How to spot a good plasterer?

[skimmyceilings]

Hello all.

We are planning on having our lovely artexed ceilings skimmed and have had several quotes. Most quotes come in at just over £1000 and this is for a small 4 bed home.

One quote came in at £500 which seems very low, are we best to avoid such a low quote seeing as it is over half the price 3 other people have quoted us?

We also hear different things from each plasterer. 2 use thistlebond-it, 2 use PVA glue as a bond. Some recommend scraping the ceilings but the one with the cheap quote would plaster straight over.

We don't have many jobs done for us because of problems in the past, but neither of us can plaster very well, so this has to be done by a professional.

Any help or guidance would be so very appreciated, we just don't know who to trust, especially given each person has their own way of doing things, which may or may not be right or wrong.

Thank you in advance.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

It's a tough one, normally say go by personal recommendation if possible.
Judging the ability of the plasterer and the quality of work, purely on price, would always mean you went with the highest quote. Which is quite often not true.
There are a number of different methods used to plaster over artex finish, it would depend on the nature of the artex and the practicalities of using any particular method.
I have in past, overboarded, removed artex and bonded it it.
Different circumstances allow/disallow for different methods.

 

[skimmyceilings]

I have in past, overboarded, removed artex and bonded it it.
Different circumstances allow/disallow for different methods.

Thank you. Each plasterer said the ceilings aren't too bad, so plastering over shouldn't be a problem. I just wondered about the difference between thistlebond-it and PVA? Also the timescale between applying a bond and plastering etc? I know the plasterer who came up with the cheapest quote said it could be done in a couple of days, which seems very rushed, even though I don't know anything about skimming or plastering really.

Just very concerned about getting a poor finish and being forced to then pay someone else to rectify the damage so to speak.

We have got quotes from people using rated people, although this is not personal recommendation. We just can't find anyone who has had this done, our neighbour uses their dad to do their ceilings, and he unfortunately doesn't do work for others.

Is there anything we should ask these plasterers about their methods?

Thanks again in advance.

 

[HERTS P&D]

What I done was to get a plasterer to plaster one ceiling, after seeing his work did he plaster the rest of the house.

Andy

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Thistlebond-it would be what I would apply, it dries in about 1-1.5hrs(environment allowing).
It has an aggregate in it that provides better adhesion, also as it paints green rather than clear like PVC, also helps identify areas that have not been covered/prepped.
Word of mouth is always best, if you cannot obtain this, I would what some evidence of the quality of their work.

 

[skimmyceilings]

What I done was to get a plasterer to plaster one ceiling, after seeing his work did he plaster the rest of the house.

Andy

That is a good idea, I think when we have chosen a plasterer, we'll ask him if he will do that for us. That way we will know he can do a good job, so the rest of his work should match up.

It is so difficult because each person will be so different. One guy said "without using thistlebond-it you can get whole peices of plaster falling off!"...not sure if he was trying to scare us off using other plasterers?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

One guy said "without using thistlebond-it you can get whole peices of plaster falling off!"...not sure if he was trying to scare us off using other plasterers?

It's possible that plaster can fail and fall, if not prep right.

 

[skimmyceilings]

Word of mouth is always best, if you cannot obtain this, I would what some evidence of the quality of their work.

Thank you. We would like to see work they have carried out first, we haven't asked to see a past job yet, but we will do before going ahead with a quote.

My only concern is that they could show a friends house which has been plastered by someone else and show it as their own work. I suppose we will have to trust...hard these days when you get let down by so many people.

 

[JohnD]

can you visit some recent nearby customers?

Beware of websites where the comments might have been written by the trader and his chums

 

[skimmyceilings]

can you visit some recent nearby customers?

Beware of websites where the comments might have been written by the trader and his chums

Thank you. Yes we are wary of these websites, as reviews could be fake, we don't have any personal recommendations unfortunately.

We will ask to see their work, I guess if they can't show us previous work we will have to discount them.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Unfortunately without having personally experience and/or good reports from work they have done locally for people you know, it is difficult to trust on evidence that may be shown to you and trust is often a key.
It maybe worth considering entering in to a contract, where money is held back for period of time after completion, until you are completely satisfied with the end product.

 

[skimmyceilings]

It maybe worth considering entering in to a contract, where money is held back for period of time after completion, until you are completely satisfied with the end product.

That does sound like a fabulous idea! I could put this to the person we liked most out of the four plasterers we have spoken to. A guy in Blackburn came to give us a quote this afternoon, and for some reason he came across as a person with integrity.

It is so worrying for us because we don't have much money to do up this house and it all starts with the ceilings, it is important to get the bones of the house right, before we even think about furniture and accessories.

Thank you for that suggestion, that was something I hadn’t thought about.

 

[joe-90]

Well how many ceilings are there in this 'small' four bedroom house? (an oxymoron if ever I saw one).

The average price for a whole house is about £2k.

 

[skimmyceilings]

Well how many ceilings are there in this 'small' four bedroom house? (an oxymoron if ever I saw one).

The average price for a whole house is about £2k.

Every quote has come in under £1250

Sorry if that offends you, but that is the truth.

I don't think there is any need to be rude, I say it as I am quoted it. One quote was £500. I agree that that price is ridiculous, but every quote has been far under £2000.

We are up north if that makes a difference.

Gulp!

 

[joe-90]

But how many ceilings are there to be plastered? It makes a difference if there are four or eight.