investigating by a damp specialist or builder before they start, rather than just skimming over the problem. If in doubt, get the cause diagnosed first and treat it as a separate job.
How do I check a plasterer is right for my job before booking?
Ask to see photos of recent, similar jobs, ideally in properties like yours, whether that's a Victorian terrace or a new-build extension. Check how many years they've been trading and ask for a couple of references from past customers if you can. Confirm they carry public liability insurance and ask to see proof rather than just taking their word for it. Get a written quote breaking down labour, materials, and any extras like skip hire, and compare at least two or three before deciding. If a badge or accreditation is mentioned, ask what it covers and check it's current rather than assuming it's still valid.
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