Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 September 2026
Gillingham's mix of Victorian terraces around the town centre, 1930s semis out towards Rainham and newer estates near Hempstead means plasterers here deal with a fair range of jobs. Older properties often need lath and plaster repairs or full re-skims where lime plaster has blown, while newer builds are more about patching plasterboard, boarding out lofts, or making good after an extension. Damp is a recurring theme in some of the older streets near the River Medway, so re-plastering after damp-proofing work comes up a lot too. Whether it's a single ceiling in a Twydall semi or a full house re-plaster in Rainham, most homeowners want someone local who knows how the older housing stock in this part of Kent tends to behave.
The businesses featured on this page come from public business listings, ranked by review rating and how many reviews they've built up, with a small boost given to those showing a working website and phone number. We check each firm's homepage to confirm plastering is actually what they do day to day, which stops unrelated builders or general handymen sneaking onto a plasterers list. Any listing flagged as permanently closed gets stripped out automatically. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge, that business has gone through our fuller verification, covering 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. For businesses without the badge, we haven't independently checked those things ourselves, so it's worth doing that legwork before you book anyone in.
Before committing to a plasterer, ask to see photos of recent work, ideally something similar to your job, whether that's a ceiling skim, external rendering or a full re-plaster after a rewire. It's worth asking whether they supply their own materials or expect you to, and how long the plaster needs to dry before painting (usually four to five weeks for a full skim, less for small patches). Get two or three quotes rather than accepting the first one, since prices for the same job can vary by £100 or more between tradespeople in the same postcode. Confirm public liability insurance is in place and ask for a rough start date, since decent plasterers in this area often book up several weeks ahead, especially around school holidays when people tend to have work done.
How We Select & Rate The Best Plasterers in Gillingham
Rankings are 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 genuinely 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 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. Always 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 →
Skimming over artex ceilings and re-plastering ahead of redecoration make up much of Anchor Plastering's workload around Gillingham. The firm has built up a run of 91 reviews on Google, all rated five stars, reflecting consistency across smaller domestic jobs as well as larger refurbishments.
Multi Plastering Limited works across Gillingham, covering skimming, rendering and general plastering for domestic and commercial jobs. The firm holds a five-star rating from 32 reviews, a reflection of consistent finish quality rather than one-off praise. Bookings can be arranged through the company website.
Prestige Property Solutions is a plastering firm based in Gillingham, covering both new build and refurbishment work. The company has built a perfect five-star record across 20 Google reviews, suggesting consistency across skimming, rendering and repair jobs. Its ME8 base makes it a practical choice for households across the local area.
Newman Plastering takes on work across Gillingham that ranges from period cottages needing lath and plaster repairs to newer housing stock requiring fresh skimming and dry lining. The firm handles both renovation projects and smaller patch-up jobs, adapting technique to the age and condition of the property. Based in the ME8 area, it covers domestic plastering throughout the surrounding streets.
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 £150 to £250, while a full room re-plaster (walls and ceiling) tends to land between £600 and £1,200 depending on size and how much prep work is needed. Rendering an external wall can cost anywhere from £40 to £60 per square metre. Prices vary based on the state of the existing plaster, access, and whether you're supplying materials yourself. It's normal to get two or three quotes before deciding, since there can be a noticeable gap between tradespeople for the same job.
How long does plastering take to dry before I can paint?
Fresh plaster generally needs four to five weeks to dry out fully before painting with standard emulsion, though a mist coat (heavily diluted paint) can go on sooner, often within a week. Smaller patch repairs dry quicker, sometimes within a few days. Drying time depends on room temperature and ventilation, so keeping a window cracked open or using gentle heating (not direct heaters aimed at the wall) helps things along without causing cracking.
Do I need to move furniture before a plasterer arrives?
Most plasterers will ask you to clear the room as much as possible, or at least move furniture away from the walls, since plastering is a messy job involving dust sheets and inevitable splashes. Some will help shift larger items for an extra fee, but it's worth checking this when you get your quote rather than assuming it's included.
Can a plasterer fix damp patches or do I need someone else first?
Plasterers can re-skim over a wall once the underlying damp issue has been sorted, but they won't fix the actual cause. If you've got rising damp, a leaking gutter, or a failed damp-proof course, that needs addressing first by a damp specialist or builder, otherwise the new plaster will just blow again. A good plasterer in Gillingham should flag this rather than just skimming over a problem.
Is it worth getting a plasterer who also does rendering?
If you need both internal skimming and external render work, hiring one tradesperson who covers both can save on separate call-out costs and make scheduling easier. Not every plasterer does render, since it's a slightly different skill involving weatherproofing and sand-and-cement mixes, so check this specifically when getting quotes rather than assuming it's covered.
How do I choose between plasterers in Gillingham?
Read through recent reviews rather than just the overall star rating, since comments often mention things like punctuality, tidiness and whether the finish was smooth or needed touching up. Ask to see photos of similar jobs, confirm they hold public liability insurance, and get a written quote that specifies materials, timescale and whether VAT is included. If a business carries our Trust Verified badge, that means we've checked qualifications, insurance and trading history ourselves. If it doesn't, take the time to ask for that proof directly before booking, and don't be afraid to request references from previous customers in the local area.
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