Frequently asked questions

It depends on the size of the room and the condition of the walls. A single room skim typically starts from around £200–£350. We provide fixed quotes with no hidden extras, and the price we agree is the price you pay. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote.

A standard single room skim takes about a day. Larger jobs or rooms needing plasterboarding first may take 2–3 days. We’ll give you a clear timeline before we start so you know exactly what to expect.

New plaster needs to dry fully before painting. This usually takes 2–4 weeks depending on the time of year and ventilation. You’ll know it’s ready when it turns from dark to a uniform light pink colour. Always use a mist coat (watered-down emulsion) first.

Skimming is applying a thin top coat of finish plaster over an existing surface to give a smooth finish. Full plastering can involve applying base coats (float and set) to bare walls or blockwork before the skim coat. We’ll advise which approach your walls need.

Yes, always. We’ll come out, take a look at the job, and give you a fixed price on the spot or within 24 hours. No obligation, no pressure. If you want to go ahead, great. If not, no hard feelings.

The three main types are rising damp (moisture travelling up from the ground through walls), penetrating damp (water getting in through external walls, roofs, or windows), and condensation (moisture in the air settling on cold surfaces). Each needs a different solution, and we’ll diagnose the cause before recommending treatment.

Rising damp typically shows as a tide mark up to about 1 metre high, with salt deposits and peeling wallpaper at the base of walls. Condensation usually shows as black mould on cold walls, in corners, and around windows. We carry out a proper survey to identify the exact cause. Many companies misdiagnose condensation as rising damp to sell unnecessary DPC work.

A properly installed chemical DPC (damp proof course) typically lasts 20–30 years or more. We use high-quality silicone-based DPC cream that’s injected into the mortar course. All our damp proofing work comes with a written guarantee.

Never. Every single job is done by Dean and his team. You know exactly who’s coming into your home, and you can hold us accountable for every part of the work. No agency labour, no random faces.

Yes. All our work is guaranteed. If you’re not 100% happy with anything, we’ll come back and put it right, no arguments and no excuses. For damp proofing, you get a written long-term guarantee.

We’re usually booked 1–3 weeks ahead, depending on the time of year. For urgent damp issues, we’ll always try to fit you in sooner. Get in touch and we’ll give you an honest timeframe.

Ideally, yes. The more you can clear from the room, the quicker and cleaner the job will be. If you can’t move heavy items, we’ll help shift them and cover everything with dust sheets. We always clean up at the end of each day.

We cover the whole of the North East: Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Gateshead, South Shields, Whitley Bay, Hartlepool, Darlington, Middlesbrough, and everywhere in between. No travel charges.

In most cases, yes. We can skim directly over artex to give you smooth, modern walls. If the artex is very heavy or in poor condition, we may recommend plasterboarding over it first for the best finish. We’ll advise on the best approach when we see the job.