Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 September 2026
Margate's housing stock is a real mix, which keeps its plasterers busy in different ways across town. You've got the Victorian terraces around Cliftonville with their tall lath and plaster ceilings that need careful patching rather than a full rip-out, the 1930s semis further out towards Westgate-on-Sea that usually just need a lounge or kitchen skimmed, and the newer builds near Westwood where dry lining and joint finishing is the more common job. Salt air off the seafront also plays a part, older render and plaster near the coast road tends to blow or crack sooner than it would inland, so a fair few callouts here are repair jobs rather than fresh plastering. Anyone hiring locally is usually dealing with one of these three scenarios, and it helps to know which one you're in before you start ringing round for quotes.
The plasterers listed on this page are pulled from public business listings and ranked by their review rating and review count, with a modest boost given to those with a working website and phone number, since that tends to indicate an active, contactable business. We check each business's homepage to confirm plastering is actually what they do day to day, which stops general builders or handymen who just mention plastering in passing from cluttering up the page. Any listing flagged as permanently closed gets removed automatically, so you're not chasing a business that's shut down. Where you see a Trust Verified badge, that business has gone through our full verification process, 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's involved). For any business without that badge, those checks haven't been done by us, and it's worth doing them yourself before you book anyone in.
Before agreeing to any work, ask for a written quote that breaks down materials and labour separately, and find out whether the price includes making good around sockets, skirting and coving. If the job involves removing old lime plaster, which is common in Margate's older properties, ask how they'll deal with any lath underneath, since that changes both the cost and the timescale. Check whether they carry public liability insurance and ask to see it, not just take their word for it. It's also worth asking for photos of recent jobs nearby, Cliftonville and Garlinge crop up a lot in local plastering work, so a business with genuine experience in the area should have examples to hand. Getting two or three quotes before committing is just sensible, prices for a similar job can vary by more than you'd expect, and it gives you a chance to compare not just cost but how well each plasterer explains the process.
How We Select & Rate The Best Plasterers in Margate
Ranking is driven mainly by review rating and review count 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, 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 complete list). Other businesses shown here haven't been independently verified by us, and their inclusion isn't an endorsement. Always carry out 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 →
A perfect run of 61 reviews puts Brackenborough Plastering among the more consistently rated tradespeople working in Margate. The firm handles skimming, rendering and general plastering for domestic properties, with the volume of feedback suggesting steady, repeat local demand rather than one-off jobs. Enquiries can be made through its website.
Plastering work across Margate is handled by Paul Carr Plastering Ltd, covering both domestic and small commercial jobs. The company has built a solid local reputation, reflected in a five-star average from nineteen reviews. Skimming, rendering and repair work make up the bulk of enquiries in the area.
Often the call comes after a damp patch has been stripped back or an old ceiling needs skimming before decorating begins. Margate Plastering takes on these repairs and full replasters across the town, working to a finish ready for paint. Ten reviews on Google currently average five stars.
Plastering 4u is a plastering firm based in Margate, covering internal rendering, skimming and wall repairs for domestic properties. Work is carried out to suit older seafront housing as well as newer builds across the town. Enquiries can be made through the company's website for scheduling and quotes.
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 single room, say a 3 metre by 4 metre lounge, you're typically looking at somewhere between £280 and £450, depending on the state of the existing walls and how much making good is needed first. A full ceiling skim tends to run £150 to £250 on its own. Larger jobs, like re-plastering a whole ground floor after removing old lath and plaster, can run into £1,500 to £3,000 once labour and materials are factored in. Prices vary quite a bit across Margate depending on access, how much prep work is involved, and the individual plasterer's day rate, so it's worth getting two or three quotes before deciding.
How long does plastering take to dry before I can paint?
Fresh plaster generally needs about a week per 5mm of thickness to dry fully, so a standard skim coat is often ready for a mist coat after five to seven days in reasonable conditions. Damp coastal air in Margate can slow this down, especially in winter, so allow a bit longer if you're near the seafront or the property isn't well heated. Painting too early traps moisture and can cause the paint to blister or the plaster to discolour, so it's worth checking the wall feels properly dry and has an even colour before starting.
Do I need to move furniture out before a plasterer arrives?
Most plasterers will ask you to clear the room as much as possible, since plastering is a messy job and dust sheets only protect so much. Take down curtains, remove light fittings if you can, and pull furniture at least a metre back from the walls, or out of the room entirely if space allows. Some plasterers will move heavier items for you at an extra cost, but it's worth confirming this when you get your quote rather than assuming it's included.
Can a plasterer fix a damp patch or crack, or do I need someone else first?
It depends on the cause. If the crack or damp patch is down to settlement or old age, a plasterer can usually patch it directly. But if there's an underlying damp problem, a leaking pipe, a faulty gutter, or rising damp from a failed damp proof course, that needs sorting first, otherwise the plaster will just fail again. A good plasterer should flag this rather than just skimming over it, so ask them directly whether they think there's a root cause worth investigating before any repair work starts.
Is it worth choosing a plasterer who specialises in older properties?
Given how much of Margate's housing is Victorian or Edwardian, yes, it makes a real difference. Lime plaster and lath ceilings behave differently to modern gypsum plaster and cement render, and someone used to working on newer builds might not handle them the same way, which can lead to cracking or poor adhesion later. Ask any plasterer you're considering whether they've worked on period properties in Cliftonville or the Old Town area specifically, and ask them to explain how they'd approach your particular job before you commit.
What should I check myself before hiring a plasterer in Margate?
Ask to see evidence of public liability insurance rather than just taking their word for it, and ask how long they've been trading locally. Look up recent reviews yourself and check if there's a pattern in complaints, one bad review might be a one-off, but repeated mentions of missed appointments or poor finishing are worth taking seriously. Request photos of similar jobs they've completed nearby, and get a written quote that spells out what's included, materials, labour, and any making good around fixtures. If a business carries a Trust Verified badge here, that means it's been through our full verification covering qualifications, insurance, trading history and more, but for anyone without it, these checks are down to you before you book.
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