How to Prepare a Room for Plastering

Proper preparation makes plastering faster, cleaner, and more cost-effective. Here's what to do before the plasterers arrive.

Published 17 August 2026 by Exeter Plastering Co

Most plasterers will handle some preparation as part of the job, but there's plenty you can do yourself to speed things up and keep costs down. Here's a room-by-room checklist.

Clear the Room Completely

The single biggest help is an empty room. Remove all furniture, pictures, curtains, and freestanding items. If you can't move everything out, push it to the centre of the room and cover it with dust sheets.

Don't forget:

• Take down curtain poles and rails
• Remove light shades and lampshades
• Take pictures and mirrors off walls
• Clear windowsills
• Remove smoke alarms (or cover them)

Plastering creates dust, even with the best dust control. An empty room makes the job faster and protects your belongings.

Remove Old Wallpaper

If your walls are wallpapered, strip it off before the plasterers arrive. Plastering over wallpaper never works well because the moisture in fresh plaster loosens the paste. The plaster can then fail to bond properly or develop bubbles.

Use a steam stripper or scoring tool and wallpaper remover. Make sure you get all the paste off as well, as this can also prevent good adhesion.

Fix Loose Plaster

Tap the walls gently with your knuckles. If you hear a hollow sound, the old plaster has come away from the wall and is "blown". Mark these areas with chalk or pencil so the plasterer knows where extra work is needed.

Pull off any obviously loose or crumbling plaster. The plasterer will remove any remaining loose material, but getting the worst of it off yourself can save time.

Protect the Floor

If you're having the room redecorated afterwards, you can leave floor protection to the plasterers. They'll lay dust sheets as standard. However, if you have newly laid flooring you want to protect, consider hiring carpet protection film or heavy-duty dust sheets yourself.

For particularly valuable flooring (new hardwood, expensive carpet), discuss protection methods with the plasterer before the job starts.

Check for Damp

If you've had damp issues in the past, make sure the cause has been fixed before plastering. Plastering over damp walls traps moisture and causes the new plaster to fail within months.

Common signs of damp:

• Dark patches on walls
• Musty smell
• Peeling paint or wallpaper
• Visible mould growth
• Walls cold and clammy to touch

If you spot any of these, get the damp treated first. Most plasterers can recommend a damp specialist or advise on what's needed.

Arrange Access

Make sure the plasterers can get to the room easily:

• Clear hallways and stairs
• Arrange parking if needed (especially for material deliveries)
• Let neighbours know if scaffolding or skips will be needed
• Unlock gates and remove any obstacles in the access route

If you're having ceilings plastered, make sure there's space to set up platforms or trestles.

Turn Off Electrics (Where Needed)

If you're having sockets or switches moved, the electrician should disconnect them before plastering starts. If in doubt, ask the plasterer whether anything electrical needs isolating.

Never attempt electrical work yourself unless you're qualified. Plastering involves water, so any exposed wiring is dangerous.

Discuss Timing

Fresh plaster needs to dry before you can decorate. Drying times vary:

• Thin skim coats: 3-5 days before painting
• Full plaster (with base coat): 7-14 days
• Very thick areas or damp conditions: longer

Plan your decoration timing accordingly. Don't book decorators for the day after plastering finishes, as the plaster won't be ready.

What the Plasterer Will Handle

Even with good preparation, the plasterer will still need to:

• Remove remaining loose plaster
• Prime or seal the walls if needed
• Mix and apply plaster
• Protect edges and fittings
• Clean up dust and debris

Don't worry if you can't do all the preparation yourself. A good plasterer will sort out what's left, though it may add a little to the cost if significant work is involved.