Plasterer in Clent

Clent is a spread-out village in Bromsgrove District, in the north of Worcestershire, set in the folds of the Clent Hills between Hagley, Romsley and Belbroughton. It is not one tight street but a string of small parts: Holy Cross, Lower Clent, Upper Clent, Adams Hill, Walton Pool and the lanes that climb up to the hills. The houses run from old brick and stone cottages to big Victorian and Edwardian homes, with between-the-wars houses, post-war bungalows and barn homes in the gaps. RCR Connections Ltd is Birmingham based, covering the whole of the Midlands, and we plaster walls and ceilings in homes all over Clent and its hamlets.

This page is for people who live in Clent or are about to buy there. It covers the way Clent grew, what its houses are built of, and why the plaster in them acts the way it does. Then it goes room by room and job by job, so you know what to ask for and what a good plasterer should do.

Free, no-obligation plastering quote in Clent: WhatsApp me on 07453 614095 or message the page. Send pictures or videos via WhatsApp for a quick response, a free quote and advice. You can also send us a message here.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm, Saturday 7am to 1pm, Sunday closed.

A village in the hills

Life on the slopes

Clent sits on and below a ridge of hills that rise out of the flat land to the south of the Black Country. Most homes are on a slope of some sort, with lanes that bend round the contours and gardens that step up or down. That shape matters for plaster. A house cut into a bank often has one wall with soil behind it, and that wall is the one that tends to show damp, salts and blown plaster first.

The old county line

For a long time Clent was an odd piece of Staffordshire stuck inside Worcestershire. It only moved into Worcestershire in the 1840s, when many such stray bits of county were tidied up. You will still see the old link in some names and records, and it is part of why the village feels a little apart from its neighbours.

The legend of Kenelm

Clent is linked to Kenelm, a boy prince of Mercia who, in the old story, was killed on the hills by people who wanted his crown. A spring and the church of St Kenelm at Romsley mark the spot named in the legend. Few people take the tale as fact, but it shows how long people have walked these hills.

The Clent Hills

Open land for the city

For a long time, families from the towns below have come up to the hills for the day. Today they are cared for by the National Trust, and on a fine weekend the car parks fill and the paths are busy. Walton Hill and Adams Hill give wide views across the Midlands.

The Four Stones

On the top of Adams Hill stand the Four Stones, a small circle of upright stones. They look ancient, but they are thought to have been put up in the eighteenth century as a folly by the Lyttelton family of Hagley Hall. They are a good reminder that the hills have been shaped by people for centuries.

What the hills mean for houses

Being high up and close to woods means two things for plasterers. First, wind-driven rain hits the higher walls harder, so old solid walls on the upper lanes can get wet right through. Second, homes under trees stay cool and damp, which slows drying and can lead to mould on cold walls. Both shape how we plan a job here.

The church and the old centre

St Leonard’s

The parish church of St Leonard stands in the old core of the village. Parts of it date back to the Middle Ages, and like most village churches it was restored in Victorian times. The cottages and older houses around it are the oldest homes you will find in Clent.

Holy Cross and Lower Clent

Holy Cross and Lower Clent hold many of the older cottages, some of brick and some with sandstone in the walls or base. These houses were built with lime mortar and lime plaster, and they need to breathe. They are also where we most often find wet patches where gypsum has been put over an old solid wall.

Conservation areas

Parts of Clent are in conservation areas, which aim to keep the look and feel of the old village. Inside work like plastering does not normally need consent, but if a house is listed, changes to its old fabric can need listed building consent. We always check this with you before we start.

How Clent grew

Farms and small trades

For most of its life Clent was a place of farms, small fields and a few local trades, with nail-making and other small metal work in some cottages, as was common in this part of Worcestershire. The houses from this time are small, with thick walls, low ceilings and small windows.

Villas for the well-off

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, people who had made money in the busy towns nearby went looking for homes in clean air with a view. Clent, with its hills and lanes, was a natural choice. Large brick villas and Arts and Crafts houses went up on the slopes, many with tall rooms, deep cornices and lath and plaster ceilings.

The last hundred years

Between the wars and after, more houses were built along the lanes, often one or two at a time. Bungalows were popular from the 1950s to the 1970s. Since then, old barns and farm buildings have been turned into homes, and big houses have been extended. That means almost every age of building is here, often side by side.

Inside a Clent villa

Tall rooms

The rooms in the big Victorian and Edwardian houses are tall, which means proper towers or platforms to reach the ceilings safely. With the right kit, we can reach safely and keep the finish even right up to the cornice.

Picture rails and dados

Many villas still have picture rails and dado rails. We can plaster round them, or take them off and put them back once the walls are done. Where a rail has been lost, we can leave a neat line so a new one can go on.

The back of the house

Old service rooms, such as sculleries, back kitchens and stores, are often the dampest part of a villa. They tend to have thin walls, low floors and old drains close by. These rooms need the most care when we plaster.

Cellars

Some older Clent houses have cellars cut into the slope. A cellar wall nearly always holds some damp. Plaster on its own will not keep a cellar dry. To turn a cellar into a room, it needs a proper damp-proof system first, and then we can plaster over it.

Clent’s neighbours

Romsley

Up the hill to the east, Romsley has a mix of old farm cottages and post-war homes. Ceilings with Artex and walls with old sand and cement plaster are common jobs there.

Hagley

To the north-west, Hagley has villas near the station and lots of between-the-wars semis. We do both plastering and rendering in Hagley.

Belbroughton

To the south, Belbroughton has old cottages along the brook and newer homes on its edges. Many of the same lime and damp issues we see in Clent turn up there too.

Clent’s houses, room by room

Old cottages

Thick solid walls, uneven faces and lime plaster. Old walls often bulge or lean, and that is part of their charm. We work with the wall rather than trying to make it dead flat, and we use lime where the wall needs to breathe.

Victorian and Edwardian villas

These houses have high ceilings, picture rails, cornices and ceiling roses. Many still have their first lath and plaster ceilings. They are lovely rooms, but the ceilings can sag as the plaster lets go of the laths over time.

Between-the-wars homes

These have solid brick or early cavity walls, with gypsum or sand and cement on the inside. These houses often have hollow or cracked plaster on outside walls, and old fireplaces that have been bricked up.

Bungalows and post-war houses

Cavity walls, plasterboard or sand and cement under the finish, and often Artex on the ceilings. These are the homes where we most often plaster over Artex or board out a ceiling.

Barn homes

Old brick or stone walls with new timber, linings and boards inside. Plastering here is about a careful mix of old and new, and about keeping damp out of the new layers.

Plastering on hillside homes

Walls with soil behind them

Where a room sits below ground level at the back, the wall will often be damp at the base. Putting plain gypsum on that wall is asking for trouble, as gypsum takes up water and turns soft. We look at why the wall is wet first, and then use a backing that suits it.

Salts in the wall

As water moves through old brick, it carries salts that come out on the face as white fluff. That fluff pushes plaster off the wall. Simply re-plastering does not fix it. The cause of the water has to be dealt with, and the right plaster used.

Cold corners

Rooms on the windy side of a house, or under big trees, are cold. Cold walls collect water from the air, and mould grows. Good heat and air flow help most. Where it makes sense, we can line a cold wall and plaster it so it stays warmer to the touch.

Lime or gypsum?

Why it matters

Most homes built before about 1920 have solid walls and lime plaster. Lime lets water pass through and dry out. Gypsum and cement are harder and closer, so they can trap water in an old wall. In a Clent cottage, that trapped water often shows as damp patches and flaking paint.

When we use lime

We use lime for repairs on old solid walls and for patching old lime plaster so the repair moves and breathes like the rest of the wall. Lime takes longer to put on and to dry, so the job takes more time, but it suits the house.

When gypsum is fine

On newer walls with a cavity, on plasterboard and in extensions, gypsum plaster is quick, smooth and strong. Most rooms in homes built after the 1930s are fine with it.

Ceilings in Clent homes

Lath and plaster

Old ceilings are made of thin wood strips with lime plaster pushed between them. Over time the plaster loses its grip, and the ceiling sags or cracks. If it is sound we can fix it in place and patch it. If it is too far gone, we take it down and put up new boards.

Cornices and roses

In the villas, the cornice is often the best part of the room. We can repair a damaged run, fill gaps and match a short length. Where a whole ceiling is replaced, we take care to keep the cornice if we can.

Artex ceilings

Many bungalows and post-war houses have Artex on the ceilings. We can plaster over it to give a flat, smooth finish. Some old textures contain asbestos, which is why a lab check comes before any sanding or scraping.

Cracks after a loft job

Work in the loft, or a new loft room, can lead to cracks in the ceiling below. Often these are fine lines along the board joints. We tape and plaster them, or board over if the ceiling is weak.

Walls and common jobs

Patching after work

After a new kitchen, a rewire or new pipes, walls are often left with chases and holes. We fill and plaster them so they match the rest of the wall.

Re-plastering a whole room

When a room has lots of cracks, hollow spots or old repairs, it is often better to plaster the whole room than to patch it bit by bit. We strip loose plaster, fix the backing and put on a new finish.

Old fireplaces

Bricked-up fireplaces are common in Clent homes. They often show damp or cracks because the flue is not vented. We check this and plaster them so they stay sound.

Hollow plaster

Tap a wall and it sounds hollow: the plaster is no longer stuck to the brick. Small spots can be left; large areas need to come off and be replaced.

Extensions and conversions

New rooms

Big homes in Clent are often extended at the back or side. The new rooms get boarded and plastered, and we make the join with the old house clean.

Loft rooms

Loft rooms need careful boarding round the slopes and dormers. We plaster them so the angles are neat and the joints do not show.

Garages into rooms

A garage made into a room needs new walls, a new floor and boards. We plaster them so the room feels part of the house.

Barn work

Where an old barn has been turned into a home, we plaster inside with care for the old walls, using lime where the wall needs to breathe.

Finishes and looks

A smooth flat finish

For most rooms the aim is a smooth, flat wall ready for paint. We get this with a thin final coat over a good base.

A softer old look

In cottages, a gently uneven finish often looks better than a hard flat one. We can match the feel of the old walls.

Corners and edges

We use metal or plastic beads on corners so they stay straight and strong, and finish round windows and doors with care.

Wood burners and fireplaces

Clent homes often have wood burners. The heat near the stove can dry plaster out fast and cause cracks. We use the right products near the fire and leave proper gaps where needed.

Damp and plaster

Find the cause

Damp in a wall is a sign of a problem: a leak, a high garden bed, a blocked gutter, or rising water from the ground. We look for the cause first, as plaster alone will not fix it.

The right plaster

After the cause has been sorted, we pick a plaster to match the wall. On old walls that is often lime. On newer walls it may be a special backing.

Drying out

A wall that has been wet has to dry out first. We can advise on how long and how to help it along.

Moving into a Clent home

What to look for

Before you move in, look for cracks, hollow spots, damp marks and sagging ceilings. A survey may flag some of this.

Doing it before you move in

Plastering is messy. If you can get it done before your things go in, it is easier and quicker.

Planning the order

Plastering comes after the rewire and plumbing, and before the decorating and floors. We can fit in with your other trades.

Rendering outside

Old and new walls

Many Clent homes have painted render or pebbledash outside. Where the render is cracked or blown, water gets into the wall, and that can show up as damp inside. We fix the outside too.

K-Rend monocouche

We use K-Rend monocouche and silicone render on walls that suit them. These are through-coloured finishes that need little care. On old solid walls, a lime render may be better.

Links to our render pages

For the render side, see our K-Rend monocouche and silicone page, or see rendering in Hagley and rendering in Bromsgrove.

Planning and rules

Listed homes

Plastering inside a house is not usually a planning matter. But if your house is listed, you may need consent for changes to the old fabric, such as taking down lath and plaster ceilings.

Building rules

Some jobs, like new walls in an extension, are covered by building rules. We work with your builder so the plaster meets what is needed.

Asbestos

Older textured coatings and some boards may hold asbestos. If in doubt, get them tested before work starts.

A plastering job from start to finish

Pictures first

The easiest start is to send us some photos or a quick video. We say what we think and whether we need to come out. Big villas and old cottages usually get a visit.

The quote

It lists what is in and what is not, so there are no surprises.

Getting the room ready

Floors and furniture are covered, loose plaster comes down and the walls are made sound.

On the walls

Backing coats go on where they are needed, then the finish. The room is left clean.

Drying

You will know how many days to leave it, and what colour change to wait for.

After the job

Painting new plaster

Plaster starts dark and goes light as it dries. Once it is one shade all over, seal it with matt emulsion thinned with water, not vinyl paint. See our plaster drying guide for more. Lime walls need a breathable paint.

Small cracks

A fine line in a corner during the first winter is normal. Fill it when you paint.

Keeping walls dry

Clear gutters, soil kept below the damp course, and air moving round the house all help.

Mistakes to steer clear of

• Putting gypsum on an old wall that needs lime.
• Plastering over a wall that is still wet.
• Not finding the cause of damp first.
• Sanding Artex that may hold asbestos.
• Painting new plaster too soon.

Narrow lanes and access

Getting the van close

Many Clent lanes are narrow, steep and lined with hedges. Some houses sit up long drives or down tracks. Before a job we ask where we can park, where we can mix, and how far we need to carry bags and boards. It saves time on the day and keeps your drive and lawn clean.

Busy weekends

On fine weekends, the roads near the hills fill with walkers and cars. We plan Saturday work with that in mind, and try to get bulky deliveries done in the week.

Mixing and water

We need a spot to mix, usually outside or in a garage, and access to water. We sheet the ground and clean up each day.

Kitchens and bathrooms

Before the units go in

The best time to plaster a kitchen is once the pipes and wires are in, but before the units and tiles. That way the walls are flat and true, and the fitter has a good face to work to.

Wet rooms and showers

Behind tiles in a shower, standard plaster is not the best base. We fit cement-based or water-resistant boards in wet areas, and plaster the rest of the room as normal.

Steam and mould

Bathrooms in older Clent homes are often small, with little air flow. After we plaster, a good extractor fan and a mould-resistant paint help the walls stay clean.

Boards or wet plaster?

Dry lining

Plasterboard fixed with dabs of adhesive or on battens is quick and gives a flat base. It suits newer walls and rooms where you want a fast finish. We then plaster over the boards.

Wet plaster on brick

A backing coat put straight onto brick is harder and more solid to the touch. It suits rooms where you hang heavy things on the walls, and it copes better with knocks.

Old walls

On old solid walls, boards on dabs can trap water behind them. Here we lean towards lime or to boards on a frame with a gap, so the wall can still dry.

Coving and finishing touches

Many Clent homes have plain coving where the wall meets the ceiling. We can fit new coving, repair old runs and fill the joints so they do not show. In the villas, we take extra care round old plaster cornices and roses, and we tell you plainly if a section is too far gone to save.

Garden rooms and outbuildings

With big gardens on the slopes, many people in Clent have put up garden rooms, studios or home offices. We board and plaster these to give a proper room finish. Where an old brick outbuilding is being brought back into use, we look at damp first, then plaster in a way that suits the walls.

Working in a lived-in home

Dust and mess

Putting plaster on is wet work, but knocking old plaster off is dusty. Floors are sheeted, doors are sealed and the mess stays in one room. We clear up before we go home.

Pets and children

New plaster and mixing gear are no place for small hands or paws. We will tell you which rooms to keep shut, and how long for.

How long you are without a room

A single room usually takes a day or two to plaster, then needs to dry. We give you a clear idea of timing before we start.

Plastering through the seasons

Winter on the hills

Cold, damp weather slows drying a lot, more so in homes high on the slopes or deep under trees. We keep rooms warm but not hot, and let air move. Heaters blown at fresh plaster can make it crack.

Summer

In warm weather plaster can set and dry fast. We keep an eye on that, wet the backing where needed and keep sun off fresh work.

Planning ahead

If you want a room ready for a set date, such as a family visit, tell us early so there is time for drying and paint.

What a good quote covers

• Which walls and ceilings are included.
• Is the old plaster stripped, or kept?
• What backing coat or boards are used.
• How corners, edges and openings are finished.
• How the room is protected and cleaned.
• How waste is taken away.
• How long the plaster needs before painting.

Selling or buying in Clent

Cracked ceilings, hollow walls and damp patches all stand out when people view a house. A buyer’s survey will often pick them up. Fixing them before a sale can take a point off the table. If you are buying, we can look at the photos from your survey and tell you what is a small fix and what is bigger work.

Questions to ask any plasterer

• Will you use lime or gypsum on my walls, and why?
• Will you find the cause of any damp first?
• Do you take off loose plaster, or go over it?
• How do you protect floors and furniture?
• How long will it need to dry before paint?

Halls and stairwells in the villas

Tall walls over the stairs

The big Victorian and Edwardian houses on the slopes often have a hall that rises two floors, with the stairs running up one side. The wall over the stairs is the hardest to reach and is often the one with the worst cracks. A safe staging is set up across the stairwell so the whole wall can be reached at one height, with no ladders on the treads.

Keeping the stairs in use

You will still need to get up to bed. We leave a clear, covered path up the stairs and keep the platform tidy so the family can pass.

Panelling and built-in joinery

Some Arts and Crafts houses in Clent have oak panelling, built-in seats and cupboards next to the fire. These are part of what makes the house. We plaster up to them and round them without taking them out, and we cover them well while we work. If a panel has to come off to reach a wall behind, we mark each piece so it goes back in the same place.

Window shutters and deep sills

Older villas often have folding shutters that sit in boxes beside the window, and wide sills. The plaster round the shutter box takes knocks over the years and cracks. We repair it so the shutters still fold back flat, which means keeping the plaster thin and neat at the edge of the box.

Picture rails and old wall lines

When a picture rail or dado comes off in a villa, it leaves a band of rough plaster and old nail holes. We cut back any loose bits, fill the line and finish it flush with the wall above and below, so the room reads as one clean wall. If you want to keep the rail, we can work round it instead.

Nearby places we work

As well as Clent, Holy Cross, Lower Clent and Adams Hill, we work in Hagley, Romsley, Belbroughton and the edge of Halesowen and Stourbridge. Nearby pages include plastering in Stourbridge, plastering in Barnt Green, rendering in Halesowen and plastering in Alvechurch.

About RCR Connections Ltd

Clent’s cottages, villas and bungalows are all work we know. Our team has 62 years of combined experience, and RCR Connections Ltd is Birmingham based, covering the whole of the Midlands.

Open Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7am to 1pm. Sunday closed.

To start, WhatsApp me on 07453 614095 or message the page. Send pictures or videos for a quick response, a free quote and advice. Our services page and areas we cover have more.

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