Plastering in Cape Town
A wall is only as good as the plaster under the paint. Cracks, hollow patches and blown render all start here.
Fix the plaster, or paint it twice
Plaster fails in Cape Town for reasons that are usually visible once you know what to look for. Movement cracks follow the line of a lintel or a joint between two materials. Hollow-sounding patches mean the plaster has lost its bond to the brick behind it. Powdering, salt-stained plaster at low level means moisture is coming through the wall, and no amount of skim will hold it. We treat plaster as a repair job before a finishing job. Cracks are opened, not filled. Hollow plaster is cut back to sound material, not skimmed over. Where damp is the cause, the source is fixed before the wall is re-plastered, and where the wall needs to breathe we use a render that lets it. For interior work, skimming an old wall flat is often the fastest way to make a room feel new without touching the structure. For exteriors, the priorities are different: weather resistance, crack control and a finish that can take the wind and the sun.
What we plaster
Interior and exterior, new work and repair, including the ceilings and mouldings that usually need attention at the same time.
Crack repair
Cracks opened, reinforced where they are likely to move again, filled and finished flush.
Get estimate →Hollow and blown plaster
Unsound plaster cut back to a keyed surface and replaced, so the patch does not sound different from the wall.
Get estimate →Cornices and mouldings
Replacement and repair, with profiles matched to what is already in the house.
Get estimate →External plaster and render
Weather-facing repair and re-render, with the mix chosen for exposure and breathability.
Get estimate →Plasterboard ceilings
New ceilings, bulkheads and repairs, taped and skimmed ready for paint.
Get estimate →What changes the price of plastering
| Factor | Why it moves the number |
|---|---|
| Repair or replace | Skimming a sound wall is quick. Cutting out and replacing blown plaster is not. |
| Height and access | Double volumes and stairwells need scaffolding, which costs as much as the plastering. |
| What is on the wall | Old enamel, wallpaper glue and multiple paint layers all have to be removed before new plaster will bond. |
| Matching existing | Cornice profiles and textured finishes take time to match, and sometimes a mould has to be made. |
| Drying time | New plaster has to dry before paint. Rushing it is how you get a finish that fails in the first winter. |
We price plastering per wall or per room after seeing the surface, and we tell you when plaster is not the real problem.
Get a written plastering estimate
Get a written plastering estimate, including an honest view of what is repair and what is replacement.
How we work
1. Assess
Tap for hollow areas, check crack patterns, and establish whether moisture is involved.
2. Prepare
Cut back unsound plaster, open cracks, remove failed coatings and key the surface.
3. Repair the cause
Where damp or movement is behind the failure, that is dealt with before new plaster goes on.
4. Plaster
Base coat and finish coat applied to the right thickness, with corners and reveals set true.
5. Finish ready for paint
Sanded, checked under light and handed over dry, so the painter is not correcting our work.
- We cut back, not cover up: Hollow plaster is removed to a sound base, so the repair does not fail beside the patch.
- We check for moisture first: Plastering over a damp wall is a waste of both our time and your money.
- Cornices matched: Existing profiles reproduced rather than replaced with a near-enough modern section.
- Ready for the painter: We hand over a surface that takes paint properly, not one that needs sanding by someone else.
The Plinth Standard
- Written scope + fixed price before we start
- Photo updates if you're not on site
- 12-month workmanship warranty on renovations
- Goodwood-based, fast response across Cape Town
Plastering across Cape Town
We are based in Goodwood and cover Cape Town within about 25km.