pre-start information

Once your work is booked in, a little preparation beforehand can help the job run smoothly and protect your belongings.

The information below covers the main things to consider before KDH Plastering & Property Care arrives. Some jobs will have additional requirements, which will be discussed with you beforehand where necessary.

Preparing the Work Area

Where possible, please remove small furniture, ornaments, pictures and other belongings from the room before work begins.

Larger furniture that cannot reasonably be removed should be moved away from the walls and into a position where it can be adequately protected.

Plastering can create dust and splashes despite careful protection, so removing valuable or delicate items from the work area is always recommended.

Floors & Protection

I protect the areas in which I am working and take reasonable care to minimise dust and mess throughout the job.

If there are particularly delicate floors, fixtures or surfaces that require special protection, please let me know before work starts so this can be allowed for.

Access routes through the property may also need protection where materials and equipment are being carried in and out.

Access, Parking & Materials

Please make sure suitable access to the property is available at the agreed start time.

Plastering and rendering materials can be heavy, so reasonable parking close to the property is extremely helpful. If there are parking restrictions, permits, loading restrictions or difficult access, please let me know beforehand.

External work may also require clear access around the elevation for ladders, towers or scaffolding.

Water & Electricity

Plastering requires access to a clean water supply and electricity.

Unless agreed otherwise, I will normally require access to both throughout the working day for mixing materials, cleaning tools and operating equipment.

Sockets, Lights & Radiators

Electrical fittings can sometimes interfere with plastering work.

Socket and switch faceplates may need to be loosened or removed where appropriate. More substantial electrical alterations, moving cables or removing light fittings should be carried out by a suitably qualified electrician where required.

Radiators may also need to be removed if plastering is required behind them. If this is necessary, it should normally be arranged before the plastering work begins unless otherwise agreed.

Kitchens, Bathrooms & Fixed Fittings

Where plastering is being carried out around kitchens, bathrooms, fitted furniture or other permanent fixtures, I will protect the surrounding surfaces as reasonably practical.

If access behind a fixture is required, removal and reinstatement should be agreed before the start of the job.

Pets & Children

For safety, children and pets should be kept away from the immediate work area while plastering, rendering or remedial work is underway.

Doors may need to remain open while materials and equipment are being moved, so please bear this in mind if you have pets that could escape.

Dust & Disruption

Although I take care to protect the property and keep the work area tidy, plastering and renovation work inevitably creates some dust and disruption.

Removing old plaster or render can be particularly dusty. Where this type of work is required, it is worth keeping doors closed to unaffected rooms and removing belongings from nearby areas where practical.

Existing Textured Coatings

Some older textured coatings can contain asbestos.

If a textured coating or other suspect material needs to be drilled, removed or significantly disturbed, appropriate testing may be required before work can proceed.

Where an existing coating can safely remain in place and is suitable for the proposed plastering system, removal may not always be necessary.

During the Work

Some jobs require more than one visit because individual coats need time to set or cure before the next stage can be completed.

External rendering, lime plastering and damp-remedial work can be particularly dependent on drying conditions and weather, so completion dates may occasionally need to remain flexible.

If anything unexpected becomes apparent once work begins, I will discuss it with you before carrying out significant additional work.

Drying After Plastering

New plaster should be allowed to dry naturally.

Gentle ventilation is helpful, but very high heat or trying to force the plaster dry too quickly can contribute to cracking. Drying times vary considerably depending on the thickness of the plaster, background, temperature, ventilation and moisture within the building.

Lime and specialist renovation plaster systems can take considerably longer to dry than a conventional skim coat.

Decorating New Plaster

Do not decorate plaster until it has dried sufficiently.

Fresh gypsum plaster normally becomes noticeably lighter and more uniform as it dries. Lime and damp-remedial systems may require longer drying periods and appropriate breathable decorative finishes.

If you're unsure what paint or decoration is suitable for a particular plaster system, please ask before applying it.

External Rendering

For external work, access around the property should be kept as clear as reasonably possible.

Garden furniture, pots and other movable items should be moved away from the working elevation. Scaffolding or access equipment may be required depending on the height and nature of the work.

Rendering is weather dependent, and work may occasionally need to be postponed or adjusted because of heavy rain, frost, excessive heat or other unsuitable conditions.

Questions Before We Start?

If there is anything you're unsure about before your booking, please get in touch.

It is much easier to deal with questions about access, furniture, electrical fittings, parking or preparation before the first day rather than discovering a problem once work has started.

KDH Plastering & Property Care
Helping your plastering, rendering and property-care work run smoothly from the start.