Plaster repair in Exeter
Professional plaster repair services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£135
Typical Duration
1-2.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Plaster damage repaired properly - cracks filled and reinforced, blown areas fixed, holes patched smooth. All ready for decorating with a professional finish that lasts.
Stop Living With Cracked, Damaged Walls
Cracks that keep reappearing, blown plaster that sounds hollow when you tap it, chunks missing from walls or ceilings. Proper plaster repair fixes it right so you can decorate without it showing through or failing again in six months.
💡 Pro tip: Always repair plaster damage before decorating. Trying to paint over cracks and damage just highlights them - they show even more once painted.
Why Most Plaster Repairs Fail
The crack comes back, the repair shows through the paint, filler falls out leaving a hole again. Here's why DIY repairs fail:
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Crack opened and cleaned first | Filler pushed in as-is |
| Flexible filler for movement cracks | Rigid filler that cracks again |
| Scrim tape reinforcement if needed | No reinforcement |
| Filled proud, sanded flush, feathered | Filled flush, shows as a dent |
What You Get
🔧 The Process
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assess | Check cause of damage, prep area |
| Repair | Fix properly for the type of damage |
| Finish | Fill flush, sand smooth, feather edges |
📦 You're Left With
- Smooth walls/ceilings ready to paint
- Repairs that actually last
- Professional invisible finish
Pricing Guide
| Damage Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple cracks (2-3 cracks) | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Multiple cracks or small blown area | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Larger repairs, ceiling damage | 2-2.5 hrs | £110-£135 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Large areas or full wall skimming requires separate quote.
Perfect For...
✅ Pre-decorating prep - smooth walls before painting
✅ Crack repairs - stop them spreading and returning
✅ Blown plaster - hollow areas re-adhered
✅ Impact damage - holes and dents filled invisibly
Why Choose Us for Plaster repair in Exeter?
Cracks properly filled and reinforced
Blown areas re-adhered or replaced
Smooth finish ready for decorating
Stops cracks spreading further
What to Expect
Step 1: Assess the Damage
I'll check what's causing the problem - is it movement, damp, poor original work? This determines the right repair method.
Step 2: Prep & Repair
Cracks get opened slightly and cleaned. Blown areas get cut back to sound plaster. Everything prepped properly for the repair material.
Step 3: Fill & Finish
Appropriate filler or plaster applied. Might need multiple layers for deep repairs. Then sanded smooth and edges feathered so it's invisible once painted.
🔧 DIY Tips
Basic plaster repairs are doable DIY - here's how to avoid the common disasters:
🔧 What you'll need
- Filling knife (4" and 6")
- Scraper or old knife for cleaning cracks
- Plaster filler or bonding coat
- Scrim tape (for larger cracks)
- Sandpaper (120 and 240 grit)
- Sanding block
- Dust brush and damp cloth
- PVA and water (for bonding agent)
📐 Technique for lasting repairs
- Open crack slightly with scraper - undercut edges
- Brush out all dust and loose material
- Wet the crack edges with diluted PVA
- Fill with appropriate filler, slightly proud
- For cracks over 2mm, use scrim tape for reinforcement
- Let dry completely (don't rush this!)
- Second coat if it's sunk
- Sand flush and feather edges with 120 then 240 grit
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not opening and cleaning cracks properly - filler just falls out
- Using wrong filler (plaster filler for movement cracks cracks again)
- Filling flush instead of proud - sinks to create dent
- Sanding too soon before fully dry
- Not feathering edges - shows as ridge through paint
- Skipping reinforcement on structural cracks
💡 Pro trick: For cracks that keep reappearing due to movement, use decorator's flexible acrylic caulk instead of rigid filler. It flexes with the movement instead of cracking. Sand it smooth before it fully cures for best results.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Painting afterwards: Plaster repairs need 24-48 hours drying before painting depending on depth. New plaster needs mist coat (watered-down emulsion) first or the paint won't take properly.
Recurring cracks? If the same cracks keep coming back despite proper repairs, there's likely a structural issue - settlement, movement, or damp. Worth getting checked before spending money on repeated repairs that won't last.
Old houses with lath and plaster? Common in Exeter's period properties. Different technique than modern plasterboard. The laths (wooden strips) behind the plaster can shift - I'll check they're sound before repairing the plaster surface.
Damp patches? Plaster damage with damp staining means there's a water issue causing it - leaking pipe, roof issue, rising damp. Fix the cause first or the repair will fail and the problem gets worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between filling a crack and properly repairing it?
Filling just stuffs filler in the crack - it often cracks again within months. Proper repair means opening the crack slightly, cleaning it out, filling it properly, sometimes reinforcing with scrim tape, then finishing smooth. Takes longer but actually fixes it rather than hiding it temporarily.
Can you fix blown plaster or does the whole wall need redoing?
Depends how bad it is. Small blown areas (where plaster has come away from the wall) can be cut out and patched. Large areas or multiple patches might be cheaper to skim the whole wall. I'll assess honestly what makes sense for your situation.
Will repaired cracks show through when I paint?
Not if they're done properly - filled flush, reinforced if needed, sanded smooth. The key is feathering the edges so there's no ridge. Once painted you shouldn't be able to tell. Bodged repairs always show.
Why do cracks keep coming back in the same place?
Usually movement - houses move with seasons, foundations settle, timber flexes. If you just fill cracks, they reopen. Proper repair includes flexible filler for movement cracks or scrim tape reinforcement for structural cracks. Repeated cracking in the same spot might indicate a bigger issue worth investigating.
Can you fix old lath and plaster ceilings?
Yes, if the laths are sound. If the plaster's come away from the laths, I can usually push it back and secure it, then skim over. If the laths themselves are broken, that's a bigger job. Exeter's full of lath and plaster - I work with it regularly.
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