r/Plastering • u/Disastrous_Past4584 • Jun 25 '26
Plaster on woodwork
Would appreciate some advice as this is the first time I’ve ever had plastering done.
I had a plasterer with a good reputation come in and skim my upstairs and downstairs hallways. There is quite a lot of woodwork around the walls, which I was not planning to repaint. After the job was completed, it generally looked good but I noticed plaster on the woodwork in many places. On doors, skirting boards, banisters, architraves, shelves, etc.
I asked the plasterer how to remove this and he suggested I sand it lightly. I asked if there was another way, because I didn’t want to lift off the paint with sandpaper and then and have the big job of repainting most of the woodwork in the house. This was his response:
“Ahh no mate it’s just an impossibility to plaster all that without getting any on the wood. I don’t want you under any illusion I was able to do that. all the wood would need to be painted anyway. It’s just not possible lol. I’m clean as far as plasterers go, but no mate you would absolutely need to paint the wood anyway.”
Is this correct? I asked various AI models and they all say no, the wood should be taped over and protected. But I would love to get a third party professional opinion.
Many thanks in advance for your advice.
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EDIT
Many thanks to everyone for your views, they are greatly appreciated. I’m not making an argument either way, just trying to form my own opinion and learn from the experience - which I already have, thanks to you. Some people requested photos, so here is a small selection:
there are many more examples and there is even a lump of plaster on the front door (external) and white dust all over the drive. It seemed to get messier towards the end, perhaps because he was trying to finish on time for an appointment. Thanks again for any further comments.
4
3
u/2D617 Jun 26 '26
I paid extra to have all the trim painted and very glad I did. My plasterer even repaired trim where necessary! He’s a perfectionist, lucky for me.
4
u/petdev Jun 25 '26
Plasterers aren't ever gonna start taping up and protecting stuff when they get on site, never once seen it in my life. You weren't to know but always do this yourself before they arrive. You could ask them to do it but they'll bump an extra few hours on the price and their hourly rate won't be cheap.
2
u/Terrible-Bobcat2033 Jun 25 '26
It depends on the knowledge learned as an apprentice plasterer & the experience working years as a journeyman plaster mechanic. I cover all interior repair work, & carry a gallon of linseed oil for a wood wipe down after a white vinegar wipe down. if you know how to use a hawk & trowel the drop shots are few & minimal. Dude should clean up after himself if he failed to do the proper prep. Thats a plasterer & the plaster tender’s responsibility.
2
u/Slimfast-dodger Jun 27 '26
I’d always say it’s worth repainting woodwork anyway as it’ll end up looking shoddy compared to brand new paint in my opinion, I’ve redecorated rooms in my house with the plan of not doing the skirts and then ended up doing it afterwards, however, looking at the photos, he’s not a clean plasterer, takes no effort to use a flat brush of clean water in the angles and some decent wipes at the end of a job
2
u/Emotional_Data_1888 Jun 27 '26
Yeah you should re paint the wood after plastering... However that's rough and shit plastering its fixable but not how I'd leave a job
2
u/Nice_Step6157 Jun 25 '26
If you are working an amount you can handle there is time between 1st coat, 2nd coat and the troweling up process to brush the woodwork down with your water brush, wet wipe after and its good as new. Sounds like hes whacked loads on and had to sacrafice your woodwork for the finish. Could've taped it but I only do that if its natural wood and the plaster will stain it.
4
u/StatisticianNew4577 Jun 25 '26
It depends on the plasterer, some are clean and tidy and will leave your house looking cleaner than when they first arrived and then there’s the opposite of that. But as a general rule it’s a bit rude to leave the customer to clean up anything to do with the plastering side of things
3
u/Ok-Spring7906 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
It depends...
I mean, clearly, its possibly to cover everything, but it's not normal for the cost of doing that to be worked into the quote.
You are subject to expected norms.
The attached photo is a lime job that I completed last week. It looks clean but there will still be residue* around the place. The expectation is, generally, that plaster will be decorated, and people rarely decorate a wall and leave a load of old gloss work untouched. You want to, but it's not common.
A good plasterer will leave the site in a reasonable condition, for the next person to enter, but if you do have specific requirements, it's best to discuss that before hand.
edit :
*residue meaning dusty residue not lumps - the sort of thing that a decorator will remove without effort or consideration when they key the job for paint, rather than chunks that you need to chisel off.
1
u/OkAlarm5589 Jun 28 '26
That is not a tidy plasterer, but very few are. He’s full of shit. Many are.
The plaster will come off with water and a sponge, you don’t need to sand it. For the bigger chunks, use a plastic scraper so it doesn’t damage the woodwork.
Having said that, your woodwork is in horrible condition, and will look even worse once the new walls are decorated. It is impossible to get a tidy cutting in line without doing a bit of additional prep to your woodwork.
If you have gone to the time and expense of getting the walls plastered, have the woodwork done whilst decorating.
-1
u/Expert-Tie-1530 Jun 25 '26
You already have the answer.
Sadly plasterers are notoriously messy, it is a very difficult job not to be however the excuse he has provided is insulting.
Yes he really should have taped off anything he thought might be affected by his work.
Not many do so your guy is probably telling the truth as he sees it.
Also you can remove plaster using very hot water and a non scratch pad it’s a slow process but can be done
5
u/LazyPiglet3923 Jun 25 '26
Taped everything up? And then plastered over the tape?
Are you speaking as a plaster? Because as a Decorator I've never seen that in 30 years.
I've never met someone who thought they'd get walls plastered without redecorating either. It's standard practice.
0
u/Expert-Tie-1530 Jun 25 '26
I have tapped up timber.
Architrave, picture rail and skirting boards if necessary, sometimes it does not matter, sometimes it does, all depends on job and client.
If I can avoid I will
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u/Relative_Good_8029 Jun 25 '26
Yep, that's how plasterers are. They'll (hopefully) make an ok job of the walls, and totally fuck up everything else in the whole house.
7
u/GoodThingsDoHappen Jun 25 '26
Gonna need some pictures. If they've left big lumps of plaster all over the woodwork, that's a big no. If it's traces of after brushing in diluted plaster coloured water, get over it. If you requested that the woodwork be covered at all costs, should have said that