Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 5 October 2026
Plastering in Harrow is mostly about older housing. Metroland semis in Pinner, Rayners Lane and North Harrow often have original lime-and-sand or gypsum plaster over lath that's now over eighty years old, and it cracks, blows and sounds hollow when you tap it. Then there's the 1970s and 80s stock around Kenton, Stanmore and Belmont, where textured artex ceilings are still common and removal (or skimming over it) is a regular job. Flats in Wealdstone and Harrow on the Hill add a different pattern: small rooms, party walls and plenty of patch repairs after rewiring or replumbing.
The businesses on this page are drawn from third-party business listings and ranked by public review rating and review count, with a small lift for those showing a working website and phone number. We read each business's homepage to confirm plastering is what they primarily offer, which keeps unrelated trades off the page, and permanently closed listings are removed automatically. Where you see a Trust Verified badge, that business has additionally 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 has the full list. For anyone without the badge, those checks haven't been done by us, so you'll want to do them yourself before booking.
When you ask for quotes, get them in writing and make sure they say what's included: boarding, skimming, bonding coat, scaffold or tower hire, rubbish removal and who protects your floors. Ask to see proof of public liability insurance, and look at photos of finished work, ideally from jobs in similar houses. Plastering has no single mandatory licence, so ask about relevant trade accreditation and how long they've been trading. Two or three quotes is normal. If one comes in far below the others, find out why before you say yes. Check the drying time too, because painting over damp plaster is the classic way to ruin a good finish.
How We Select & Rate The Best Plasterers in Harrow
Businesses are ranked mainly by public review rating and review count, drawn from third-party business listings, with a small lift for those showing a working website and phone number. We read each business's homepage to confirm plastering is what they primarily offer. Permanently closed listings are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have additionally passed our full verification covering qualifications, insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information, and our How We Verify page lists every check. Other businesses on this page haven't been independently verified by us, and inclusion 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 →
Reds Plastering covers the full range of interior plastering work in Harrow, from wall and ceiling skimming to dry lining, plasterboard installation, and artex skimming. The business holds a five-star Google rating across 96 reviews, suggesting consistent results across a varied workload. It presents itself as a straightforward plastering outfit, listing practical repair and finishing work without broader trade crossover.
Plastering Solutions is a Harrow-based plastering contractor covering work across London. The business focuses on plastering and skimming, offering a tightly defined scope rather than a broad trade mix. A Google rating of 4.9 from 49 reviews reflects consistent feedback across completed jobs.
Plastering and rendering work is carried out across Harrow by M&P, covering interior finishing and external render for domestic properties. The firm holds a five star rating from 23 reviews, reflecting consistent workmanship on repeat local jobs. Enquiries can be made through their website for both new build and refurbishment projects.
Families across Harrow renovating older properties turn to ISD Plastering LTD for skimming, rendering and patch repairs. The firm has built a strong local reputation, reflected in a five star rating from thirteen reviews, and works around household schedules to keep disruption to a minimum during jobs both large and small.
Families across Harrow turn to Stefans Plastering Ltd for skimming, re-plastering and repairs to walls and ceilings, from tired Victorian terraces to newer semis. The firm works on occupied homes, which means tidy sheeting and a clear schedule matter as much as a flat finish. A five-star Google rating from 12 reviews suggests the work holds up once the dust sheets come off.
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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Day rates for a plasterer in Harrow typically sit between £180 and £260, with a good plasterer and labourer pairing costing more. Skimming a standard room usually runs £350 to £700 depending on size, ceiling height and condition. Full re-plastering of a room down to brick, including bonding and finish coats, is more like £700 to £1,400. Artex removal or skimming over it adds time and cost. Prices vary with access (flats with no parking cost more), the state of the walls and whether boarding is needed first. Get two or three written quotes and compare what's included, not just the headline figure.
Do I need to re-plaster the whole wall or can I just skim it?
If the existing plaster is sound, firmly bonded and only has hairline cracks or a rough texture, a skim coat of around 2 to 3mm is usually enough and costs far less. If it sounds hollow when tapped, crumbles or is damp, it needs to come off and be redone. Many Harrow semis from the 1930s have old sand-and-cement or lime plaster that has failed in patches. A good plasterer will tap-test the walls before quoting and tell you which approach makes sense.
How long does new plaster take to dry before I can paint?
A skim coat generally needs three to seven days to dry, depending on thickness, room temperature and ventilation. Full re-plastering with a bonding coat can take a couple of weeks. The plaster changes from dark pink or brown to an even pale colour as it dries. Don't rush it. Paint over damp plaster and you'll get peeling and blotchy patches. Use a mist coat of watered-down matt emulsion first, then your normal paint. Keep the heating on low and windows open for airflow rather than blasting it.
Can a plasterer remove artex from my ceiling?
Yes, but check for asbestos first. Textured coatings in houses built before the mid-1980s can contain asbestos fibres, and sanding or scraping them is dangerous. If your Harrow home dates from that era, get a sample tested by an accredited lab before anyone touches it. If it's clear, most plasterers will skim straight over the artex after applying a bonding agent, which is cheaper and tidier than stripping it. Expect roughly £250 to £500 per average ceiling for skimming over, more if it has to be removed.
Will plastering make a mess, and who clears up?
Re-plastering creates dust and debris, mainly when old plaster is hacked off, and skimming is cleaner but still messy. Ask your plasterer upfront whether dust sheets, floor protection and rubbish removal are in the price. Strip out furniture or cover it fully, and seal doorways with plastic sheeting if you're living in the house. Skip hire for a full room strip-out usually runs £250 to £400 for a small skip, so check whether that's included or extra on your quote.
How do I check and choose between plasterers?
Start by asking for proof of public liability insurance and check the policy is current. Ask how long they've been trading and request photos or addresses of recent similar jobs, then read their online reviews for patterns rather than single comments. Look for relevant trade accreditation, though plastering has no one compulsory scheme. Get at least two or three written quotes that itemise materials, labour, prep and clearance. Be wary of anyone demanding a large cash deposit upfront, and agree stage payments in writing. A Trust Verified badge on this page means we've checked those basics. Without it, the checks are yours to do.
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