Plastering in Kingswinford

Kingswinford sits on the western edge of the Black Country, where the works and pits of Dudley give way to the fields toward Himley and Staffordshire. It was a small village with an old church for most of its life, and then, in the thirty years after the war, it grew into one of the biggest suburbs in the area. Today it has old cottages near the Cross and St Mary’s, glassmakers’ terraces in Wordsley, miners’ homes in Pensnett, and street after street of 1950s, 1960s and 1970s semis, detached homes and bungalows in between. A lot of those homes still have their first plaster and artex, and a lot of it is tired.

RCR Connections Ltd plasters, re-plasters and repairs walls and ceilings in homes right across Kingswinford, Wall Heath, Wordsley and Pensnett. We’re Birmingham based, covering the whole of the Midlands, and Kingswinford is an easy run for us across the Black Country. 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 Kingswinford.

Plastering quotes in Kingswinford: 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 Kingswinford

Plastering walls and ceilings

New finish plaster over sound walls gives a smooth, flat face ready for paint. It is our most common job in Kingswinford: after a rewire, when old paper or textured paint comes off, or when a 1960s room just looks tired. We cover floors and furniture, prepare the walls, fix loose areas, then put on the new coat and trowel it smooth.

Re-plastering

When old plaster is blown, cracked right through, crumbling or soft from damp, we take it back to the brick or block and re-plaster with a backing coat and a finish coat, or board the wall and plaster over. Re-plastering is most common in the older homes of Wordsley, Pensnett and round the Cross.

Plaster repairs

We repair cracks, holes, blown patches, damage after a leak, chases left by electricians and plumbers, and broken corners, and blend them in so they don’t show once painted.

Ceilings and artex

Kingswinford has a great many artex ceilings from the 1960s and 1970s. We plaster over them to give a flat, modern ceiling. We also over-board cracked ceilings, take down failed ones and put up new boards, and repair small areas.

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.

Kingswinford through the years

The old village

Kingswinford is an old place. St Mary’s Church, near the Cross, has parts that go back to Norman times, and the parish once covered a large area, including Brierley Hill and Wordsley. For centuries it was a farming village on the edge of Pensnett Chase, a wide stretch of rough common land.

Coal, fireclay and iron

Under the ground lay coal and fireclay. Pits and clay works opened round Pensnett, Shut End and Bromley, and iron works followed. Lord Dudley’s lands round Himley Hall took in much of this ground. The Pensnett Railway carried coal from the pits to the canal. Small rows of brick homes went up near the works, and some still stand.

Glass on the canal

The Stourbridge Canal opened in 1779, with its flight of sixteen locks climbing through Wordsley. Glassworks grew up along it, and Wordsley became one of the great glassmaking places of the country. The Red House Glass Cone, built in the late 1700s, still stands by the canal and is now a museum. The homes of the glassmakers line the streets nearby.

Between the wars

In the 1920s and 1930s, semis and short terraces went up along the main roads, such as the Stourbridge Road, the Wolverhampton Road and the roads round the Cross. Most were built with hard wall plaster on brick and lath and plaster or early board ceilings.

The great post-war growth

After the war Kingswinford grew faster than almost anywhere in the area. Farmland round the village filled with private estates of semis, detached homes and bungalows through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, from Wall Heath and Ashwood to Summerhill and Bromley. Kingswinford was in Staffordshire until 1966, then joined Dudley, and since 1974 it has been part of Dudley borough. Most of its homes date from this time, and many still have their first plaster, artex ceilings and serving hatches.

The homes we plaster most in Kingswinford

Old cottages and village homes

Round the Cross, St Mary’s, and the older parts of Wall Heath and Pensnett. Solid brick walls, old lime plaster, low ceilings and uneven walls. We repair what can be kept, re-plaster what can’t, and take care not to trap damp in the wall.

Glassmakers’ and miners’ terraces

Wordsley, Pensnett, Bromley and the streets near the canal. Solid walls with old lime plaster, lath ceilings and many old patches. Re-plastering, ceilings and repairs.

1920s and 1930s homes

Along the Stourbridge Road, the Wolverhampton Road and round the Cross. Hard plaster on brick, cracked and patched after years of work. Bay windows and curved walls need a careful hand.

1950s to 1970s estates

The bulk of Kingswinford, from Wall Heath and Ashwood to Summerhill and Bromley. Cavity walls, plaster on block, and artex ceilings in almost every room. Covering artex, plastering over tired walls, and plastering after knock-throughs and new kitchens.

Bungalows

Kingswinford and Wall Heath have a great many bungalows. Many have long through lounges, artex ceilings and loft rooms added later. These are some of our favourite jobs, as the rooms are easy to work in and the change is big.

Newer homes

Newer streets on old works and farm land. Plasterboard walls on dabs that crack at joins and corners. We repair the cracks, tape the joins and re-plaster where needed.

Neighbourhood notes

The Cross and the village centre

The old core round the Cross, St Mary’s and the shops on the High Street. Older homes and flats above shops. Repairs and re-plastering.

Wall Heath

North-west, toward Himley and the Staffordshire fields. An old village with its own shops, and big estates of semis and bungalows round it. Artex covering, ceilings and walls.

Wordsley

South, toward Stourbridge. Glassmakers’ terraces by the canal, Victorian and inter-war homes, and post-war estates. A real mix of jobs.

Pensnett

East, toward Brierley Hill. Miners’ homes, post-war estates and newer streets. Re-plastering, ceilings and repairs.

Summerhill and Ashwood

West of the Cross. Large private estates from the 1960s and 1970s and some detached homes. Covering artex and plastering over tired walls.

Bromley and Shut End

East of the centre. Post-war estates and older homes on old pit ground. Ceilings, cracks and walls after rewires.

Himley and the edge of town

Out toward Himley Hall and the country. Older cottages and larger homes. Careful repairs and re-plastering.

Artex: what you should know

With so many homes from the 1960s and 1970s, Kingswinford has more artex than most places. 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 it taken off, it should be tested first. Plastering over artex gives you a smooth, flat ceiling without disturbing what is underneath.

Knock-throughs and open plan rooms

Many Kingswinford owners knock the kitchen and dining room together, take out an old serving hatch, or open up a through lounge into the kitchen. Once the builder has made the opening and put in the steel, the walls and ceiling round it need plastering so the join doesn’t show. We plaster the new opening, the walls either side and the whole ceiling, so it looks like one room.

Cracks and old pit ground

Some of the ground round Pensnett, Bromley and Shut End sits over old pit and clay 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 repair them with tape or mesh under the new plaster so they are less likely to come back. If a crack is wide, is growing, or a door has started to stick, we will tell you to get it looked at first.

Lime plaster in older homes

The older cottages and terraces were plastered with lime. Lime is soft and lets a solid wall breathe. It lasts well if the wall stays dry, but leaks, hard cement patches, and plastic paints and vinyl papers that trap damp all damage it. We look at what is on the wall first. Sound lime plaster can often be kept and repaired. Where it has blown or gone soft, we take it off and re-plaster with a plaster that suits the wall.

Plastering after damp work

After a damp course or new drainage, walls need re-plastering with the right plaster. We will ask what was done 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.

Chimney breasts and old fireplaces

Older homes, and many 1950s and 1960s ones, have chimney breasts with gas fires or old fireplaces. When a fire is taken out or a breast is removed, the wall needs making good. We plaster round new openings and over closed ones so the wall looks right.

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 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 a bathroom or tank 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.

Garage conversions and loft rooms

Many Kingswinford homes have an attached garage, and many owners turn it into a room. Garage walls are usually bare block, and the ceiling needs new boards. We dry line or plaster the walls and board and plaster the ceiling. Loft rooms in bungalows and semis also need boards fixed and plastered, and we fit in with your builder at the right stage.

How a Kingswinford plastering job runs

First contact

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

• Finish plaster is the thin top coat that gives the smooth face.
• Backing coats build up the wall when old plaster comes off. Some suit hard brick, some soft brick or block.
• Lime plaster suits some old solid walls where the wall needs to breathe.
• Plasterboard comes in standard, moisture-resistant and fire-rated types.
• Beads and tape give straight corners and stop cracks at joins.

Bathrooms and shower rooms

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. An extractor fan that works makes a big difference.

Stairwells and landings

Stairwells take a lot of knocks and are hard to reach. We use proper stair platforms to reach safely, and plaster the full height in one go so there are no joins halfway up.

Questions we often get in Kingswinford

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.

Can you plaster over artex in every room?

Yes. We often do every ceiling in a house in one go, room by room, so you only live with the mess once.

Will my ceiling need to come down?

Not always. Often we can over-board and plaster it, which is quicker and less messy. If it is sagging badly, it may need to come down.

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. 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

Many people buy a 1960s or 1970s home in Kingswinford and want to bring it up to date. The walls and ceilings are best sorted before you decorate, lay new carpets or move furniture in. We can plaster the whole house in one go so you are ready to paint.

Plaster or dry lining?

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

Cold walls and black mould

Older solid walls in Wordsley and Pensnett are colder than cavity walls. In winter, damp air from cooking, washing and drying clothes settles on them, and black mould grows in corners and behind furniture. New plaster won’t cure that on its own. Good airflow, extractor fans 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 High Street near the Cross, Wall Heath’s High Street and the parades in Wordsley and Pensnett 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

Many 1960s homes in Kingswinford are due a rewire. Have it done before we plaster, as chasing cables into new plaster means patching it again. We are happy to fit our work round your electrician and plumber.

Before you sell

Buyers notice artex, cracked ceilings and patched walls. Flat, fresh ceilings and walls with a coat of paint make a home look clean and up to date for photos and viewings. Send us photos and we will tell you which rooms will make the most difference.

Rooms we plaster most

• Through lounges: artex ceilings, walls after paper comes off, and old serving hatches filled in.
• Bedrooms: artex and cracked ceilings, and walls with old patches.
• Kitchens and diners: walls after old units and tiles come off, and knock-throughs.
• Bathrooms: walls and ceilings in damp rooms, with the right boards and plaster.
• Halls, stairs and landings: walls that take knocks.
• Garage conversions and loft rooms: new boards and block, plastered ready for paint.

Dust and mess

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.

Working with other trades

The electrician and plumber 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.

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. It changes 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 peel.

Why plastering makes such a difference

Smooth, flat walls and ceilings make a room look bigger and brighter, and paint goes on easier and lasts longer. In a 1960s Kingswinford home, taking away the artex and patched walls can make the house feel brand new.

Wordsley and the canal

Wordsley grew up round the glassworks on the Stourbridge Canal, and many of its older homes were built for glassmakers and their families. They have solid brick walls, small rooms and steep stairs, and many have been patched and changed many times. Homes close to the canal and the locks sit in damp air for much of the year, and plaster on the walls facing the water can stain or blow. We check walls for damp before we start, re-plaster what has failed, and tell you plainly if there is a problem outside that needs fixing first.

Wall Heath village

Wall Heath has kept its own feel, with its own High Street, pubs and shops. Round the old centre are a few older cottages and Victorian homes, and round those are large estates of semis and bungalows from the 1950s to the 1970s. In the older homes we see lath ceilings and blown lime plaster. On the estates we see artex, cracked ceiling joins and walls that need a fresh coat after a new kitchen or rewire.

Pensnett and the old Chase

Pensnett was once part of Pensnett Chase, a wide common that was dug for coal and clay and dotted with small homes. Today it has older terraces, post-war estates, newer streets, and the big trading estate on old pit and works land at Shut End nearby. Older homes here often have cracks from old ground movement and walls that have been patched many times. A full re-plaster with mesh over old crack lines often gives a much better result than one more patch.

Serving hatches, arches and 1960s features

Homes from the 1960s and 1970s often have features owners now want gone: serving hatches between the kitchen and dining room, arches between rooms, half-height walls and textured walls. When these come out, the wall or ceiling needs filling and plastering so the change doesn’t show. We fill old hatches with block or board, plaster over them, and blend the new plaster into the wall either side.

Bay windows and curved walls

Inter-war homes along the Stourbridge Road and the Wolverhampton Road, and many 1950s semis, have bay windows. The walls and ceilings in the bay have tricky angles and curves. We keep them true and get crisp lines where the bay meets the room.

Uneven walls in old houses

Walls in the old cottages and terraces are rarely straight. They lean, bow and dip, and the corners are not square. We can make them much 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.

Landlords and rented homes

Kingswinford has a steady rental market, from terraces in Wordsley and Pensnett to family homes on the estates. Landlords tend to want work done quickly between tenants, with photos of what was done. We plaster and repair rooms on a tight timescale so the home can be painted and let again.

Garden rooms and home offices

More people now work from home, and many Kingswinford homes have the garden space for a garden room. Garden rooms need the right boards and plaster inside to give a smooth, solid finish. Box rooms turned into offices often have the worst walls in the house. We plaster both so they are ready to paint and use.

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. In a bungalow we often work from one end of the house to the other, so you always have a clean room to sit and sleep in.

Homes on the main roads

The A491 Stourbridge Road, the A449 and the Wolverhampton Road carry heavy traffic through Kingswinford and Wall Heath day and night. Homes right on these roads feel a little shaking from lorries and buses, and over the years that can open up fine cracks in ceilings and at the corners of rooms. When we plaster these homes, we tape or mesh the joins and the corners so the new finish copes better, and we over-board ceilings where the old plaster has lost its grip.

Plaster round new windows and doors

When old windows are swapped for new ones, the plaster round the frame inside nearly always gets damaged. The same goes for new front doors and patio doors set into a widened opening. We plaster the reveals with new beads so the edges are straight and strong, and blend the patch into the wall round it so it doesn’t show once painted.

Flats and maisonettes

Kingswinford, Wordsley and Pensnett have low-rise blocks of flats and maisonettes, some from the 1960s and some newer. Getting materials in and rubbish out takes planning, and the work has to fit round neighbours. We protect stairs and shared halls, and keep the job tidy. If you rent from a housing group, check with them before any work starts.

Himley and the country edge

Out toward Himley Hall and the Staffordshire fields, the homes are a mix of old farm cottages, estate houses and larger detached homes. The cottages have thick walls, low ceilings and old beams, and some still have lime plaster that is worth keeping. The larger homes tend to have big rooms and tall halls with long ceilings that show every crack. We plan each job on its own, and take the time to get it right.

Small jobs welcome

Not every job is a full room. A patch after a leak, a crack over a door, a hole where a hatch or 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 Kingswinford

We plaster homes across Kingswinford and round it, including the Cross and the village centre, Wall Heath, Ashwood, Summerhill, Wordsley, Pensnett, Bromley, Shut End and Himley, and on to Brierley Hill, Amblecote, Stourbridge, Sedgley and Gornal.

Nearby pages include rendering in Kingswinford, plastering in Stourbridge, plastering in Dudley, rendering in Sedgley, rendering in Wombourne and plastering in Kinver. See every town on our plastering areas page.

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

Get a plastering quote in Kingswinford

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 Kingswinford · Plastering areas · Areas we cover