Acoustic Plaster Cost

Acoustic plaster is a seamless, sound-absorbing wall and ceiling finish used either in commercial spaces or increasingly in high-end residential projects.

Its sound-absorbing properties make it a more expensive, premium product, and the total acoustic plastering cost for your project will depend on a number of factors.

Read on to learn more about acoustic plaster prices and what affects the total cost, what acoustic plaster is and how it works, and how it compares to acoustic panels and other soundproofing options.

How Much Does Acoustic Plaster Cost?

Acoustic plaster is a premium system typically combining acoustic boards with a specialist plaster finish to provide varying levels of sound management properties depending on the application. The typical installed cost of acoustic plaster ranges between £70 and £250 per m².

What type of space are you fitting acoustic plaster in?

Open-plan office or boardroom

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Restaurant or bar

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Home cinema or music room

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School or healthcare setting

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High-end open-plan home

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The system you choose and the size of the space are the main factors that influence total acoustic plaster costs, so most quotes are project-specific and usually require a site survey.

Having said that, the average cost of applying mid-range acoustic plaster systems to a medium-sized space will be about £6,000.

Acoustic Plaster Prices by Project Size

The table below shows the typical costs of acoustic plastering for different types of projects based on an average cost of £150 per m²:

Acoustic Plaster Prices by Performance

Acoustic plaster is chosen for its ability to absorb sound and reduce reverberations within a space. How well it achieves this typically depends on the selected system and application.

Like other types of soundproofing, acoustic plaster's performance is measured by its weighted sound absorption coefficient (αw), which basically means how well it absorbs sound. The higher the rating, the better the sound absorption.

Some spaces may need better sound absorption than others, and the table below shows the typical acoustic plaster costs per m² for the different sound absorption levels, and an estimated total cost for applying each system to a 50m² space.

These costs are an indication to show how sound absorption performance affects price, but your total acoustic plastering cost will depend on a number of additional factors.

Acoustic Plaster Labour Costs and Timescales

Acoustic systems are a premium plastering option, and it's not something a traditional plasterer would usually be able to undertake. You would need to hire acoustic plastering installation specialists who charge a higher rate of around £400 to £500 per day.

The table below shows the typical labour costs for the installation of a mid-range acoustic plaster system in different-sized projects, which are around 30% to 40% of the total installation costs as teams of installers may be required:

It's worth mentioning that these costs are likely to be higher if your project is in London or the Southeast, as the day rates for acoustic plaster installation specialists here will be higher than the average for the rest of the UK.

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What Affects the Cost of Acoustic Plaster?

One of the key cost factors in acoustic plaster application is the size of the area being treated.

To give some examples, entry-level acoustic plaster for an open-plan kitchen can cost £840 to £2,400, mid-range systems for art galleries around £9,600 to £27,000, and a lecture hall's premium acoustic plastering comes in with a staggering range of £36,000 to £100,000.

System thickness is another consideration, with thicker acoustic plaster often costing more. As for acoustic performance requirements, basic acoustic plaster for general sound absorption costs closer to £70 to £120 per m², mid-range systems £120 to £180 per m², and premium options suited to high-end setups cost approximately £180 to £250+ per m².

Whether existing surfaces need preparation or removal can also add to the total cost, while substrate condition is a related cost factor.

Access requirements are also worth keeping in mind, such as whether scaffolding is needed for high ceilings, which could add anywhere from £200 to £1,200 on average, depending on several factors.

Beyond that, smooth acoustic plaster generally costs more than textured options. Moreover, standard-colour acoustic plaster is more affordable than custom products.

If the project needs to meet specific acoustic performance standards, like UK Building Regulations Part E, then you'll also need to budget for building regulation costs, which can come to several thousand pounds, with several stages often required.

It's important to note that only certain aspects of the Part E regulations apply to acoustic plaster, while other aspects are relevant to soundproofing materials instead.

Finally, labour rates can differ throughout the UK, with prices tending to be higher in the Southeast of England, such as in London, and generally below average in northern England and Scotland.

Additional Costs of Installing Acoustic Plaster

Extras that could affect the final bill include a site survey, priced at around several hundred pounds, or an acoustic assessment, which may cost a few hundred or a few thousand pounds, depending on the specifics of the project.

For high ceilings, scaffolding or access equipment may also be needed. Indoor scaffolding performed by a local plasterer will often cost between £200 and £1,200.

Having existing finishes removed generally costs about £50 to £150. Beyond that, smooth acoustic plaster generally costs more than textured acoustic plaster, with the former often landing around £200 to £250 per m² and the latter approximately £180 to £200 per m².

Custom colour acoustic plaster naturally costs more than standard options, too. Beyond that, you'll likely need to budget a little more if ongoing maintenance or repair costs are required in the case of damaged surfaces.

How to Get an Accurate Quote for Fitting Acoustic Plaster

Acoustic plaster is a specialist system rather than an off-the-shelf product, meaning most installers will not quote a fixed price before visiting the site or seeing drawings.

Before requesting quotes, you'll want to ensure you correctly measure the room dimensions (e.g. ceiling height) and determine the acoustic performance needed or at least the problem being solved, such as noise complaints or echo. You'll also probably need to take photographs of the existing space before securing quotes.

What Is Acoustic Plaster?

Acoustic plaster is a seamless, sound-absorbing finish system. This form of plaster is designed as a finish system for walls and ceilings. Along with matching the look of traditional plastering work, it is often used for restaurants, concert halls, and other commercial settings, though residential uses also exist.

This sound-absorbing plaster option is significantly more expensive than standard decorative plaster. Acoustic plaster costs around £70 to £250 per m², while plastering a wall with gypsum wet plaster (the most common option for modern UK households) costs approximately £25 to £40 per m².

Furthermore, acoustic plaster is typically applied over a base layer of acoustic board or mineral wool panels rather than directly onto a wall or ceiling. You may prefer to leave the acoustic plaster smooth or finished with texture. Acoustic plaster setups are often painted or pigmented so that they can match the surrounding decor.

How Does Acoustic Plaster Work?

Acoustic plaster works by absorbing sound waves. In contrast, impervious, solid surfaces cause acoustic reverberation by reflecting energy back into a space.

The layers contained in an acoustic plaster system, which features acoustic plaster added as a finishing coat, absorb sound energy through their microporous properties. The deeper layers also help absorb sound and prevent it from echoing and reverberating throughout the space. Absorption is key here rather than blocking the sound.

Acoustic plaster systems generally start with substrate preparation, where an even, secure plasterboard substrate is prepared. This is followed by fitting of acoustic boards or panels, then seam taping and filling with the final spray or trowel-applied finish coat as the last step in the process (other than painting or adding pigment).

It's important to consider the differences between the sound absorption of acoustic plaster and the soundproofing qualities of insulation, as this is a common point of confusion. Sound absorption reduces echo and reverberation within a room. Soundproofing, on the other hand, prevents sound transfer between rooms.

Cost of Acoustic Plaster vs Acoustic Panels vs Other Soundproofing

Acoustic plaster costs approximately £70 to £250 per m² with a seamless finish that lacks panels or visible joints. It is suitable for commercial premises and high-end residential projects where lowering echoes and reverberation matters. It offers a smoother appearance than acoustic panels, which can be valuable for businesses prioritising indoor space aesthetics.

On the other hand, acoustic panels, priced at around £20 to £55 per m², are large specialised panels that also absorb sound energy. They use sound-absorbing layers and decorative non-structural wall cladding to achieve this. Interestingly, sound energy entering the panel's material interacts with fibres or open cells, creating friction that turns the sound energy into heat.

This is broadly similar for acoustic plaster. Naturally, acoustic panels are a better choice for those on a budget. You'll often find acoustic panels in cinemas, open-plan offices, and restaurants.

A notable soundproofing option is suspended acoustic ceiling tiles. These cost around £20 to £60 per m², come in various material options for soundproofing a space (e.g. mineral fibre, fibreglass, and gypsum plasterboard) and are sometimes used in offices, hospitals, and retail premises.

Two traditional soundproofing methods worth noting are resilient bar and mass-loaded systems. Resilient bar systems consist of metal channels known as resilient bars with lengths of around 2 to 3 metres, and the fully installed system featuring resilient bars costs around £50 to £100 per m².

This type of system can be used in refurbishment jobs and new build projects.

As for mass-based soundproofing systems, these are suited to blocking sound transfer between rooms, whereas acoustic plaster is less effective in this domain and primarily absorbs sound. Mass-loaded systems cost around £40 to £80 per m². Mass-based systems can be used for commercial and residential settings alike, depending on their suitability to specific scenarios.

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Where Is Acoustic Plaster Used?

Acoustic plaster is used for a range of settings, including retail businesses, office spaces, and leisure spaces.

Common applications for acoustic plaster include:

• Open-plan Offices and Boardrooms — In this case, acoustic plaster reduces ambient noise and works well aesthetically for these work environments. Acoustic plaster is a good choice here since soundproofing does not reduce echo, meaning it would lower ambient noise as is desired.
• Restaurants and Bars — Acoustic plaster can reduce echoes and reverberation, which makes for a more relaxing environment where customers can hear each other more easily on busy nights. Soundproofing would not address the echoing and reverberation that can force people to raise their voices just to have a nice chat in an environment like a bar. Hence, acoustic plaster is the go-to here.
• Schools and Lecture Halls — For these locations, it makes communication easier (e.g. a teacher teaching a class) and offers a better sound environment. Once more, acoustic plaster is better here to reduce echo so students can focus and be heard by lecturers or teachers, while soundproofing would not be the right choice.
• Healthcare Settings — In healthcare settings, good sound absorption can make environments quieter, which is valuable for staff work and communication and creating a comfortable experience for patients alike. Soundproofing cannot address the sources of echoes in hospitals in the way acoustic plaster can.
• Home Cinemas — In home cinema settings, reverberation management is important to make a better experience for enjoying a surround sound movie at home.
• Music Rooms — Acoustic management is also valuable for music rooms to ensure high-end studio recordings, whether at home or in a commercial setting. Music rooms, though, can often use both acoustic plaster and soundproofing alike.
• High-end Open-plan Living — Last but not least, acoustic plaster is effective for creating acoustic zoning in open-plan living spaces, lowering sound propagation between different areas of the space.

Is Acoustic Plaster Worth the Cost?

You may be wondering whether it's worth splashing out on acoustic plaster when there are cheaper alternatives. While acoustic plaster costs between £70 and £250 per m², alternatives cost much less, like acoustic panels priced at £20 to £55 per m² and mass-loaded systems requiring a budget of about £40 to £80 per m².

Despite this, the core benefits of acoustic plaster are a key consideration in terms of value for money and thus whether or not it's worth the expense.

Key advantages of acoustic plaster include a seamless architectural finish (e.g. a smoother appearance than say acoustic panels), design flexibility, and durability in high-traffic spaces. That said, in budget-driven projects where you are not overly concerned with appearance, acoustic panels may achieve similar performance for less.

Ultimately, whether or not the price of an acoustic plaster installation is right for you will depend on a range of factors and therefore engaging with a service or tradesperson can allow you to flesh out the possibilities and weigh up whether or not acoustic plaster is right for your project.

Checklist: Choosing an Acoustic Plaster Installer in the UK

Before hiring an acoustic plaster installer, you should keep in mind the following checklist to make sure you find the right person for the required work:

• Secure multiple written quotes — The benefit of getting quotes from several acoustic plaster installers is that it allows you to compare their pricing, experience, and potentially online reviews.
• Ask for examples of completed projects — By looking at examples of an installer's previous projects, you can gain confidence that they'll provide the level of work you are expecting.
• Confirm what the quoted price includes — You should also ask what the installer's quote includes, as additional costs may not be listed, meaning you'd need to consider this for your budget. More specifically, you should check whether the quote includes the acoustic boards and finish coat, or just the finish coat.
• Check the systems meet acoustic performance standards — Ensure the system you propose to have installed meets any required acoustic performance standards.
• Confirm public liability insurance — Making sure the acoustic plaster installer has public liability insurance can, among other things, protect your property should any accidental damage occur.

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