HOW TO HIRE · TRADES & CONSTRUCTION · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a plasterer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A plasterer in Ireland costs €250–€800 per room, typically around €450. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a plasterer in five steps
- Are you on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — decorative Plastering — some plasterers specialise in decorative techniques, such as creating ornate cornices, ceiling roses, or textured finishes.
- Will I get a Certificate of Compliance on Completion, and when?On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — repair and Restoration — plasterers also handle repair work, such as fixing cracks, holes, or damaged plaster.
- How does complexity of the job change the price?Detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does type of plastering required change the price?Finish quality is where most of the price difference lives. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does size of the area to be covered change the price?Size decides whether this is a morning or a full day. — ask before the quote rather than after.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI)
CIRI is a VOLUNTARY register today. The Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed on 5 July 2022 and S.I. 429/2022 commenced parts of it on 29 August 2022; the Construction Industry Federation was appointed registration body on 16 January 2023. Registration is NOT yet mandatory: the divisions regulations had not been drafted as of a May 2025 Dáil answer, and CIRI itself projects mandatory registration from 2027. So being absent from CIRI breaks no law in 2026 — and being on it is still the only independent check of a builder that exists here.
Search the Construction Industry Register Ireland for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. ciri.ie →
a Certificate of Compliance on Completion
Issued by the assigned certifier and the builder, where the work needed a commencement notice on completion, before the building is occupied. It matters because it is lodged on the statutory register and is what a buyer's solicitor looks for; work done without one surfaces on sale.
Agree before the work starts that you will be handed a certificate of compliance on completion, and keep it with the house papers.
Insurance
Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — decorative Plastering — some plasterers specialise in decorative techniques, such as creating ornate cornices, ceiling roses, or textured finishes.
A good answer: On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — repair and Restoration — plasterers also handle repair work, such as fixing cracks, holes, or damaged plaster.
A good answer: Detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Finish quality is where most of the price difference lives. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Size decides whether this is a morning or a full day. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Wall and Ceiling Plastering — plasterers are skilled in applying plaster to walls and ceilings, providing a smooth and durable finish — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a plasterer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it — decorative Plastering — decorative plastering involves applying intricate designs or mouldings to ceilings and walls for aesthetic enhancement.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the job — detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site.
- Type of plastering required — finish quality is where most of the price difference lives.
- Size of the area to be covered — size decides whether this is a morning or a full day.
- Condition of the surface — damage found on the day adds time that was not in the quote.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- No a Certificate of Compliance on Completion is offered, or you are told you do not need one for work of this kind
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the job — detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site
- They will not talk about it: type of plastering required — finish quality is where most of the price difference lives
- They will not talk about it: size of the area to be covered — size decides whether this is a morning or a full day
- A price for the plasterer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
What a plasterer costs: €250–€800 per room
The figures are for the job, per room, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Skimming and Rendering each carry their own band. Plasterer price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Plasterers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of the job — detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site — that is what the plasterer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneType of plastering required — finish quality is where most of the price difference lives — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSize of the area to be covered — size decides whether this is a morning or a full day — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherCondition of the surface — damage found on the day adds time that was not in the quote — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the plasterer is still there.
- What you are handedA Certificate of Compliance on Completion, the invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, materials used — waste and offcuts are part of what you pay for.
- Wall and Ceiling Plastering
- Plasterers are skilled in applying plaster to walls and ceilings, providing a smooth and durable finish.
- Repair and Restoration
- Plasterers also handle repair work, such as fixing cracks, holes, or damaged plaster.
- Decorative Plastering
- Some plasterers specialise in decorative techniques, such as creating ornate cornices, ceiling roses, or textured finishes.
- Skimming and Rendering
- Skimming involves applying a thin layer of plaster to create a smooth surface, while rendering is used for external walls to protect and enhance their appearance.
- Skimming
- Skimming involves applying a thin layer of plaster over existing walls to create a smooth surface for painting or decorating.
- Rendering
- Rendering is the application of a sand and cement mixture to exterior walls, providing a protective and decorative finish.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a plasterer: questions people ask
The cost of hiring a plasterer can vary based on several factors, including the complexity of the job, the type of plastering required, and the size of the area to be covered. Additional costs may arise for repairs or decorative finishes.
The duration of plastering work depends on the scope of the project. For example, skimming a single room can take a few hours, while larger jobs, such as full house plastering, may take several days to complete.
While general plasterers are often sufficient for most jobs, specialised plastering may require professionals with specific qualifications, especially for historic restoration or complex decorative work. Always check credentials if your project demands it.
Same-day plastering services may be available, but they are often subject to the plasterer's schedule and the nature of the work required. It's best to inquire about availability directly when booking.
Yes, many plasterers offer the option to book multiple related jobs, such as skimming and repairing walls in the same visit. This can often lead to cost savings and more efficient scheduling.
Plastering services usually do not include structural repairs, electrical work, or plumbing. It's important to clarify the scope of work with your plasterer to avoid any misunderstandings.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in trades & construction
Plasterers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022
- S.I. 429/2022 — Commencement Order
- Construction Industry Register Ireland
- Department of Housing — Building Control
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — PLASTERING OF BUILDINGS (Private dwellings/Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only