Ceiling Plastering Specialists in Bedford
& Surrounding Areas

Yes — in most cases we can skim straight over sound artex to give a smooth, modern finish, saving the cost and mess of stripping it off first. If the artex is loose, cracked or contains asbestos (common in ceilings from the 1960s-80s), it may need testing and safe removal or encapsulation before we plaster. We'll check the condition during a site visit and advise on the safest, most cost-effective approach.

Fresh plaster needs to fully dry out, not just look dry to the touch. As a rough guide, allow about a week per coat in normal conditions — a standard skim coat is often ready in around 5-7 days, longer in cold or damp weather or on larger areas. Painting too soon can trap moisture and cause the finish to blow or discolour. We'll advise on drying time for your job, and a diluted mist coat is usually the safe first coat once it's ready.

Most walls and ceilings in good condition just need a single skim coat, around 2mm thick, applied in two passes for a smooth, even finish. Where a wall has been stripped back to brick or blockwork, or freshly plasterboarded, it typically needs a base coat first to build up an even surface before the finishing skim goes on. We'll assess the condition of your walls and confirm exactly what's needed as part of your quote.

Plastering is inevitably a bit dusty and wet since we mix and apply plaster on site, but we keep disruption to a minimum: dust sheets over floors and furniture, protection for doors, windows and fixtures, and a clean-down at the end of each day rather than leaving mess to build up. Rooms generally need to be cleared of furniture, or have it moved to the centre and covered, before we start. We'll talk you through what to prepare before work begins.

Yes. M&M provides free, no-obligation quotations. We can discuss the property and the work required, and where necessary arrange to assess the job before providing the quotation.