Shirley is right on our doorstep. RCR Connections Ltd is based in Solihull, so plastering jobs in Shirley, Monkspath, Hillfield, Dickens Heath, Cheswick Green and Major’s Green are local work for us. The housing here is mostly 1930s semis along Stratford Road and the roads off it, with 1970s–90s estates in Monkspath and Hillfield and much newer homes in Dickens Heath and Blythe Valley.
Plastering services in Shirley
- Skimming walls and ceilings for a smooth, paint-ready finish.
- Full re-plastering where old plaster has blown or come away from the brickwork.
- Ceilings: over-boarding and skimming cracked or Artex ceilings.
- Plasterboard and dot-and-dab for extensions, garage conversions and loft rooms.
- Patch repairs after electricians, plumbers or kitchen fitters have been in.
Typical jobs on Shirley homes
In 1930s semis, it’s common to find original ceilings with hairline cracks, and walls that have been patched many times over the years. A skim or over-board usually sorts this out. Newer homes in Dickens Heath and Monkspath are built with plasterboard, so the work there tends to be boarding out a garage conversion or extension, or repairing dents and nail pops. Garage conversions and rear extensions are popular in Shirley, and we can board and skim them once the builder has finished.
How we work
We protect floors and furniture before we start, prepare surfaces properly, and leave the room swept. Fresh plaster needs time to dry before you paint, usually a few days for a skim, longer for thicker coats. The first coat of paint should be a mist coat. We’ll explain this for your job.
Outside work too
Shirley houses often have pebble-dash or tired render on the front or side elevations. We can replace or cover it with sand and cement, silicone or through-coloured render. See rendering in Solihull and our K-Rend and monocouche page. Shirley is part of Solihull Metropolitan Borough, so planning questions go to Solihull Council.
Garage conversions and extensions in Shirley
A lot of the semis and detached houses around Shirley, Hillfield and Monkspath have had a garage converted or a single-storey rear extension built. Once the builder has finished the structure, insulation and first-fix electrics, the walls and ceilings need boarding and skimming. We can fix plasterboard (screwed to studs or dot-and-dab on to block walls), tape and bead the corners, then skim to a smooth finish.
If your builder is handling the boarding, we can just do the skim. Either way, tell us roughly when the room will be ready and we’ll book you in. Building control will usually want to see insulation before it’s boarded over, so make sure that inspection has been done first.
Getting a room ready for us
You’ll get the best finish, and the job will go quicker, if a few things are done before we arrive:
- Clear the room as much as you can, or move furniture to the middle so it can be covered.
- Take down curtains, pictures, shelves and TV brackets.
- Ask an electrician to loosen sockets and switches so we can plaster behind them, then refit them afterwards.
- Make sure there’s somewhere outside or in the garage where we can mix plaster.
Ventilation and drying
New plaster releases a lot of moisture. Keep a window open where possible and avoid blasting the heating to speed it up, as that can cause cracking. When the plaster is an even pale pink colour all over, it’s dry enough for a mist coat.
Book a free quote in Shirley
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Call or WhatsApp 07453 614095 or email rcrconnectionsltd@gmail.com. Send photos for the quickest response. We also cover Birmingham and Coventry.