Wexford & surrounding counties

Plastering work,
done right.

Skimming, rendering and slabbing for homes, extensions and repairs. For older walls, ask about lime mortar.

Cathal Hillis CH Plastering

CH Plastering — Cathal Hillis. Skimming, rendering, slabbing and lime mortar.

Jobs I take on

Walls, ceilings
and everything between.

One room, a boundary wall or a full renovation. Tell me what you have in mind and I’ll talk you through the work it needs.

Inside · walls & ceilings

Skimming

A smooth plaster finish over new boards or suitable existing plaster. For freshening up a room, finishing a renovation or making good after other work.

Skimming & repair questions

Outside · walls & details

Rendering

Sand and cement render for houses, extensions, sheds and boundary walls. This includes patching, cracked render and making good around windows.

See an external finish

Boarding · preparation

Slabbing

Plasterboard fitted to walls and ceilings, with joints and edges prepared for skimming. For rooms, extensions, granny flats and new builds.

Plasterboarding questions

Older walls · suitable repairs

Lime mortar

Work on older walls starts with the existing materials and condition. A suitable lime finish can help traditional walls release moisture.

Talk about lime mortar

Small repairs, full renovations
and the jobs in between.

  • Sheds & extensions
  • Boundary & block walls
  • Rooms & ceilings
  • Renovations & new builds
  • Granny flats
  • Internal repairs after leaks

Small jobs welcome. A €100 minimum job fee applies, including tiny patches. Send a photo and I’ll take a look.

Recent work

Work worth showing.

A few jobs I’ve completed, from garden walls to a freshly skimmed room. Select a photo to take a closer look.

White cement · napped finish

Garden steps

Exposed blockwork finished in white cement, with a napped texture on the steps and surrounding walls. It made a real difference to the back garden.

Sand & cement · sponge finish

Boundary walls

Ordinary sand and cement with a sponge finish. The short video shows the texture up close and how flat the wall runs along its length.

Sand & cement · sponge finish

Large shed & dog kennels

A large exterior with a high plinth and awkward access, finished in sand and cement with a sponge finish. The job needed careful work around the raised base and tight working space.

Kitchen remodel · blue-grit preparation

Preparing a larger kitchen layout

Part of the kitchen was opened up by removing internal walls and changing the layout. The new areas had already been slabbed, while blue grit was applied across the old painted walls and ceiling to give the existing surfaces a proper key for the fresh finish.

Internal preparation · scud coat

Preparing a whole house

The inside of a private house after the scud coat preparation, before the float and set. The coverage is tidy and consistent throughout, giving the next stages a proper base to work from.

White cement · napped finish

Private house exterior

A private house finished in white cement with a clean napped texture. The two views show the finished elevations and how the bright finish sits against the roofline and surrounding site.

External patching · detail work

Making good around a window

The head and reveals patched in freehand, bringing the edges back into shape and leaving a clean finish around the frame.

Internal skimming · walls & ceilings

A freshly skimmed room

A smooth, even skim throughout the room. Both clips show the finished plasterwork, with the light catching the surface. Videos are silent.

Have something similar in mind?

Tell me about your job

CH Plastering · Cathal Hillis

Let’s work out
what your job needs.

I’m Cathal, the plasterer behind CH Plastering. You can send your enquiry straight to me, whether it’s a small patch or work across a whole house.

  1. Send a few details

    Your location, a couple of photos and a rough idea of the work. Measurements or plans help if you have them.

  2. Look at the job

    For larger jobs or anything that needs a closer look, we can arrange a visit to measure and check the surfaces.

  3. Agree the work

    We’ll go through the price, materials, preparation and timing so you know what’s included before work starts.

A few useful answers

Before you get started.

Not sure which service you need? A photo is a good place to start. These answers cover the questions that usually come next.

Quotes & planning

What should I send for a quote?

Send your town or area, what needs doing and a few photos. A wide shot shows the whole wall or room; a close-up helps with cracks or damaged areas. Rough measurements, plans and your preferred timeframe are useful if you have them.

Start your enquiry
Can you price from photos, or do you need to visit?

Photos are a useful starting point, especially for small repairs. Larger jobs, awkward access or damaged surfaces usually need a visit and a measure-up before I can give a firm price.

Do you take on small jobs, and what do they cost?

Yes, including tiny patches and making good. There is a €100 minimum job fee. Beyond that, the price depends on the size, condition, preparation and access. Send the details and I can price the actual work.

How do you price labour and materials?

I normally price labour and materials separately. I order the materials for you, using a close estimate of what the job needs to keep your costs and waste down.

Extra materials may be needed as the work progresses, and I’ll keep you updated. This avoids paying for a large surplus that may never be used.

If you prefer one overall price, I’m happy to include materials, with an allowance for any extra that may be needed. We’ll confirm what’s included before agreeing the job.

What areas do you cover?

Wexford and surrounding counties. Include your town or area in the enquiry so I can confirm whether I can take on the job at your location.

How long will the work take, and when can you start?

A small repair and a full house need very different amounts of time. Preparation, the number of coats, drying and weather all matter. Let me know your preferred dates; I’ll discuss availability and the likely working time once I’ve seen the job.

Plastering & repairs

Can an existing wall or ceiling be skimmed?

Often, yes, if the existing surface is sound and prepared properly. Loose plaster, wallpaper, flaking paint or damp need looking at first. Photos help me see whether a skim, a local repair or more preparation is needed.

Can cracked external render be repaired?

Sometimes a local repair is enough; sometimes more of the render needs attention. I’ll look at the cracks and the surrounding surface before suggesting a repair. Cracks that keep returning may need their underlying cause investigated first.

See an example of external patching
Do you repair plaster damaged by an indoor leak?

Yes. This is internal repair work on walls or ceilings after water damage. The leak must be fixed and the area allowed to dry sufficiently first. I can then assess the damaged plaster or boards and what needs replacing or making good.

What external finishes do you do?

The work shown here includes sand and cement with a sponge finish, and white cement with a napped finish. The choice depends on the wall and the look you want. Send a reference photo if you have a particular finish in mind.

Compare the finishes in recent work
How should I prepare the room? What about clean-up?

Clear smaller belongings and leave good access to the walls and ceiling. Tell me about furniture that cannot be moved. We’ll agree what needs removing, floor protection, access to water and any waste removal before starting.

How long does plaster take to dry before painting?

There isn’t one drying time for every job. Thickness, the background, temperature and ventilation all affect it. Plaster needs to be fully dry before normal decorating. I’ll explain the aftercare for your finish; follow the paint manufacturer’s instructions for preparing new plaster.

Can rendering go ahead in wet or cold weather?

External work depends on suitable weather during application and while it sets. Heavy rain, frost, strong sun or drying winds can affect the finish. Protection or a change of dates may be needed, and I’ll discuss that when planning the job.

Plasterboarding & slabbing

What’s the difference between slabbing and skimming?

Slabbing means fitting plasterboard to the walls or ceiling. Skimming is the thin plaster finish over the prepared surface. I can quote for both stages together, or discuss the stage your job is at.

Can you slab and skim a whole room or extension?

Yes. Rooms, extensions, granny flats, renovations and new builds are all jobs I take on. Send the plans or rough room sizes, and say whether the ceilings are included.

Watch the finished room videos
What needs to be ready before the boards go up?

Stud framing, insulation and any wiring or plumbing that sits behind the boards need to be coordinated first. The building also needs to be suitably dry and weather-tight. We’ll go through the preparation and any board requirements before starting.

Can you help if the job needs other trades first?

Yes, I can help get quotes for other trades. Mention what still needs doing, from carpentry to electrical or plumbing work, so it can be considered alongside the plastering.

See the trades I can help get priced

More than plastering

Need other trades
priced too?

If your job needs any of these trades, ask me about it. I can help get quotes together so you’re not left trying to line up everyone yourself.

  • Carpentry
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Roofing
  • Painting
  • Blocklaying
  • Concreting
  • Solar panels

Lime mortar queries

Working with
older walls.

Older buildings need an approach that suits their materials. Before choosing a finish, it helps to understand the wall, what’s on it now and where any moisture is coming from.

Ask about lime mortar
When is lime mortar the right choice?

It’s often suitable for older solid walls built with lime, where moisture needs to evaporate through the materials. The right mix and finish depend on the existing wall and how exposed it is. It needs assessing rather than choosing by appearance alone.

Can damaged old plaster be repaired?

Often it can. Sound existing material may be kept, with repairs to the areas that need them. Send a wide photo of the wall and close-ups of the damage; a site visit may be needed before deciding what to remove or repair.

Will a lime finish solve a damp problem?

Lime can allow moisture to escape, but a new finish will not fix an ongoing leak or water getting into the building. The source of moisture needs to be understood alongside the plaster repair.

Does lime need different drying and decorating care?

Yes. Lime finishes need suitable curing conditions and a compatible, permeable decoration. The timing and aftercare depend on the product and the wall. We’ll discuss the finish before work starts so painting can be planned properly.

Have a job in mind?

Send a few
details over.

A couple of photos, your location and a rough idea of the work is enough to start with. You don’t need to know all the trade terms.

  • Your town or area
  • What needs doing, inside or outside
  • A wide photo and a close-up of any damage
  • Rough size and preferred dates, if you know them

Cathal Hillis CH Plastering

Get in touch with Cathal

083 456 1302Email about your job

Email is handy for photos. If you’d rather talk the job through, give me a call.