Plastering in Cannock

Cannock sits on the southern edge of Cannock Chase, and for over a hundred years it was a coal town. The pits have gone, but the homes built for the miners are still here: rows of brick terraces in Chadsmoor and Bridgtown, colliery houses in Heath Hayes and Norton Canes, inter-war semis along the Walsall Road and the Lichfield Road, and big post-war and private estates in Pye Green, Rawnsley and Huntington. Many of them still have their first plaster, and a lot of it is cracked, blown or patched.

RCR Connections Ltd plasters, re-plasters and repairs walls and ceilings in homes right across Cannock and the Chase. We’re Birmingham based, covering the whole of the Midlands, and the M6 Toll and the A5 bring us to Cannock quickly. Our team has 62 years of combined experience.

This page is about plastering inside the house: walls, ceilings, re-plastering and repairs. For the outside of the house, see our page on rendering in Cannock.

Plastering quotes in Cannock: WhatsApp me on 07453 614095 or message the page. We work Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7am to 1pm, and we’re closed on Sundays.

Plastering, re-plastering and repairs in Cannock

Plastering walls and ceilings

A new coat of finish plaster over sound walls gives you a smooth, flat face ready for paint. It is the job we do most in Cannock: after a rewire, when old paper comes off and the walls are rough, or when a room just looks tired and patched. We cover floors and furniture, prepare the walls, fix any loose areas, then put on the new coat and trowel it smooth.

Re-plastering

When old plaster is too far gone to go over, we take it off. It may be blown, cracked right through, soft from old damp or crumbling. We take it back to the brick or block and re-plaster with a backing coat and a finish coat, or we board the wall and plaster over the boards. Re-plastering is common in the older terraces of Chadsmoor and Bridgtown and in the colliery homes round Heath Hayes.

Plaster repairs

Not every job needs a whole room. We repair cracks, holes, blown patches, damage after a leak, chases left by electricians and plumbers, and broken corners. Repairs are blended in so they don’t show once painted.

Ceilings

Old ceilings sag, crack and come down, most of all the lath and plaster ceilings in older homes. We can over-board and plaster a ceiling, take down a failed one and put up new boards, or repair a small area. We also cover artex ceilings with a fresh, smooth coat.

Plasterboard and dry lining

For new walls, stud walls, loft rooms and extensions we fit plasterboard and plaster it, or dry line walls where the old plaster has failed.

Coving

We fit coving to finish a room, and repair old coving that has cracked or come away.

Cannock through the years

A small market town by the Chase

Cannock was a small market town for centuries, on the edge of a royal hunting forest. The old centre round the Market Place and St Luke’s Church still shows that shape, and the church goes back to the Middle Ages. The Chase itself was a wild place of heath and woodland, and much of it still is.

The coal years

Coal changed everything. From the mid-1800s, deep pits opened across the Cannock Chase coalfield, at Hednesford, Chadsmoor, Heath Hayes, Norton Canes, Huntington, Cannock Wood and more. Thousands of men came to work in them, and the town grew fast. Rows of brick terraces were built close to the pits, often in a hurry and with whatever materials were to hand. Littleton Colliery at Huntington was one of the last to close, in 1993.

Bridgtown and its tools

Bridgtown, on the Watling Street side of town, grew up round edge tool and metal works as well as coal. Its streets of Victorian terraces still have that close, works-town feel, and many of its homes have walls and ceilings that have been patched many times.

Between the wars

In the 1920s and 1930s, semis and short terraces went up along the Walsall Road, the Lichfield Road, the Stafford Road and the roads between Cannock and Hednesford. Council homes followed in Chadsmoor and on the edges of the town. Many were built with hard wall plaster on brick and lath and plaster or early board ceilings, and they are now close to a hundred years old.

After the war and after the pits

After 1945, big council estates went up at Pye Green, Rawnsley, Heath Hayes and the Hednesford side, and from the 1960s private estates spread across the town. When the pits closed, Cannock turned into a shopping and commuter town, with new homes on old colliery land. More estates are still being built round the edges today, and the designer outlet at Mill Green opened in 2021.

The homes we plaster most in Cannock

Colliery terraces

Chadsmoor, Bridgtown, Heath Hayes and Norton Canes have rows of Victorian and Edwardian terraces built for miners and works families. They have solid brick walls and, at first, lime plaster and lath ceilings. Much of that has been patched with modern plaster over the years, and the two often don’t sit well together. We re-plaster walls where the old plaster has failed, repair what is sound, and over-board or replace old ceilings.

1920s and 1930s homes

Along the Walsall Road, the Lichfield Road and the Stafford Road, and in parts of Chadsmoor and Hednesford. Hard plaster on brick, often cracked and patched after years of rewiring, heating and new windows. Bay windows and curved walls need a careful hand. We plaster the walls and over-board cracked ceilings.

Post-war council homes

Pye Green, Rawnsley, parts of Heath Hayes and the estates between Cannock and Hednesford. Many still have their first plaster and artex ceilings. The jobs here are often covering artex, plastering walls after a rewire or new kitchen, and repairs.

1960s to 1980s private estates

Across the town, from Huntington and Pye Green to the estates off the Hednesford Road. Cavity walls, plaster on block or plasterboard, and textured ceilings. Plastering over tired walls and covering artex are the main jobs here.

Newer homes

Newer estates on old pit and works land. Plasterboard walls on dabs that can crack at joins and corners as the house settles. We repair the cracks, tape the joins and re-plaster where needed.

Bungalows

There are lots of bungalows round Heath Hayes, Norton Canes and Huntington. Many have artex ceilings and long through lounges. These are often easy rooms to work in and quick to finish.

Neighbourhood notes

Town centre

The old core round the Market Place and St Luke’s, with shops and flats above. Repairs in flats, offices and older buildings.

Chadsmoor

North of the centre, toward Hednesford. Dense streets of older terraces and inter-war homes. Old lime plaster, blown walls and lath ceilings. Full re-plasters and repairs.

Bridgtown

South of the centre by the A5. Victorian terraces with small rooms and old walls. Re-plastering and ceiling work.

Heath Hayes and Wimblebury

East of the town. Colliery homes, post-war estates and newer streets. A real mix of jobs, from lath ceilings to new boards.

Pye Green and Rawnsley

To the north, up toward the Chase. Post-war and later estates, with plenty of artex ceilings and walls that need a fresh coat.

Hednesford

Its own town, just north of Cannock, with a mix of colliery terraces, inter-war homes and estates. See our page on rendering in Hednesford for outside work there.

Huntington and the west side

Along the Stafford Road, round the old Littleton Colliery site. Post-war homes, newer estates and bungalows. Plastering and repairs.

Norton Canes

To the south-east, by the A5 and the M6 Toll. A former mining village with terraces, post-war homes and newer estates. Plastering walls and ceilings, and repairs.

Lime plaster in old Cannock homes

The oldest terraces in Cannock were plastered with lime. Lime is soft and lets the solid brick wall behind it breathe. It can last a long time if the wall stays dry, but it is often damaged by leaks, by hard cement patches, and by plastic paints and vinyl papers that trap damp.

When we work on these walls, we look at what is there first. Sound lime plaster can often be kept and repaired. Where it has blown or gone soft, we take it off and re-plaster. On solid walls that have had damp, we pick a plaster that suits the wall, and we will tell you if a lime plaster is the better choice.

Plastering after damp work

Many Cannock homes have had damp work over the years. After a damp course or new drainage, the walls need re-plastering with the right plaster. We will ask what was done to the wall, and by whom, so we pick the right plaster for it. If the cause of the damp hasn’t been dealt with, we will say so before we plaster, as new plaster on a wet wall won’t last.

Cracks and old mine workings

Some ground round Cannock has settled over old pit workings. Inside the house, that can show as long cracks over doors and windows, or ceilings that crack along the same line again and again. Most of these cracks are old and stable, and we can repair them with tape or mesh under the new plaster so they are less likely to come back. If a crack is wide, is getting longer, or a door has started to stick, we will tell you to get it looked at first.

Chimney breasts and old fireplaces

Older Cannock homes have chimney breasts in most rooms, and many miners’ homes had coal fires in every room. The plaster round old fireplaces is often cracked, stained or patched, and when a fire is opened up or closed off, the wall needs making good. We plaster round new openings and over closed ones so the wall looks right.

Bay windows and curved walls

Inter-war semis on the Walsall Road and the Lichfield Road often have big bay windows. The walls and ceilings in the bay have tricky angles and curves. We take care to keep them true and get crisp lines where the bay meets the room.

Plastering for new kitchens

When a new kitchen goes in, old tiles and units come off and the walls behind are often rough and uneven. We plaster them flat so the new units sit well and the new tiles or paint look right. We fit in with your kitchen fitter so the walls are ready and dry in time.

Plastering after a leak

A burst pipe or a leak from above can soak a ceiling and walls. Once the leak is fixed and things have dried out, we take off the damaged plaster and repair or replace it. A sagging, wet ceiling needs care. If you see one, keep out of the room and turn off the water.

Garages, utility rooms and outbuildings

Garage conversions and utility rooms need their walls and ceilings boarded and plastered. Bare block walls can be plastered direct or dry lined. We will talk you through which suits your room best.

Questions we often get in Cannock

Can you plaster over my old walls?

If the old plaster is sound, yes. If it is blown, cracked through or damp, it needs to come off first. We tap every wall before we decide.

My ceiling keeps cracking in the same place. Why?

It can be old movement in the house, a joist that flexes, or joins in the boards. We tape or mesh the line and over-board where needed so it is less likely to come back.

Can you cover my artex ceiling?

Yes. We plaster over artex without disturbing it.

How soon can I paint?

Usually about a week for a finish coat in a warm, airy room. Longer for thick re-plastering or in winter.

The year in plastering

Plastering is an inside job, so we work all year round. In winter, new plaster takes longer to dry, so keep the heating on low and a window open a little. Homes up toward the Chase can be cold and damp in winter, so drying times there can be longer. In summer, sunny rooms can dry plaster too fast, so we may keep the blinds down while we work.

If you have just moved in

If you have just bought a home in Cannock, the walls and ceilings are best sorted before you decorate, lay new carpets or move furniture in. We can plaster several rooms in one go so you are ready to paint.

Why plastering makes such a difference

Smooth, flat walls make a room look bigger and brighter, and paint goes on easier and lasts longer. Cracks and patches disappear. A well plastered ceiling makes a room feel fresh. It is one of the best things you can do for a tired room.

Plaster or dry lining?

There are two main ways to get a new, smooth wall.

• Wet plaster goes straight onto brick or block in a backing coat, then a finish coat. It is hard, solid and good on walls that take knocks. It takes longer to dry.
• Dry lining means fixing plasterboard to the wall, then putting a finish coat over it. It dries quicker and is good on walls that are very uneven or where the old plaster has failed badly.

On old solid walls in Chadsmoor and Bridgtown, the right choice depends on the state of the wall and whether there has been damp. We will look at it and tell you what we think suits it best.

Uneven walls in old houses

Walls in old colliery homes are rarely straight. They lean, bow and dip, and corners are not square. We can make them a lot flatter, but on very old walls we will talk to you first about how far to go. Sometimes a wall that follows the line of the house looks better than one forced flat, and it is quicker and less disruptive.

Cold walls and black mould

Solid brick walls in older Cannock homes are colder than cavity walls. In winter, damp air from cooking, washing and drying clothes settles on them, and black mould can grow in corners and behind furniture. New plaster won’t cure that on its own. Good airflow, extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, and keeping furniture a little off the wall all help. We will give you honest advice on what is plaster and what is air.

Flats above shops

The town centre and the local parades in Chadsmoor, Bridgtown and Heath Hayes have flats above shops. They often have old ceilings and walls that need care. We plan the work round the shop below and keep dust and noise down.

Old wiring, pipes and plaster

If you are having a rewire or new heating, have it done before we plaster. Chasing cables into new plaster means patching it again. We are happy to fit our work round your electrician and plumber so each trade follows on neatly.

Before you sell

Buyers notice cracked ceilings and patched walls. A fresh coat of plaster and a coat of paint can make a home look clean and well kept for photos and viewings. Send us photos and we will tell you which rooms will make the most difference.

Picking the right time

Because plastering is inside work, the weather doesn’t stop us. Most people like to have it done in one block, room by room, so they only live with the mess once. If you have a lot of rooms to do, we work round you so you always have somewhere to sit and sleep.

Rooms we plaster most

• Living rooms and through lounges: walls after paper comes off, ceilings with cracks or artex.
• Bedrooms: ceilings that sag, walls with cracks and old patches.
• Kitchens: walls after old units and tiles come off.
• Bathrooms: walls and ceilings in damp rooms, with the right boards and plaster.
• Halls, stairs and landings: walls that take knocks, and tall stairwells.
• Extensions and loft rooms: new boards and block, plastered ready for paint.

Dust and mess

Plastering is messy if it is done badly. We cover floors, stairs and furniture, seal doors where needed, and carry rubbish out as we go. When a ceiling has to come down, we close the room off and protect the rest of the house. At the end of the day the room is swept and tidy.

Loft rooms and extensions

Many Cannock families add space rather than move. Loft rooms in semis and bungalows, and single-storey extensions at the back, all need boards fixed and plastered. We work with your builder and fit in at the right stage, after the electrics and pipes are in and before the decorator.

Landlords and rented homes

Cannock has plenty of rented homes, from terraces near the centre to family homes on the estates. Landlords tend to want work done quickly between tenants, with as little fuss as possible, and photos of what was done. We plaster and repair rooms on a tight timescale so the home can be painted and let again.

How a Cannock plastering job runs

First contact

You WhatsApp me photos of each room, the walls and ceilings you want done, and your postcode. A short video walking through the rooms helps even more.

The visit

For bigger jobs we come out, tap the walls for hollow areas, look at the ceilings, and talk through what you want and when.

The quote

You get a clear written quote that says which rooms, which walls and ceilings, whether we are plastering over or taking back, and how long it should take.

On the day

We arrive at 7am, cover the floors and furniture, and set up a clean work area. Old plaster comes off where needed, beads go on the corners, and the new coat goes on.

Finishing up

We clean up, take the rubbish away, and tell you how long to leave the walls before you paint.

What goes on your walls

We pick the plaster to suit the wall, not the other way round.

• Finish plaster is the thin top coat that gives the smooth face. It goes over sound old plaster, over a backing coat, or over boards.
• Backing coats build up the wall when old plaster comes off. Some suit hard brick, some suit soft brick or block, and some suit walls that have had damp.
• Lime plaster suits some old solid walls where the wall needs to breathe.
• Plasterboard comes in standard, moisture-resistant and fire-rated types. Bathrooms and kitchens get the right board for the room.
• Beads and tape give straight corners and stop cracks at joins.

Artex: what you should know

Many Cannock homes built before the 1990s have artex on the ceilings, and sometimes on walls. Old artex can contain a small amount of asbestos. It is safe while it is left alone, which is why we plaster over it rather than scrape or sand it. If you want artex taken off, it should be tested first. We will talk you through it before any work starts.

Bathrooms and shower rooms

Bathrooms take the most damp of any room. Old plaster round baths and showers is often soft, stained or blown. We take off what has failed, use moisture-resistant boards where needed, and plaster the rest so your tiler or decorator has a flat, sound wall to work on. Good airflow, with an extractor fan that works, makes a big difference to how long a bathroom stays looking good.

Stairwells and tall walls

Stairwells are the hardest walls in most houses to reach, and they take a lot of knocks. In older Cannock terraces the stair wall is often cracked from top to bottom. We use proper stair platforms to reach safely, and plaster the full height in one go so there are no joins halfway up.

Hednesford, Rugeley and the Chase villages

Hednesford grew up round its pits and its racecourse, and its homes are a lot like Cannock’s: colliery terraces, inter-war semis and big estates. Rugeley, to the north on the far side of the Chase, has its own mix of older terraces, post-war homes and newer streets near the old power station site. In the small villages on the Chase, such as Cannock Wood and Slitting Mill, cottages often have old lime plaster and thick walls. We plaster, re-plaster and repair in all of them.

Great Wyrley, Cheslyn Hay and Norton Canes

To the south of the town, Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay grew as mining villages and then as commuter villages, with lots of homes from the 1960s onward. Norton Canes has older terraces near the centre and newer estates round them. We see a lot of artex ceilings, cracked boards in newer homes, and walls that need a fresh coat after a new kitchen or rewire.

Working with other trades

Most plastering jobs sit in the middle of a bigger plan. The electrician and plumber need to finish first, then we plaster, then the decorator, carpet fitter and kitchen fitter follow on. We are happy to talk to your other trades so the timing works. If you are doing the work yourself, we will tell you what needs to be done before we arrive.

Questions to ask any plasterer

• Will you plaster over the old walls or take them back?
• What plaster will you use, and why?
• How will you protect my floors and furniture?
• Who will do the work, and how long have they been plastering?
• How long before I can paint?
• Can I see finished jobs?

We are glad to answer all of these before you decide.

Painting new plaster

New plaster needs to dry right through before you paint, and it will change from dark pink to an even pale pink when it is ready. The first coat should be a mist coat, a thinned-down emulsion that soaks in and seals the plaster. Avoid vinyl or wipe-clean paints for the first coat, as they can sit on the face and peel. Once the mist coat is dry, paint as normal.

Homes on the edge of the Chase

Homes in Pye Green, Rawnsley, Hednesford and Cannock Wood back onto the Chase. The air up there is often cooler and damper than in the town centre, and older homes on the high ground can be slow to dry out after a wet spell. That matters for plastering. New plaster needs warmth and airflow to dry, so in these homes we plan the work for when the heating can be on, and we will tell you how long to leave each room before you paint. Where an old wall has damp from outside, such as a leaking gutter or a cracked render, it is worth fixing that first, and our rendering in Cannock page covers the outside.

Halls, porches and front rooms

The hall is the first thing anyone sees when they come in, and in older Cannock terraces it is often narrow, with walls that take knocks from bikes, prams and shopping. Front rooms in miners’ homes were once kept for best, and many still have old plaster under layers of paper. We often do the hall, stairs and landing in one go, with new corner beads to stand up to knocks, and the front room straight after.

Small jobs welcome

Not every job is a full room. A patch after a leak, a crack over a door, a hole where a fireplace came out or a wall chased for new sockets are all jobs we are happy to do. Send us a photo and we will tell you what is needed.

Areas we cover around Cannock

We plaster homes across the town and the district, including the town centre, Chadsmoor, Bridgtown, Heath Hayes, Wimblebury, Pye Green, Rawnsley, Hednesford, Huntington, Norton Canes, Cannock Wood, Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay, and on to Rugeley.

Nearby pages include rendering in Cannock, rendering in Hednesford, plastering in Burntwood, plastering in Lichfield, plastering in Walsall and plastering in Wolverhampton. See every town on our plastering areas page.

More services: Plastering repairs · Plastering and coving · Plastering extensions and lofts.

Get a plastering quote in Cannock

WhatsApp me on 07453 614095 or message the page. Send pictures or videos via WhatsApp for a quick response, a free quote and advice. Send a photo of each wall and ceiling and your postcode.

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

You can also email rcrconnectionsltd@gmail.com or use our contact page. See finished jobs on our projects page.

More from RCR Connections Ltd: All plastering and rendering services · Rendering in Cannock · Plastering areas · Areas we cover