Our Plastering Process For Sheffield
Perfecting Sheffield’s Interiors: A Transparent Step-by-Step to Flawless Walls
Our Professional Internal Plastering Process
Before we pick up a trowel, we ensure your home is fully protected. We use heavy-duty, slip-resistant floor protectors and adhesive plastic sheeting to cover all carpets, hard floors, and furniture. For renovation projects in Sheffield, we also seal internal doors to contain dust. We remove all electrical faceplates (sockets and switches) and store them safely, ensuring we can plaster right up to the back-box for a clean, professional finish once they are reinstalled.
1: Room Preparation and Surface Protection
Successful plastering depends on the bond between the wall and the plaster. We assess the substrate for 'suction'—if a wall is too dry, it will suck the moisture out of the plaster too fast, causing cracks. We apply high-performance bonding agents or PVA primers to regulate suction and provide a 'key' for the new plaster to grip. For high-suction backgrounds like old brick or breeze block, we use specialized grit-primers to ensure a rock-solid foundation.
2: Preparing the Walls & Suction Control
To ensure your walls can withstand daily life, we install galvanized or uPVC corner beads to every external angle. These provide a sharp, straight edge and impact resistance. We also apply fiberglass 'scrim tape' to every joint between plasterboard sheets and over any existing cracks in the masonry. This reinforcement is vital in Sheffield's older properties to prevent movement cracks from appearing in your finished decor.
3: Fitting Beads and Reinforcement
We follow the traditional two-coat method for a superior finish. The first coat (the 'scratch coat' or 'tacking coat') is applied to flatten the wall and fill any imperfections. While this is still damp, we apply the second 'finishing' coat. This ensures the two layers bond together as one. We use premium British Gypsum Multi-Finish plaster, known for its durability and smooth texture, ensuring the walls are perfectly plumb and level.
4: Two-Coat Plaster Application
The final stage is where the skill of a master plasterer shows. As the plaster begins to set, we use stainless steel finishing trowels to 'close in' the surface. We use a series of 'passes' with progressively less water to polish the plaster until it is flat, smooth, and has a slight sheen. This results in a 'glass-like' finish that is perfectly ready for painting or wallpapering once dry. We finish by cleaning all surrounding areas, including window sills and skirting boards, leaving your room ready for the decorators.
5: The Finishing Trowel & Polishing
We provide a comprehensive 2nd-year workmanship guarantee on all internal plastering projects. This covers the integrity of the finish, ensuring against delamination or bond failure between the plaster and the substrate. We take immense pride in our 'glass-like' finishes, and we guarantee that our walls are delivered perfectly flat, plumb, and ready for immediate decoration. Because we use only premium materials like British Gypsum, you can be confident that your new walls are built to last.
2-Year Internal Workmanship Warranty
Our Dry Lining Services
Straight, Square, and Solid: The Foundation of a Flawless Finish.
Professional Dry Lining & Partitioning
The success of a dry lining project depends on a perfectly level starting point. For timber stud or metal track partitions, we use laser levels to ensure every vertical and horizontal line is millimetre-perfect. If we are 'Dot and Dab' (Direct Bond) dry lining onto masonry, we first treat the walls for suction and remove any debris. We layout the room to maximize space efficiency while ensuring all electrical and plumbing 'first-fix' requirements are accommodated behind the lining.
Step 1: Substrate Preparation & Track Layout
We don't believe in a 'one size fits all' approach to plasterboard. Depending on your room's needs, we select specific high-performance boards: Moisture-Shield for bathrooms and kitchens, Sound-Bloc for bedrooms or cinema rooms, and Fire-Board for garage ceilings and communal areas. By using the correct 12.5mm or 15mm British Gypsum boards, we ensure your Sheffield home is not only flat but also safer and quieter.
Step 2: High-Performance Board Selection
We install boards with staggered joints to increase structural strength and prevent long-term cracking. For metal or timber studding, we use specialized bugle-head screws at 300mm intervals, ensuring they are driven just below the surface without tearing the paper. For the 'Dot and Dab' method, we apply high-grip adhesive 'dabs' at specific intervals to ensure a solid, hollow-free bond to the brickwork, providing a solid feel similar to traditional masonry.
3: Precision Boarding & Fixing
Once the boards are fixed, we reinforce every single joint. We apply alkali-resistant fiberglass scrim tape to all tapered and square edges. This step is non-negotiable in our process; it bridges the gap between boards and allows for slight building movement without the joints opening up. We also install metal or uPVC thin-coat beads to all external corners to provide impact protection and a sharp architectural finish.
4: Joint Reinforcement & Scrimming
The final stage depends on your preference. We offer a full 'Tape and Joint' service for a quick, paint-ready finish, or—as we recommend for the highest quality—a Full Skim Finish. We apply a two-coat Multi-Finish plaster over the dry lining to create a seamless, glass-smooth surface. This eliminates 'joint shadowing' and provides the most durable, premium finish possible for your interior walls.
5: Taping, Jointing, or Full Skim Finish
We provide a 10-year structural guarantee on all our dry lining installations. We guarantee that our boards will remain securely fixed and that the partitions will maintain their structural integrity. Because we follow strict manufacturer fixing patterns and use premium boards, we can confidently promise a flat, solid surface that will not bow or sag over time. If any structural boarding issues occur within a decade of installation, our Sheffield team will rectify it immediately
Our Structural Integrity Promise
Float And Skim
Built to Last, Finished to Shine: The Ultimate Solid-Wall Transformation.
Traditional Float and Skim Plastering
Float and skim is the gold standard for solid masonry walls. We begin by stripping any loose material and cleaning the brick or blockwork. Because the 'floating' coat is a wet mix, suction control is vital. We apply a professional-grade bonding agent or a high-suction primer to the masonry. This ensures the backing plaster doesn't dry out too quickly, which is the primary cause of cracking and debonding in inferior applications.
1: Substrate Preparation and Suction Control
To ensure your walls are perfectly straight and plumb, we 'dot' the walls and set our screeds. This involves applying vertical lines of plaster at regular intervals, which we level perfectly using a laser or a 6ft spirit level. These screeds act as guides, allowing us to 'rule off' the plaster later. This precision ensures that even the most uneven old brickwork in Sheffield's period properties is transformed into a perfectly flat surface.
2: Setting the Screeds for a Plumb Finish
We apply a thick layer of backing plaster—typically British Gypsum Browning or Hardwall—between the screeds. Using a long aluminum straight-edge (darby), we rule the plaster off, filling all voids and following our guides. Once the backing coat begins to stiffen, we use a wooden or plastic float to 'rub up' the surface, creating a flat, open-textured finish that provides the perfect 'key' for the final skim coat.
3: Applying the 'Floating' Backing Coat
Once the backing coat has set but is still green (slightly damp), we apply two coats of Multi-Finish skimming plaster. This wet-on-wet application ensures a chemical bond between the backing coat and the finish. We apply the first coat to flatten the surface and the second to provide the volume needed for a polished finish. We install galvanized beads to all external corners during this stage to provide a sharp, impact-resistant edge.
4: Two-Coat Finishing (The Skim)
The final stage requires the highest level of craftsmanship. As the plaster sets, we perform multiple 'passes' with a stainless steel finishing trowel. We progressively close the pores of the plaster, removing any tiny imperfections. The result is a dense, hard-wearing, and glass-smooth surface. A float and skim finish is significantly more durable and soundproof than dry lining, providing that 'solid wall' feel that many Sheffield homeowners prefer.
5: Final Trowel and Polishing
Because Float and Skim is a traditional, heavy-duty process, we back our work with a 10-year bond guarantee. We guarantee that our backing coat will remain securely attached to your masonry without 'hollowing' or delamination. We strictly follow British Standards for plastering thicknesses and suction control. If you experience any bond failure or structural cracking related to our application within 10 years, we will return to rectify it free of charge.
The 'Solid Wall' Integrity Guarantee
Internal Plastering Services Costing
Understanding the investment required for professional plastering is essential for budgeting your renovation. Our internal plastering quotes are comprehensive and transparent, with absolutely nothing to pay until the job is completed and you are satisfied.
For standard skimming (a final finish coat over existing boards or sound plaster), prices typically range from £15 to £30 per square metre. For modern dry lining (attaching new plasterboard to walls or timber studs), the cost is between £12 and £20 per square metre. If you require the traditional, highly durable two-coat 'float and skim' method on bare masonry walls, prices generally fall between £30 and £50 per square metre. Ceiling plastering can sometimes incur a higher cost due to the complexity of working overhead. Importantly, all associated logistics are covered in our price; this includes all material costs, labour, and every skip and waste removal fee, ensuring a professional, all-inclusive service with no hidden extras. We are fully insured with public liability insurance for your peace of mind.