Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 September 2026
Northampton's mix of housing stock keeps plasterers busy all year round. You've got the Victorian terraces around Kingsthorpe and Semilong with their lath-and-plaster ceilings that need careful patching, newer builds out at Upton and Grange Park where developers often leave plasterwork a bit thin, and everything in between across Duston, Abington and Far Cothill. A lot of local plasterers split their time between skimming new plasterboard, patching up damp-damaged walls in older properties, and rendering the outside of houses that back onto the clay soil common around this part of Northamptonshire, which can cause its own headaches for external finishes. Whatever the job, it helps to hire someone who already knows the quirks of the area's buildings rather than starting from scratch.
The businesses listed here come from public business listings, ranked by their review rating and how many reviews they've built up, with a small boost given to those with a working website and phone number, since that usually signals an established, contactable operation. We also read through each business's homepage to check that plastering is genuinely their main line of work, which stops general builders or unrelated tradespeople slipping onto a page meant for specialists. Any listing flagged as permanently closed gets removed automatically, so you're not wasting time on numbers that no longer connect. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge next to a business, that firm 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 those checks have been done by us, so it's worth doing your own homework before booking anyone in.
Before you commit to a plasterer, ask to see photos of recent jobs, ideally something similar to your own, whether that's a full re-skim of a bedroom ceiling or external rendering on a semi. Confirm what materials they're using and whether the price includes making good afterwards, since skirting boards and light fittings often need refitting once the plaster's dry. It's worth asking about drying times too, particularly if you're on a tight schedule for redecorating. Get at least two or three quotes before deciding, because prices for the same job can vary more than you'd expect between tradespeople in the same postcode. And always check public liability insurance yourself if it matters to you, rather than assuming it's in place.
How We Select & Rate The Best Plasterers in Northampton
Rankings are based on review rating and review count pulled from public business listings, with a small lift given to businesses showing 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 gone through our full verification process, 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 here haven't been independently verified by us, and appearing on this page isn't an endorsement. Do 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 →
Plastering work across Northampton is handled by JR40 Plastering Ltd, covering both new build and renovation projects. The firm has built a substantial local track record, reflected in a 5-star average from 116 reviews. Skimming, rendering and general plasterwork make up the core of its output for domestic clients in the area.
Plastering work across Northampton is covered by Apple Plastering, taking on both new build and renovation jobs. The company has built a strong local reputation, reflected in a 5 star rating from 36 reviews. Skimming, rendering and repair work form the core of what they offer to homes in the area.
BMC Venetian Plastering specialises in decorative Venetian finishes, working across Northampton on interior surfaces that call for a polished, textured look rather than standard flat plaster. The firm has built its reputation on this niche skill, reflected in a five-star record from eleven reviews.
Rendering and internal plastering sit alongside plumbing work at 2P Services Ltd, a Northampton firm that covers both trades rather than one alone. This dual setup suits jobs where wall finishing follows on from pipework or repairs, cutting down on separate call-outs. Google reviewers have rated the firm 4.7 from six reviews.
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 room skim, expect somewhere between £250 and £450 depending on ceiling height and how much prep work's needed. A full re-plaster of a small room, say if you've got damp issues or old lath-and-plaster coming away, can run from £600 up to £1,200 or more. External rendering is priced by the square metre and typically sits between £40 and £70 per square metre depending on the finish. Prices shift depending on access, how much furniture needs moving, and the state of the walls underneath, so getting two or three quotes for the same job is the normal way to check you're being charged fairly.
How long does plastering take to dry before I can paint?
Fresh plaster usually needs about a week per 5mm of thickness to dry fully, though a standard skim coat on a wall often takes around five to seven days in decent conditions. Painting too early traps moisture and can cause the paint to blister or the plaster to blow, so it's worth asking your plasterer for a realistic drying estimate based on your home's ventilation and the time of year, since winter jobs in Northampton's damper months can take noticeably longer.
Do I need to move furniture and empty the room before a plasterer arrives?
Most plasterers will ask you to clear the room as much as possible, including taking down curtains, light fittings if they need replastering around them, and moving furniture to the centre or out entirely. Covering flooring with dust sheets is standard practice for the plasterer, but shifting heavy items beforehand is usually down to you unless you've agreed otherwise. Ask upfront what's included so there's no surprise on the day.
Can a plasterer fix damp patches or do I need someone else first?
A plasterer can replaster over a damp patch once the underlying cause has been dealt with, but they're not the right person to diagnose or fix the source of the damp itself. If it's rising damp, a leaking gutter, or a problem with the property's pointing, you'll usually need a damp specialist or builder to sort that first. Replastering over an unresolved damp issue just means the problem reappears through the new plaster within months.
What's the difference between skimming and rendering?
Skimming refers to the thin top coat of plaster applied to interior walls and ceilings to give a smooth, paintable finish, usually over plasterboard or an existing base coat. Rendering is the exterior equivalent, applied to outside walls for weatherproofing and appearance, often using a sand and cement mix or modern polymer-based renders. If you're getting quotes, make sure you're specific about which one you need, since some plasterers focus mainly on interior skimming work and subcontract render jobs, or vice versa.
How do I choose between plasterers in Northampton?
Start by reading through recent reviews rather than just the overall star rating, since comments often mention things like tidiness, timekeeping, and whether the finish held up over time. Ask to see photos of similar completed jobs and, if possible, speak to a previous customer directly. Check that any quote is itemised so you know what's covered, including materials and making good afterwards. If insurance or qualifications matter to you, ask the plasterer directly for evidence rather than assuming it's covered, and consider looking for a Trust Verified badge where available, since that indicates those checks have already been carried out independently.
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