Expert plaster and render repairs in Ludlow and South Shropshire. From internal water damage to external drydash and OCR render patching. We make damage disappear.
Expert plaster and render repairs for South Shropshire homes. From water damage to blown render, we restore your property without the mess.
A damaged wall or ceiling is more than just an eyesore; it is a source of stress. Whether it is a patch of "blown" plaster in a Victorian terrace, a water stain from a bathroom leak, or a chunk of missing render on your garden wall, you want it fixed. But more importantly, you want the repair to be invisible.
At Abode Plastering, we specialise in working in finished, occupied homes. We don't just "slap some filler in." We use structural reinforcement, damp-proofing technologies, and expert blending techniques to ensure the repair doesn't just look good today, but lasts for years.
Most homeowners (and many general handymen) make a critical mistake with repairs: they focus on filling the hole, but forget about the texture.
The Texture Problem: If your ceiling has a "stipple" texture from years of painting, putting a glass-smooth patch in the middle will stand out like a beacon.
The Abode Solution: We advise on the finish. We use "softening" techniques to blend the texture of the new plaster with the old, ensuring that once painted, the join is undetectable.
We categorise our repair work into four specific tiers to ensure you get the right solution for your property.
A leaky pipe or a slipped tile can ruin a ceiling in minutes, leaving unsightly brown stains and crumbling plaster.
The Fix: We cut back the damaged area to a sound edge, patch repair the board with fresh drywall, and re-skim the section for a seamless level.
The Technical Detail: We ensure the background is completely dry and stable before applying new material.
Stain Prevention: We advise on proper stain-blocking primers to ensure that old water marks never bleed through your fresh paintwork.
In older Shropshire homes, it is common to find plaster that sounds hollow when tapped. This is "blown" plaster, where the material has detached from the brick.
The Wrong Way: Skimming over this is a waste of money. It will crack and fall off.
The Abode Way: We hack off the loose material back to the brick. If we find salt deposits (efflorescence), we mechanically remove them and treat the brick with Safeguard Salt Neutraliser to stop the damp returning.
Crack Prevention: For "troublesome" walls, we embed Internal Render Mesh into the basecoat. This acts like steel rebar, absorbing movement and preventing cracks from reappearing.
The Process: We flush-fill the vertical channels ("chases") and patch around new backboxes, leaving walls smooth, flat, and ready for decorating.
Cleanliness First: We respect your electrical fittings. We use elasticated "overshoes" to wrap and protect your sockets, keeping them 100% clean from plaster splashes.
Paint-Ready Finish: We feather the edges of the patch into the existing wall, so you aren't left with a visible "hump" when you paint.
External patching is an art form that many tradespeople avoid because it is difficult to get right. We are happy to take on these skilled repairs.
Smooth Finishes (OCR): We can repair large areas of smooth render (One Coat Render), blending the new material into the existing elevation for a seamless finish.
The "Tricky" Drydash Patch: Matching an old drydash or pebbledash finish is one of the hardest tasks in the trade. We take the time to match the aggregate stones and throwing technique as closely as possible to the original wall, restoring the weather-tight seal and the look of your home.
Blown Render: Just like internal plaster, we remove blown exterior render and treat the underlying salts before patching to ensure the new repair stays on the wall.
Repair work is often messy, but your home shouldn't be. Because we specialise in working in lived-in properties, our preparation is rigorous.
Floor Protection: We don't just use thin plastic. We lay down heavy-duty waterproof tarpaulins followed by absorbent cloth coverings to protect your carpets and flooring.
Dust Control: We keep the workspace contained and clean up daily.
We offer two ways to book repair work, depending on the size and urgency of the job.
Best For: Full ceiling re-skims, whole walls of "blown" plaster/render, or large Artex covering projects.
Process: We provide a detailed written estimate.
Timeline: Booked into our standard schedule.
Best For: Small, urgent repairs requiring less than half a day of work (e.g., a single leak patch, electrical chases, or a small hole).
Benefit: Skip the waiting list. Get a guaranteed slot on a Friday.
Cost: Fixed Fee of £230 (inc. VAT).
Crucial Note on Estimates: I cannot quote a repair I cannot see. To give you an accurate price (and avoid the "guessing game"), please use our Online Estimate Form to upload photos of the damage. Think of it as a "Digital Site Visit"—it allows me to assess the access and substrate immediately.
If I am already coming out to fix a leak or a patch, it makes sense to clear your maintenance 'to-do' list at the same time.
It is much more cost-effective to combine multiple small repairs into one visit than to book separate call-outs.
I am happy to include:
Filling settlement cracks in other rooms.
Tidying up loose plaster around sockets or switches.
Checking external rendering for early warning signs.
Just mention any extra items when you request your estimate.