Updated 27 September 2026
Replaster (hack off, float and set) cost UK 2026
The going rate for replaster (hack off, float and set) in 2026 is £30–£55/m² (total, ex VAT). Below: a calculator, what the job involves, materials at three price levels, and the prep that changes the price.
Market band£30–£55/m²
Worked example, 30 m²£1,081
Time on site2 days
Replaster (hack off, float and set) calculator
Price a real job freeUses your rates, your speed and your receipts.
Market band source: MyJobQuote.
What the job involves
| Stage | Task | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| prep | Protect floors, sheet and mask | 0.75 h |
| strip | Hack off old plaster, bag and clear | 0.35 h per m² |
| prep | Wash down, PVA and bead corners | 0.05 h per m² |
| float | Float undercoat, rule and scratch | 0.35 h per m² |
| skim | Skim walls, two coats, trowel off | 0.25 h per m² |
| skim | Clean tools, bag waste, clear the room | 0.75 h |
Materials at three price levels
| Material | Budget | Trade | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercoat plaster, Hardwall (25kg) 25kg bag | £8 Own-brand undercoat 25kg — Budget undercoat for dry masonry | £10 Thistle HardWall 25kg — British Gypsum: about 3.0 m² at 11 mm, sets 1.5–2 h | £11 Thistle Tough Coat 25kg — Lighter, faster to rule on large areas |
| Finishing plaster (25kg) 25kg bag | £9 Own-brand finishing plaster — Fine for sound walls; shorter working time | £9 Thistle Multi-Finish 25kg — Wickes £11.25 inc VAT; 10 m² at 2 mm, sets in about 1.5 h | £12 Thistle Durafinish 25kg — Harder, more knock-resistant: halls, stairs, rentals |
| PVA / bonding primer (5L) 5L | £7 Trade PVA 5L — T2B: 5 L covers 10–20 m² diluted | £9 Everbuild 501 PVA 5L — Controls suction so the skim does not flash off | £14 Thistle Bond-It 10L grit primer — Grip on painted, glossy or artexed surfaces |
| Angle and stop beads (3m) 3m bead | £2 Galvanised thin-coat angle bead — BookaBuilder: £2–£5 each | £3 Galvanised angle bead, 3m — Straight, knock-resistant corners | £5 Stainless bead (wet areas) — No rust spotting in kitchens and bathrooms |
| 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
- Old plaster to hack off? yes · no - already stripped big effect
- Wall behind? brick · block · mixed or uneven · concrete or engineering brick big effect
- Undercoat? hardwall · bonding · sand & cement · lime
- Replastering after a damp-proof course? no · yes
- Room empty? empty · furnished
Good practice
- Low-suction background: bonding coat, not Hardwall
- Sand & cement needs a day to cure before the skim: return visit
- Lime: three coats, each cured 7–14 days
- Uneven walls take extra undercoat to dub out
Prep to look for
| Condition | Check | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Damp or salts | Moisture meter: damp readings or white salts? | Don't plaster over live damp: find and fix the cause first |
| Lath and plaster | Lath and plaster (timber laths, hairy lime behind)? | Lath and plaster: bond the old lime first; gypsum over lime can fail if the lime is loose |
| Sockets and switches on the walls | sockets, switches, light switches on the walls | Isolate and loosen faceplates before plastering; an electrician refits if boxes need moving |
Questions
How much does replaster (hack off, float and set) cost in the UK in 2026?
The researched market band is £30–£55/m² (total, ex VAT), from MyJobQuote. A worked example of 30 m² comes to about £1,037–£1,141 across budget, trade and premium materials.
How long does replaster (hack off, float and set) take?
The worked example of 30 m² takes about 2 working days.
What changes the price of replaster (hack off, float and set)?
Mainly old plaster to hack off, wall behind, plus any prep found on site: damp or salts, lath and plaster, sockets and switches on the walls.