Advice & insights
Blog
Guides, tips and updates from our team.
Why is my render cracking?
What hairline, coin-width and stepped cracks in render mean, why render cracks, and how we repair it so it stays fixed.
10 Sep 2026Why is my plaster blowing off the wall?
Why plaster goes hollow and falls away, how to tell blown plaster from a crack, and why we fix the damp before we re-plaster.
10 Sep 2026Why is my guttering overflowing?
The six reasons gutters overflow, why it leads to damp and blown plaster indoors, and what we do to put it right.
10 Sep 2026Why is my render going green?
Green render is algae growing on a wall that stays damp. Where it comes from, how to clean it safely, and how to stop it coming back.
10 Sep 2026How much does it cost to skim a ceiling?
Checkatrade's 2026 benchmark for skimming a ceiling by size, what pushes the price up or down, and when a ceiling needs overboarding instead.
10 Sep 2026How much does it cost to render a house?
Checkatrade's 2026 per-square-metre rates by render type, whole-house ranges, the extras that are never in the headline price, and how we quote.
10 Sep 2026How long does plaster take to dry before painting?
How long to leave new plaster before the mist coat, how to tell when it is dry, what speeds it up, and how to paint it so it does not peel.
10 Sep 2026How long does it take to replace fascias, soffits and guttering?
How long a roofline job takes, what happens on the day, what adds time, and why we usually replace rather than cap.
10 Sep 2026Plasterboard or wet plaster: which is better for my walls?
Plasterboard and skim against wet plaster on masonry: speed, drying, insulation, sound and old solid walls, and which we recommend where.
10 Sep 2026