One Coat Plaster Cost

Unlike traditional gypsum plaster applications that typically use an undercoat and finishing coat, one coat plaster combines an undercoat and finishing plaster into a single product.

What best describes your one coat plaster job?

Small patch or hole repair

1 votes - 50%50% of votes

Filling cracks or minor surface imperfections

1 votes - 50%50% of votes

Patching after electrical or pipework

0 votes - 0%0% of votes

Levelling an uneven area before decorating

0 votes - 0%0% of votes

2 votes See results Hide results

Suitable for use on blockwork, brick, plasterboard, and concrete, and capable of filling gaps up to 13mm, one coat plaster is a popular choice for simple repairs and small plastering jobs thanks to its quicker and easier application.

Read on to learn more about average one coat plaster prices and the factors that can affect the total cost of your one coat plastering project.

How Much Does One Coat Plaster Cost?

The cost for one coat plaster jobs will typically be between £150 and £700, with the main factors affecting the total cost being the size of the area you need plastering and the labour rates your plasterer charges you.

The average cost of one coat plaster jobs is around £450, but the table below shows the typical costs you will be charged by a professional plasterer to complete some of the more common one coat plastering projects:

One Coat Plaster Costs per m²

On average, one coat plaster costs per m² are between £25 and £40. This is for labour and materials but the price range will depend on the size of the job.

Smaller jobs will have a higher cost per square metre as minimum labour and call-out charges are a larger proportion of the overall costs, but for medium to large-sized plastering projects, your cost per m² should be within the average range.

Labour Cost of One Coat Plaster Application

The average plasterer's day rate is £200 to £300, but how long your plastering job will take depends on the size of the area to be plastered.

However, since one coat plaster avoids the wait between a base coat and finish coat, jobs can often be finished faster than a traditional two-coat system.

The table below shows the typical labour-only costs for some of the more common one coat plaster jobs:

Labour rates also vary across the UK, with prices in London and the South East of England typically higher than the average rates for the rest of the UK.

Find Tradespeople, compare up to 3 quotes!

It's FREE and there are no obligations

Get started

Supply Cost of One Coat Plaster

Supply only costs for one coat plaster are around £20 to £30 per 25kg bag. With each bag covering approximately 2.25m² at 13mm thickness, this translates to supply only costs of about £9 to £13 per m².

Factors Affecting One Coat Plaster Costs

When you hire a professional plasterer they will usually quote you a total cost for completing your plastering project that includes labour and materials. However, there are a number of factors that can affect your one coat plastering quote that it's worth being aware of.

• Size of the Area — Naturally, larger areas will need more material and take longer to plaster, and therefore cost more.
• Multiple Areas — If your plasterer has to repair several patches in different places, this will take longer than plastering a single area.
• Surface Preparation — The area will need to be prepped before plastering, and how much work that involves will affect your costs.
• Accessibility — Plastering ceilings, stairwells, or other awkward areas may require more time or hiring access equipment.
• Location — Labour rates will be higher in cities, London, and the South East, so where you live could increase your costs.

Additional One Coat Plaster Costs

While your plasterer's quote should cover all the labour and materials for your plastering project, there are some additional costs that you might need to factor into your budgeting.

Damp Treatment

Damp can often be the reason why you need to repair your plaster in the first place, so before the new one coat plaster is applied some sort of damp treatment may be necessary.

Depending on the area that needs treating, typical damp treatments cost around £60 to £200 per linear metre, depending on the treatment used.

Finishing Skim

One of the big benefits of one coat plaster is that it doesn't need a second coat. However, for a totally smooth finish a professional finishing skim may be required.

Expect to pay around £25 per m² for a finishing skim over your one coat plaster.

Waste Disposal

For small patch up jobs there should be minimal waste, but larger jobs will have more, so always check that any waste disposal is included in your plasterer's quote.

If it's not included, it is an additional cost to factor in and professional waste removal or small skip hire could cost between £50 and £175.

Other Plastering Work

Additional plastering, such as reinstating traditional finishes like plaster coving might be needed once your one coat plastering is complete.

Plaster coving installation costs around £25 to £40 per linear metre, depending on your choice of coving and the complexity of the job.

When Is One Coat Plaster Used?

One coat plaster is often used for small repairs and patches to walls and ceilings, with its thickness making it particularly suitable for jobs like these. It is also frequently used to fill holes and cracks as well as to level minor imperfections. One coat plaster is a popular choice where speed matters more than a perfect decorative finish.

It's usually not the first choice for a full room replaster (where a two-coat system is better suited), as a high-end smooth finish is the priority in these more extensive jobs.

One Coat Plaster vs Multi Finish vs Bonding Plaster

In contrast to one coat plaster, multi-finish, also known as a traditional finishing skim, involves applying a thin layer of finishing plaster. This is generally added over plasterboard or undercoat plaster.

Multi-finish plaster costs around £10 to £15 per 25kg bag or £0.40 to £0.60 per kilogram with around 2mm thickness. Multi-finish plaster offers a smooth and steady surface known for its durability and use for decoration. It often works for a wide range of projects as well as patching.

Bonding plaster, a traditional base coat, offers an undercoat that can be applied to walls before a skim finish. This option costs about £15 to £20 per 25kg bag or approximately £0.60 to £0.80 per kilogram, making it making it dearer than multi-finish. It is well-suited to surfaces like tiling, concrete, and plasterboard.

It comes with a thickness of 11mm to 25mm.

There are also other specialist plaster types, such as acoustic plaster, which help absorb sound and reduce reverberation in a room.

If you're not sure what the right option is, ask your plasterer which type of plaster is best for your job to be certain.

Bonding plaster works well for decorative finishes and application over medium suction or smooth wall backgrounds.

Ask a Trade

Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.

Ask your question

Is One Coat Plaster Good for DIY?

One coat plaster is suitable for confident DIYers, given it is a simpler process and there's no need to time a second coat. By combining an undercoat and finishing plaster, it makes it easy to apply this two-in-one product by hand.

That said, to achieve a smooth, high-end finish, it still takes practice. It is a good starting point for small, low-visibility patchwork. However, full walls or projects that involve highly visible plastering once painted are best left to an experienced individual.

Indeed, in general, one coat plaster is not a good option for extensive plastering projects.

Tips to Keep One Coat Plaster Costs Down

There are many ways you can keep the cost of a one coat plaster application down. One common strategy is to buy materials in bulk if you are doing multiple small jobs.

Beyond that, you should consider comparing bag prices across major UK retailers and trade suppliers to find the best value for money on the market. Combining several small patch jobs into a single plasterer visit, if hiring a local tradesperson, is another way to limit expenses.

We also recommend securing at least three quotes if hiring for a larger job, as this way you can compare prices, experience, and prior work of several local plasterers before determining who offers the best value for money.

Checklist: Hiring a Plasterer Near You

Before hiring a plasterer, you should keep in mind the following checklist to ensure you find the right person for the work at hand:

• Get multiple written quotes — Landing quotes from several local plasterers allows you to look at their pricing and other considerations so you can weigh up who might be best for the job and offer the optimal value for money.
• Check for verified reviews — Looking at verified reviews of plasterers you're considering hiring is a great way to weigh up your choices and decide who is best for the work.
• Confirm public liability — Ensure the plasterer you hire has public liability insurance, as this protects your property in case any accidental damage occurs.
• Ask which type of plaster they plan to use and why — You should also check which type of plaster the contractor you're looking to hire uses and the reasons.
• Ask for a fully itemised breakdown before work begins — A fully itemised breakdown allows you to see what their work will cover and generally the prices of each item.

FAQs