Board and finish
Plasterboard and Skim Cost
Compare dry lining, overboarding and a complete plasterboard-and-skim scope with a simple finish skim.
MyBuilder's August 2026 guide reports dry lining at about £300–£500 per room, while Checkatrade's broader medium-room 'from scratch' observation is £575–£920. These figures describe different possible scopes, so the quote must state board type, framing or adhesive, insulation, edges, services and final finish.
What changes the result?
A useful calculation starts with the physical scope and the written commercial terms. These are the factors to make explicit:
- Wall lining or ceiling overboarding
- Board type and thickness
- Framing, adhesive and substrate
- Insulation, fire, moisture and acoustic needs
- Sockets, skirting, coving and waste
Use one scope for every quote
Give each business the same information and ask it to resolve the same boundaries. That makes the totals more comparable and exposes work left as an allowance or exclusion.
- Name the board and fixing method
- Confirm insulation or performance requirements
- List fittings and edge details
- Separate preparation, finish and decoration
Current room-level planning evidence
MyBuilder reports £300–£500 per room for dry lining in August 2026. Checkatrade reports £575–£920 for plastering a medium room from scratch. The latter can represent a wider labour and material scope; neither number defines the board system by itself.
- Dry lining observation: £300–£500 per room
- Medium room from scratch: £575–£920
Specify what sits behind the skim
Standard, moisture-resistant, acoustic and fire-rated boards are not interchangeable. The substrate may use timber or metal framing, adhesive dabs or direct mechanical fixing. Insulation, vapour control, cavity detailing and building-regulation requirements can add work that is invisible in the final plaster surface.
Edges, openings and services change the total
Window reveals, external corners, door linings, sockets, radiators, skirting and coving create interfaces. Record who removes, alters and reinstates them. For ceilings, include access, light fittings, detectors and whether the existing ceiling remains in place.
Questions people ask
How much does plasterboard and skimming cost per room?
Current evidence includes £300–£500 per room for dry lining and £575–£920 for plastering a medium room from scratch. They may describe different scopes, so obtain a system-specific quote.
Is plasterboard included in a full replaster price?
Not automatically. The quote should state board type, quantity, fixing method, framing or adhesive, insulation, waste and final coats.
Can old walls be dot-and-dabbed?
Suitability depends on the substrate, moisture, flatness, services and performance requirements. A competent contractor or designer should specify the fixing method.
Does plasterboard and skim include insulation?
Only if the written quote names it. Insulated board, separate insulation, vapour control and detailing should be explicit line items.
Method and sources
The model is a planning tool, not a quotation. These are the published sources used for this page; read the full assumptions before relying on a range. Source review: 14 September 2026.
- MyBuilder plastering cost guide
August 2026 dry-lining cost observation; reviewed 14 September 2026.
- Checkatrade room-skimming cost guide
June 2026 medium-room from-scratch observation; reviewed 14 September 2026.