Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 August 2026
Exeter's housing mix throws up plenty of plastering work, from the Victorian terraces around Newtown and St Thomas with their lath and plaster ceilings, to the newer estates out at Cranbrook and Monkerton where dry lining and skimming over plasterboard is the norm. Older properties near the quayside or in Heavitree often need lime plaster repairs rather than standard bonding, since original walls need to breathe. If you're renovating a period cottage out towards Topsham or Exminster, you'll likely need a plasterer who understands old lime and cob construction rather than just modern gypsum finishes. That local variation matters when you're picking someone for the job.
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 given to those showing a working website and phone number. We read each homepage to check that plastering is genuinely what the business does day to day, which filters out general builders or handymen who just list it as an extra service. Listings flagged as permanently closed on those third-party sources get removed automatically, so you shouldn't find dead entries here. Where a business carries a Trust Verified badge, it's gone further than the baseline checks, our team has confirmed trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company details. Our How We Verify page sets out exactly what that involves. Any business without that badge hasn't been through that process with us, so it's worth doing your own checks before you commit.
Before hiring, ask to see photos of recent work, ideally jobs similar to yours, whether that's a full room skim, external K-rend, or a ceiling repair after a leak. Confirm whether they're using multi-finish plaster, hardwall backing coat, or lime products, since the wrong choice on an old cob wall can cause damp problems later. Check they've got public liability insurance and ask for proof, and if the job involves scaffolding or working at height, confirm who's arranging that. Get at least two or three written quotes rather than relying on one, since prices for the same job can vary by a surprising margin across Exeter, and a written quote also gives you something to refer back to if there's a dispute later.
How We Select & Rate The Best Plasterers in Exeter
Rankings are based on review rating and review count taken from third-party business listings, with a small lift given to businesses showing a working website and contact 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 through our full verification process, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information, detailed on our How We Verify page. Other businesses listed here haven't been independently verified by us, and their inclusion isn't an endorsement. Always carry out 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 →
Landlords and letting agents managing rental properties around Exeter turn to Southwest Plastering and Rendering Services for internal plastering and external render repairs between tenancies. The firm's work spans small patch-ups to full re-renders, with a 5-star record from 65 reviews reflecting consistent standards across repeat instructions from property managers in the EX2 area.
Landlords and letting agents across Exeter use Arch Plastering & Dry Lining Contractors for turnaround work between tenancies, including skimming, patch repairs and dry lining ahead of re-letting. The firm holds a 5 rating from 26 reviews, reflecting consistency valued by property managers who need jobs completed to schedule without repeat callbacks.
Landlords and letting agents managing turnaround work between tenancies form a good part of Profinishplastering's client base in Exeter. The firm handles skimming, patch repairs and re-plastering to get properties ready for new occupants, with a 5-star record from 23 reviews suggesting reliable timekeeping matters to those who use it regularly.
External wall rendering forms a core part of GW Plastering & Rendering's work around Exeter, alongside internal skimming and plaster repairs. The firm holds a five-star rating from seven Google reviews, reflecting consistent standards on both new build and renovation projects. Jobs range from small patch-ups to full render finishes on domestic properties.
Exeter Plastering Services works across the city, covering skimming, rendering and general plastering for domestic properties. The EX4 area business has built up a five star rating from seven reviews, a small but consistent record. Enquiries can be made through its website for anyone planning wall or ceiling repairs.
Plastering work across Exeter and the surrounding area is handled by Kevinmannplastering Ltd, covering both new build and renovation projects. The firm holds a 4.5 rating from 15 reviews, reflecting steady standards on skimming and rendering jobs. Domestic and smaller commercial clients make up the bulk of its work in the EX2 postcode and beyond.
Much of the work at A Lee Plastering involves older Exeter properties, where uneven walls and period ceilings need skimming or re-rendering before redecoration. The Exeter firm also takes on plasterboarding for extensions and renovation projects, fitting jobs around existing structures rather than new-build shells. It holds a 4.4 rating from 11 reviews on Google.
Most calls to C Hart Plastering start with cracked ceilings, damp-damaged walls or a room being knocked through and needing a smooth, level finish before decorating. Based in Exeter, the firm handles skimming, rendering and repair work for both older properties and new builds. Jobs are quoted individually, with plaster left to cure properly before any paint goes on.
Plastering work across Exeter is handled by Joshua and Son, covering both new build and renovation projects. The firm takes on skimming, rendering and repair jobs for domestic clients, working to finish walls and ceilings ready for decoration. Details of past work and contact information are available via their website.
Skimming and re-plastering of walls and ceilings makes up much of the workload at A1 Plastering Services, based in Exeter and rated 4.4 from 7 reviews. The firm also handles rendering and small repair jobs, working across domestic properties in the EX2 area.
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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For a straightforward skim of a standard room, around 12 to 15 square metres, expect roughly £250 to £450 depending on the state of the existing walls and how much prep is needed. A full replaster of a room including ceiling can run £500 to £900. Small patch repairs, like fixing a crack or a section damaged by damp, might cost £80 to £150 as a minimum callout. Prices shift depending on access, whether it's a listed building needing lime plaster, and how far the plasterer has to travel. Getting two or three quotes is normal practice and helps you spot if one price is unusually high or suspiciously low.
How long does it take for new plaster to dry before I can paint?
Fresh plaster typically needs one week per 5mm thickness to dry properly, so a standard skim coat often needs around two to four weeks before painting, depending on ventilation and the time of year. Damp Exeter winters slow this down considerably. Most plasterers recommend a mist coat, a watered-down emulsion, as the first coat rather than painting straight on, since it lets the wall breathe while it finishes drying out.
Do I need to move furniture and take down curtains before the plasterer arrives?
Yes, it's worth clearing the room as much as possible, moving furniture to the centre and covering it with dust sheets, and taking down curtains, blinds and any wall fixings. Plastering is a messy job with dust and splashes, so protecting flooring is also sensible, particularly if you've got carpets. Most plasterers will bring their own dust sheets but appreciate the room being cleared beforehand to save time, which can affect the final cost if they're charging by the day.
What's the difference between skimming and rendering?
Skimming refers to the thin final coat of plaster applied to interior walls and ceilings, usually multi-finish plaster over plasterboard or an existing backing coat, to create a smooth surface ready for painting. Rendering is an exterior finish applied to outside walls, often sand and cement or a modern silicone render, to protect brickwork from weather and improve appearance. If you've got a cob or older stone property common around Exeter's outskirts, you'll want a plasterer experienced in lime render rather than modern cement-based products, since cement can trap moisture in older walls.
Can a plasterer fix damp patches or do I need a separate damp specialist?
It depends on the cause. If the damp is due to a failed render, a leaking gutter, or rising damp from a faulty stopcock or pipe, you'll usually need that underlying issue fixed first, sometimes by a damp proofing specialist or plumber, before replastering. A plasterer can then remove and replace the affected plaster once the source is sorted. If you skip that step and just replaster over damp walls, the problem will likely reappear within months, so it's worth getting the cause diagnosed properly first.
How do I choose between plasterers in Exeter?
Start by reading through recent reviews rather than just the overall star rating, since detailed comments tell you more about reliability and finish quality than a number alone. Ask each plasterer for photos of similar jobs they've completed, particularly if you need lime plaster or period property work. Request proof of public liability insurance and check whether they're a member of a trade body such as the Federation of Master Builders. Get written quotes from at least two or three tradespeople so you can compare not just price but what's included, such as material costs and any prep work. Finally, ask about their availability and how long the job will realistically take, since a rushed plastering job often shows in the finish once it's dry and painted.
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