Lath and plaster repair (lime) cost UK 2026
The going rate for lath and plaster repair (lime) in 2026 is ceiling: £100–£180/m² · wall: £80–£140/m² (labour only). Below: a calculator, what the job involves, materials at three price levels, and the prep that changes the price.
Lath and plaster repair (lime) calculator
Market bands
What the job involves
| Stage | Task | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| prep | Protect floors, sheet and mask | 0.75 h |
| prep | Cut back to sound plaster, fix loose laths | 1.2 h per m² |
| scratch | Haired lime scratch coat | 1.2 h per m² |
| float | Lime float coat | 1 h per m² |
| set | Lime setting coat | 0.8 h per m² |
| skim | Clean tools, bag waste, clear the room | 0.75 h |
Some stages wait for materials to cure first, which can mean a return visit — that's why the worked example has 3 visits.
Materials at three price levels
| Material | Budget | Trade | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haired lime plaster (25kg) 25kg | £20 Hydraulic lime NHL 3.5 mix — Breathable, cheaper than putty lime | £45 Haired lime plaster 25kg — squote: £45–£70 per 25kg | £58 Hot-mixed haired putty lime — Heritage and listed work |
| Scrim tape (90m roll) 90m roll | £3 Self-adhesive scrim 50mm — T2B: £4–£8 a roll | £5 Fibreglass scrim 90m — Stops joint and crack lines reading through | £7 Wide 100mm scrim — For long cracks and lath repairs |
| Dust sheets, polythene and masking job | £6 Polythene and tape — Checkatrade: quotes include area protection | £10 Dust sheets, poly and floor protector — Protects floors and furniture | £18 Self-adhesive floor film + zip door — Lived-in homes |
Trade prices ex VAT, estimates checked 2026-09-27. Log your receipts in Grafto and your own prices replace these.
What changes the price
- Where? ceiling · wall big effect
- Laths? sound · re-lath needed big effect
- Listed building? no · yes · unknown
Prep to look for
| Condition | Check | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Sagging or cracked ceiling | Does the ceiling move when pushed or sag in the middle? | Take down and overboard the loose area £200–£600. Loose ceiling: take down or overboard; skim alone will not hold it |
Questions
How much does lath and plaster repair (lime) cost in the UK in 2026?
The researched market band is ceiling: £100–£180/m² · wall: £80–£140/m² (labour only), from squote. A worked example of 4 m² comes to about £717–£880 across budget, trade and premium materials.
How long does lath and plaster repair (lime) take?
The worked example of 4 m² takes about 2.5 working days over 3 visits (waiting for materials to cure in between).
What changes the price of lath and plaster repair (lime)?
Mainly where, laths, plus any prep found on site: sagging or cracked ceiling.