Plastering, painting and wallpapering: how to hire well and pay fairly
First decide what the walls are being prepared for
The most common reason for different prices is a different quality of “finish”. Plaster for wallpaper and plaster for paint are different jobs. Ordinary wallpaper tolerates small flaws, but under paint, especially matt or in side light, walls need to be almost perfectly even: plaster to level, putty, sanding.
So before you ask for a price, decide what will be on the walls: paint, non-woven or vinyl wallpaper, fibreglass wallpaper, textured plaster. The number of coats and the materials depend on it.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You describe the room in one request, with no phone calls to professionals. You can add a photo of the walls. Before it is shown to professionals, the request is checked and you are told what is missing. Then plasterers and painters in your city reply in chat: a price per sq ft or for the whole job, timing, materials. Professionals see their place among others and often improve their terms. Contacts are opened only to the one you choose.
What to put in your request
- Types of work — hand or machine plaster, putty, painting, wallpapering.
- Area — sq ft of walls and ceiling, or the number of rooms.
- Condition of surfaces — bare walls of a new building, old plaster, old wallpaper or paint to be removed.
- What they are prepared for — paint or wallpaper, levelled or not.
- Wallpaper or paint — type of wallpaper or paint, colour, if you have chosen.
- Materials — yours or the contractor’s.
- Property, address, timing, budget — flat, house, office; area; date; a sum if you want to name one.
Example: “Dwarka, Delhi, a 3 BHK flat in a new building, bare walls. I need machine plaster, about 1,900 sq ft of walls, and putty ready for painting. Contractor’s materials. Finish by the end of the month, budget up to ₹60,000.”
How to compare offers
Check more than the total. Ask what is included: primer, corner reinforcement, sanding, covering floors and furniture with plastic sheet, removal of waste. For plaster, find out the thickness of the layer and whether it is done to level. For painting, how many coats and which paint they use.
The difference between machine and hand plastering is in speed and cost on large areas. If the area is small, hand plastering may be the smarter choice, because the plasterer does not have to bring in the machine. Just compare both options.
Common mistakes
- Accepting the work without checking: hold a two-metre straight edge against the wall and look at it in side light.
- Not letting the plaster dry before putty and paint, which leads to cracks and bubbles.
- Hanging wallpaper without priming the wall.
- Not agreeing who removes old wallpaper and paint, because that is separate and often long work.
If the renovation is broader than the walls, see finishing work and turnkey renovation, and finish the wiring with electricians before plastering. Learn more on the “How it works” page.
