Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 September 2026
Brighton's housing stock throws up a fair few plastering challenges. You've got Regency terraces around Kemptown and Clifton Hill with lath and plaster walls that need careful handling, Victorian bay-fronted houses in Hanover and Fiveways with damp issues from solid brick construction, and newer builds out towards Woodingdean and Patcham where it's mostly straightforward plasterboard and skim work. Coastal weather plays its part too, with salt air causing render to blow on exterior walls closer to the seafront, so plasterers here often deal with more repair and patching work than you'd find inland. Finding someone who knows the difference between a quick skim job and a proper lime plaster repair on a listed building matters more in this city than most.
The businesses featured on this page come from public business listings, and we've ranked them by their review rating and how many reviews they've collected, with a small boost given to those showing a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm plastering is genuinely what they do day to day, which stops general builders or unrelated trades sneaking onto a page like this. Listings flagged as permanently closed get stripped out automatically. 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. Our How We Verify page sets out exactly what that involves. For any business without the badge, those checks haven't been done by us, so it's worth doing your own homework before you commit.
Before booking anyone, ask to see photos of recent jobs, ideally something similar to your own, whether that's a ceiling skim, artex removal or external rendering. Confirm they carry public liability insurance and ask for the policy details in writing. Check what type of plaster or render they're proposing for your walls, since older Brighton properties often need breathable materials rather than modern gypsum products that can trap moisture. Get at least two or three written quotes before deciding, and be wary of anyone quoting significantly below the others, as corners cut on prep work show up months later in cracking or bubbling. A written quote should also specify drying times and how many coats are included.
How We Select & Rate The Best Plasterers in Brighton
Ranking is based on review rating and review count pulled 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, keeping unrelated trades off the page. Listings flagged as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have additionally passed 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 full list. Other businesses haven't been independently verified by us, and appearing here isn't an endorsement, so do your own checks before hiring.
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 →
Much of Stedman & Sons Plastering's work involves period properties around Brighton, where uneven walls and old lath and plaster ceilings need particular attention before replastering. The firm also takes on new build and renovation projects.
The Plaster Boyz is a firm of plasterers based in Brighton. The firm handles domestic plastering work across the city, covering skimming, rendering and repairs.
Plastering work in Brighton from City Ornate Mouldings covers decorative cornicing and moulding alongside standard flat and ceiling finishes. The firm's focus on period detailing sets it apart from general plastering outfits. Enquiries come mainly from homes seeking restoration of original ornamental features.
Brighton Plasterers covers plastering work for homes across Brighton, from small repairs to full wall and ceiling finishes. Details on current jobs and availability are listed on the company's website.
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 in a standard Brighton terrace room typically runs from £150 to £250, while a full room re-skim including walls can land between £400 and £700 depending on size and condition. Rendering an external wall costs more, often £40 to £60 per square metre once scaffolding and materials are factored in. Older properties with damp or lath and plaster often push prices higher because of extra prep work. Get two or three quotes, since prices vary a fair bit between plasterers even within the same postcode.
How long does plastering take to dry before I can paint?
Fresh plaster usually needs five to seven days per coat to dry properly before painting, though this stretches out in damp winter months or in poorly ventilated rooms. Painting too early with standard emulsion can cause the paint to flake or the plaster to look patchy as it continues drying underneath. Most plasterers recommend a mist coat first, a watered-down emulsion that lets the wall breathe while you get some colour on. If you're unsure, ask your plasterer for a drying timeline specific to your job before they leave.
Do I need a plasterer or can I skim walls myself?
Skimming is one of those jobs that looks simple until you try it. Getting a smooth, even finish without trowel marks or dips takes practice, and most DIY attempts end up needing a professional to sand back and redo sections anyway. Small patch repairs, like filling a crack or a hole from a shelf bracket, are reasonable for a confident DIYer. Anything involving full walls, ceilings or matching an existing texture is worth handing to someone who does it for a living.
What's the difference between rendering and plastering?
Plastering refers to interior wall and ceiling finishes, usually a gypsum-based skim over plasterboard or an existing wall. Rendering is the exterior equivalent, applied to outside walls to protect brickwork from weather and give a finished look, common on Brighton's coastal properties that take a battering from salt air. Some tradespeople do both, but rendering often needs different materials and techniques, particularly on older solid-wall houses where breathable lime render is preferable to cement-based options.
Can a plasterer fix damp patches or do I need a damp specialist first?
A plasterer can replaster over a wall once the underlying damp problem has been sorted, but they generally won't diagnose or fix the cause itself. If you've got rising damp, a leaking gutter, or penetrating damp from failed pointing, that needs addressing first, often by a damp proofing specialist or builder. Replastering over an unresolved damp issue just means the same patch reappears within months. Ask any plasterer quoting for damp-affected walls whether they think the root cause has been dealt with.
How do I choose between plasterers in Brighton?
Start by asking to see examples of recent work, ideally in properties similar to yours, whether that's a Victorian conversion in Hanover or a new build in Woodingdean. Ask for proof of public liability insurance and check how long they've been trading locally. Read through recent customer reviews yourself rather than relying on a star rating alone, looking for comments about tidiness, timekeeping and whether the finish held up over time. Always get a written quote that breaks down materials, coats and drying time, and don't be afraid to ask for references from previous customers you can actually contact.
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