Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 September 2026
Kettering's housing stock is a real mix, which keeps local plasterers busy in different ways. You've got the Victorian terraces around Rockingham Road and Southfield Road that often need lath-and-plaster ceilings taken back to a modern skim, newer estates out towards Cranford Road or Barton Seagrave where drylining and boarding is more common, and older stone cottages in the villages nearby that need lime plaster rather than standard bonding to let the walls breathe properly. Damp is a recurring issue too, particularly in properties near the River Ise, so a fair few jobs start with a chat about ventilation and rising damp before any plaster goes on. Whether it's a full re-skim after a rewire, patching up cracks in an older bay window, or rendering an extension, the work varies enough that it's worth knowing what you're actually asking for before you get quotes in.
The businesses featured here are pulled from public business listings and ranked mainly by their review rating and how many reviews they've built up, with a small boost given to those who have a working website and phone number listed. We also check each business's homepage ourselves to confirm plastering is genuinely what they do day to day, rather than a sideline listed alongside half a dozen other trades. That step alone keeps a lot of irrelevant results off this page. Any listing flagged as permanently closed gets removed automatically, so you're not looking at businesses that no longer exist. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge, that particular 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 businesses without the badge, none of that has been independently checked by us, so it's down to you to look into it before booking.
Before taking anyone on, ask to see evidence of previous work, ideally photos of similar jobs, ceilings, rendering, whatever matches what you need. It's worth asking whether they're insured for public liability and asking to see the certificate rather than just taking their word for it. Get at least two or three quotes, because prices for the same job can vary by quite a margin depending on how busy someone is and what materials they're pricing in. Ask how many coats they're planning, what plaster they'll use (multi-finish is standard, but hardwall or bonding might be needed as a base coat depending on the wall), and how long they'll leave between coats. A written quote that breaks down labour and materials separately makes it much easier to compare like for like.
How We Select & Rate The Best Plasterers in Kettering
Rankings are driven by review rating and review count taken from public business listings, with a small lift given to businesses that have 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 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 shown 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 →
A2Z Plastering covers the full range of plastering work from its base in Kettering, taking on both interior and exterior projects for domestic and commercial properties. The business holds a 4.7 rating on Google across 30 reviews, suggesting consistent results across varied jobs. It operates under the NN16 postcode area and beyond.
Adam Clifton Plastering Services works across domestic and commercial properties in Kettering, covering everything from full ceiling plastering and wall re-skimming to localised patchwork repairs. With a 5-star rating across 10 Google reviews, the business has built a steady reputation in the NN16 area. Enquiries can be made through the company website.
Plastering work across Kettering is handled by Northants Plastering Services Ltd, covering both domestic and commercial jobs. Reviews average 4.6 from 11 customers, reflecting consistency in finish across skimming, rendering and repair work. Details of current projects and contact information are available via 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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For a standard ceiling skim in a typical terraced house, expect somewhere around £180 to £280, depending on the size of the room and how much prep work is needed. A full room re-skim, walls and ceiling, tends to sit between £400 and £700. Rendering the front of a house often runs from £2,000 upwards depending on scaffolding needs and the type of render used. Prices vary because of access, the condition of the existing surface, and whether old plaster needs hacking off first. Getting two or three quotes for anything beyond a small patch job is completely normal and usually saves money.
How long does plastering take to dry before I can decorate?
Fresh plaster usually needs about five to seven days per coat to dry properly before you paint, though this depends heavily on the weather, ventilation and how thick the coat is. In colder months, especially with the boiler switched off overnight, it can take longer. Painting too early with anything other than a mist coat (diluted emulsion) can cause the paint to flake, so it's worth checking with the plasterer how long they'd recommend waiting for your specific job.
Do I need to move furniture out before plastering work starts?
Most plasterers will ask you to clear the room as much as possible, including taking down curtains and moving furniture to the centre or out entirely, since dust sheets only protect so much. Removing wall-mounted items like mirrors, sockets covers and radiators (if accessible) in advance also speeds things up. Ask your plasterer in advance what they expect you to prepare, as some will do minor moving themselves for an extra charge.
Can a plasterer fix damp patches or cracks, or do I need someone else first?
Plasterers can skim over cracks and patch damaged areas, but if the damp or cracking has an underlying cause, rising damp, a leaking gutter, or movement in the property, that needs sorting first or the problem will just come back through the new plaster. It's worth asking a plasterer to have a look and be honest about whether they think it's a straightforward re-skim or whether you need a damp specialist or builder involved before they start.
What's the difference between skimming and rendering?
Skimming refers to the thin, smooth finish coat applied to interior walls and ceilings, usually multi-finish plaster over plasterboard or an existing base coat. Rendering is the external equivalent, a coarser mix applied to outside walls for weatherproofing and appearance, often sand and cement, or a modern silicone or acrylic render. They use different materials and techniques, so check that whoever you hire has experience in the specific one you need, as not every plasterer does both regularly.
How do I choose between plasterers in Kettering when several look similar on paper?
Start by reading through recent reviews rather than just the star rating, since comments often mention things like punctuality, tidiness and whether the price matched the quote. Ask to see photos of recent jobs similar to yours, particularly if you need lime plaster or specialist rendering. Check they're insured for public liability and ask to see proof rather than assuming. If a Trust Verified badge is shown, that business has passed additional checks on qualifications, insurance and trading history, which is worth factoring in. For anyone without that badge, it's worth doing your own basic checks, a quick search for their business name plus reviews, and asking directly about insurance and previous work, before you commit to a booking.
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