Damp and re-plastering in Cardiff
Plastering over damp is a way of hiding it for a winter. This page is about the other way of doing it.
- Diagnosis
- Cause identified before any plaster is ordered
- Hack-off
- Back to masonry, and typically 300–500mm above the last damage
- Backing
- Sand and cement render with a salt retardant where salts are present
- Drying
- A wall needs months, not days, before it is fully out of the system
Damp and re-plastering in Cardiff
Plastering over damp is a way of hiding it for a winter. This page is about the other way of doing it.
Blown and salt-damaged plaster hacked off, the cause dealt with, then re-plastered properly.
Find out what is actually wrong first
Damp on an internal wall is a symptom. It can be a failed or bridged damp course, a leaking gutter or downpipe, ground levels raised above the damp course, a cracked render or a bad pointing detail letting rain in, condensation from poor ventilation, or a plumbing leak in the floor or the wall.
Those have completely different fixes and only one of them is a plastering job. Jetnor will tell you which one it looks like and, when it is not his trade, tell you to get the right person in before he plasters anything. A re-plaster over a live leak is money set on fire.
Why blown plaster has to come off
Where water has been in a wall for a long time it carries hygroscopic salts out of the masonry and deposits them in the plaster. Those salts then pull moisture out of the air forever, so the plaster stays damp even after the wall behind it has dried out.
That plaster is finished. It gets hacked off back to masonry, and taken up typically three hundred to five hundred millimetres beyond the last visible damage, because the salts have travelled further than the tide mark shows.
- Cause established and dealt with before plaster is ordered
- Hacked back to masonry, well past the visible damage
- Salt-retardant additive in the backing coat where salts are present
- Plaster kept clear of the floor so it cannot bridge
Re-plastering it so it stays fixed
The backing is a sand and cement render with a salt retardant, kept off the floor so it cannot bridge the damp course, then a finish over the top. Old lime-plastered walls sometimes want a lime backing instead, because a hard cement mix on a soft solid wall pushes the moisture somewhere else rather than solving it.
Then patience. A wall that has been wet for years takes months to give it all up. Decorate too early with a modern vinyl emulsion and you seal moisture in behind the paint film, and the whole thing goes again.
How the job runs
The same order every time, so nothing gets sprung on you.
- 1Diagnose
Look at the outside as well as the inside — gutters, ground levels, render, pointing, ventilation.
- 2Say what it is
Including when the answer is that you need a roofer, a plumber or a damp specialist first.
- 3Hack off
Back to masonry, past the damage, waste bagged and out.
- 4Re-render
Backing coat with a salt retardant, kept clear of the floor.
- 5Finish and advise
Skimmed flat, then honest advice on how long to leave it before you decorate.
His own work: damp & re-plastering
Photographs from real jobs, off his own Google profile.
Damp & Re-plastering: common questions
Can you just plaster over damp?
You can. It comes back, usually within a winter, and then you pay twice. Deal with the cause first.
What causes damp patches at skirting level?
Commonly a bridged or failed damp course, raised external ground levels, or a leak. It needs looking at from outside as well as inside.
What is salt damage?
Long-term moisture carries salts out of the masonry into the plaster. Those salts then attract moisture from the air permanently, so the plaster never dries. It has to come off.
How far up the wall do you take the plaster off?
Back to masonry and typically 300–500mm above the last sign of damage, because the salts travel further than the stain shows.
How long before I can decorate?
Longer than you want. A wall that has been wet for years takes months. Use a breathable paint early on rather than a vinyl emulsion that seals it.
Do I need a damp proof course?
Sometimes. Often the real problem is a bridge across an existing one — render taken down to the ground, a raised path, or a flowerbed piled against the wall.
Is it condensation or rising damp?
Condensation shows on cold surfaces and in corners, often with black mould, and is worse in winter. Rising damp shows as a tide mark low down with salting. They are different problems and different fixes.
Will you tell me if it is not a plastering job?
Yes. It is a shorter conversation than coming back in eighteen months.
What customers say
Every review below is printed word for word from the profile it came from. Nothing is trimmed and nothing is cherry-picked.
I would highly recommend Jetnor. He was super quick to respond, and explained what was a very tricky job working around all the existing bathroom and kitchen. The standard of work is fantastic and like a glass finish! Jetnor left the place the as clean and tidy as possible and generally is a great guy! Any job around Cardiff I would highly recommend him! Any future job I would come to him first.
Jetnor's work is fantastic. Punctual polite man. Gave us a great quote. Was able to start quickly. Would definitely use again and recommend. If I could rate him higher I would.
Jetnor responds quickly to requests, gives fair quotes and keeps his commitments, being punctual, hard working and providing quality work. Thoroughly recommend
Quality service. Clean, tidy, polite and very responsive. Lovely hardworking guys, highly recommended.
I cannot rate Jetnor and his team highly enough - they have just finished work on our rendering this afternoon and have done a brilliant job. The work was completed within the agreed timeframe and they have done a brilliant job. All rubbish was taken away after each day and they cleaned up well after themselves. Jetnor was very responsive to my questions and his quote was very competitive compared to others received. I will definitely use Jetnor again and will recommend them to all my friends and family.
I would highly recommend Jetnor. He was super quick to respond, and explained what was a very tricky job working around all the existing bathroom and kitchen. The standard of work is fantastic and like a glass finish! Jetnor left the place the as clean and tidy as possible and generally is a great guy! Any job around Cardiff I would highly recommend him! Any future job I would come to him first.
Jetnor's work is fantastic. Punctual polite man. Gave us a great quote. Was able to start quickly. Would definitely use again and recommend. If I could rate him higher I would.
Jetnor responds quickly to requests, gives fair quotes and keeps his commitments, being punctual, hard working and providing quality work. Thoroughly recommend
Quality service. Clean, tidy, polite and very responsive. Lovely hardworking guys, highly recommended.
I cannot rate Jetnor and his team highly enough - they have just finished work on our rendering this afternoon and have done a brilliant job. The work was completed within the agreed timeframe and they have done a brilliant job. All rubbish was taken away after each day and they cleaned up well after themselves. Jetnor was very responsive to my questions and his quote was very competitive compared to others received. I will definitely use Jetnor again and will recommend them to all my friends and family.
I would highly recommend Jetnor. He was super quick to respond, and explained what was a very tricky job working around all the existing bathroom and kitchen. The standard of work is fantastic and like a glass finish! Jetnor left the place the as clean and tidy as possible and generally is a great guy! Any job around Cardiff I would highly recommend him! Any future job I would come to him first.
Jetnor's work is fantastic. Punctual polite man. Gave us a great quote. Was able to start quickly. Would definitely use again and recommend. If I could rate him higher I would.
Jetnor responds quickly to requests, gives fair quotes and keeps his commitments, being punctual, hard working and providing quality work. Thoroughly recommend
Quality service. Clean, tidy, polite and very responsive. Lovely hardworking guys, highly recommended.
I cannot rate Jetnor and his team highly enough - they have just finished work on our rendering this afternoon and have done a brilliant job. The work was completed within the agreed timeframe and they have done a brilliant job. All rubbish was taken away after each day and they cleaned up well after themselves. Jetnor was very responsive to my questions and his quote was very competitive compared to others received. I will definitely use Jetnor again and will recommend them to all my friends and family.
I would highly recommend Jetnor. He was super quick to respond, and explained what was a very tricky job working around all the existing bathroom and kitchen. The standard of work is fantastic and like a glass finish! Jetnor left the place the as clean and tidy as possible and generally is a great guy! Any job around Cardiff I would highly recommend him! Any future job I would come to him first.
Jetnor's work is fantastic. Punctual polite man. Gave us a great quote. Was able to start quickly. Would definitely use again and recommend. If I could rate him higher I would.
Jetnor responds quickly to requests, gives fair quotes and keeps his commitments, being punctual, hard working and providing quality work. Thoroughly recommend
Quality service. Clean, tidy, polite and very responsive. Lovely hardworking guys, highly recommended.
I cannot rate Jetnor and his team highly enough - they have just finished work on our rendering this afternoon and have done a brilliant job. The work was completed within the agreed timeframe and they have done a brilliant job. All rubbish was taken away after each day and they cleaned up well after themselves. Jetnor was very responsive to my questions and his quote was very competitive compared to others received. I will definitely use Jetnor again and will recommend them to all my friends and family.
9.91181 Checkatrade reviews
The 181 reviews on his Checkatrade profile average 9.91 out of 10, and 144 of them are a straight ten.
Checkatrade
Plastering hallway and bathroom
Amazing service quality and price would highly recommend jetnor is a true gent thank you
Checkatrade
Skimmed entire room in one day!
Amazing job - skimmed an entire room in 1 day for us and had some horrendous walls. Jentor was polite, had great communication and left the place nice and clean afterwards. Absolutely no complaints here & would 100% hire again.
Checkatrade
skimming both sides of stud wall separating lounge from dining room
Jetnor was excellent from start to finish. Clear, polite and prompt communication and transparent pricing in response to my advert. Arrived on time, made sure to contain any mess and clean up thoroughly after the work was completed. The quality of the work was first class, we're very pleased with the final product. And most of all, Jetnor is a lovely humble guy who always works with a smile on his face. Would 100% recommend to anyone looking for plastering work.
Checkatrade
skimming 6 artex ceilings
brilliant work by a hard working guy - definitely would use him again for any future work
Checkatrade
Skimming around patio door
Amazing job looks brilliant, great communication, very friendly chap highly recommend
Checkatrade
Ceiling repair
We had a ceiling that was covered in wallpaper and had been damaged by a number of leaks, so we needed it plaster boarded and skimmed. Jet did a great job, was very polite and left the place clean. Would definitely recommend.
Checkatrade
Plastered 2 ceilings
Jet did an outstanding job of plastering both ceilings in our new home. I would highly recommend him and his work. Lovely guy and he was reasonably priced. 5 stars
Checkatrade
Skimming job
had a small section of skimming that needed doing after a fireplace was removed. Jetnor came round and did an absolutely fantastic job. Will definitely be hiring again.
Checkatrade
Ceiling plastering and major touch up repairs
Jet was super reliable and his communication was brilliant. Fast turnaround, his quality was excellent. He left my utility and kitchen immaculately clean and tidy, will be using again when I need a plasterer - 10/10!
Checkatrade
Great work
Jet did some great work on our ceilings, which were previously in a pretty poor state having been covered by wallpaper for many years. He's a really nice guy and got the job done quickly.
Checkatrade
Render repair
The work was to a great standard and Jetnor was very reliable. Excellent communication from the initial quote to completing the job over two days as it was weather dependent.
Checkatrade
Plaster over Kitchen Artex Ceiling
Needed kitchen Artex ceiling plastered. Jetnor was quick to respond and arrange a date & time to quote. Quote was very reasonable and job was carried out to an excellent standard (photos attached). He turned up on time, was very polite and cleaned up after he finished. He used Blue Grit on the Artex first and plastered when dry the next day. We would highly recommend Jetnor if you need any plastering done. You will not be disappointed. 10 out of 10 from us.
Checkatrade
Very satisfied would recommend
Jetnor very quick to respond wanted a bedroom plastered, my house is very old terrible walls no problem to him did an excellent job, nice gentleman hard worker would recommend.
Checkatrade
Great Tradesman
Jetnor was great to deal with and maintained good communications before and during the work. A significant past ceiling movement crack needed repairing. Jetnor was able to offer multiple dates, including the weekend. Work was carried out quickly and efficiently providing the materials needed, and removing any waste. Leaving the area clean, tidy and ready for redecoration. I've retained Jetnor's contact details and would recommend his plastering services to others.
Checkatrade
Would use again, I recommend
Jetnor was amazing and very clear with the work to plastered our ceiling, the quoted amount was very reasonable and time to complete was perfect as we needed it done.
Checkatrade
Excellent plasterer - attention to detail, cleanliness.
I would highly recommend Jetnor. He was super quick to respond, and explained what was a very tricky job working around all the existing bathroom and kitchen. The standard of work is fantastic and like a glass finish! Jetnor left the place the as clean and tidy as possible and generally is a great guy! Any job around Cardiff I would highly recommend him! Any future job I would come to him first.
Checkatrade
Ceiling plaster
Absolutely fantastic! Couldn't have asked for a better job. Have already booked this company up for additional jobs
Checkatrade
repair historic settlement cracks
Highly recommend Jetnor Elezi, he was quick to respond, he explained the work to us and did an amazing job, he left everything clean and tidy. He is a nice guy too so we would not hesitate to use him again.
Checkatrade
Minor skimming job to repair blown plaster
Jetnor was very responsive with information and quality of work was very good. We thought that it may be difficult to get a plastererer for a small job but Jetnor was keen and even came out on a Sunday. A very pleasant man, he was courteous and hard-working. We have now agreed a much larger package of work with Jetnor and look forward to using his services again. Good job!
Checkatrade
Plaster bathroom ceiling
Excellent job. Came when he said he would do the work, excellent finish, highly recommended
Checkatrade
Plastering hallway and bathroom
Amazing service quality and price would highly recommend jetnor is a true gent thank you
Checkatrade
Skimmed entire room in one day!
Amazing job - skimmed an entire room in 1 day for us and had some horrendous walls. Jentor was polite, had great communication and left the place nice and clean afterwards. Absolutely no complaints here & would 100% hire again.
Checkatrade
skimming both sides of stud wall separating lounge from dining room
Jetnor was excellent from start to finish. Clear, polite and prompt communication and transparent pricing in response to my advert. Arrived on time, made sure to contain any mess and clean up thoroughly after the work was completed. The quality of the work was first class, we're very pleased with the final product. And most of all, Jetnor is a lovely humble guy who always works with a smile on his face. Would 100% recommend to anyone looking for plastering work.
Checkatrade
skimming 6 artex ceilings
brilliant work by a hard working guy - definitely would use him again for any future work
Checkatrade
Skimming around patio door
Amazing job looks brilliant, great communication, very friendly chap highly recommend
Checkatrade
Ceiling repair
We had a ceiling that was covered in wallpaper and had been damaged by a number of leaks, so we needed it plaster boarded and skimmed. Jet did a great job, was very polite and left the place clean. Would definitely recommend.
Checkatrade
Plastered 2 ceilings
Jet did an outstanding job of plastering both ceilings in our new home. I would highly recommend him and his work. Lovely guy and he was reasonably priced. 5 stars
Checkatrade
Skimming job
had a small section of skimming that needed doing after a fireplace was removed. Jetnor came round and did an absolutely fantastic job. Will definitely be hiring again.
Checkatrade
Ceiling plastering and major touch up repairs
Jet was super reliable and his communication was brilliant. Fast turnaround, his quality was excellent. He left my utility and kitchen immaculately clean and tidy, will be using again when I need a plasterer - 10/10!
Checkatrade
Great work
Jet did some great work on our ceilings, which were previously in a pretty poor state having been covered by wallpaper for many years. He's a really nice guy and got the job done quickly.
Checkatrade
Render repair
The work was to a great standard and Jetnor was very reliable. Excellent communication from the initial quote to completing the job over two days as it was weather dependent.
Checkatrade
Plaster over Kitchen Artex Ceiling
Needed kitchen Artex ceiling plastered. Jetnor was quick to respond and arrange a date & time to quote. Quote was very reasonable and job was carried out to an excellent standard (photos attached). He turned up on time, was very polite and cleaned up after he finished. He used Blue Grit on the Artex first and plastered when dry the next day. We would highly recommend Jetnor if you need any plastering done. You will not be disappointed. 10 out of 10 from us.
Checkatrade
Very satisfied would recommend
Jetnor very quick to respond wanted a bedroom plastered, my house is very old terrible walls no problem to him did an excellent job, nice gentleman hard worker would recommend.
Checkatrade
Great Tradesman
Jetnor was great to deal with and maintained good communications before and during the work. A significant past ceiling movement crack needed repairing. Jetnor was able to offer multiple dates, including the weekend. Work was carried out quickly and efficiently providing the materials needed, and removing any waste. Leaving the area clean, tidy and ready for redecoration. I've retained Jetnor's contact details and would recommend his plastering services to others.
Checkatrade
Would use again, I recommend
Jetnor was amazing and very clear with the work to plastered our ceiling, the quoted amount was very reasonable and time to complete was perfect as we needed it done.
Checkatrade
Excellent plasterer - attention to detail, cleanliness.
I would highly recommend Jetnor. He was super quick to respond, and explained what was a very tricky job working around all the existing bathroom and kitchen. The standard of work is fantastic and like a glass finish! Jetnor left the place the as clean and tidy as possible and generally is a great guy! Any job around Cardiff I would highly recommend him! Any future job I would come to him first.
Checkatrade
Ceiling plaster
Absolutely fantastic! Couldn't have asked for a better job. Have already booked this company up for additional jobs
Checkatrade
repair historic settlement cracks
Highly recommend Jetnor Elezi, he was quick to respond, he explained the work to us and did an amazing job, he left everything clean and tidy. He is a nice guy too so we would not hesitate to use him again.
Checkatrade
Minor skimming job to repair blown plaster
Jetnor was very responsive with information and quality of work was very good. We thought that it may be difficult to get a plastererer for a small job but Jetnor was keen and even came out on a Sunday. A very pleasant man, he was courteous and hard-working. We have now agreed a much larger package of work with Jetnor and look forward to using his services again. Good job!
Checkatrade
Plaster bathroom ceiling
Excellent job. Came when he said he would do the work, excellent finish, highly recommended
Areas we cover
Based on Pant Glas in Pentwyn and working right across Cardiff — from Llanishen, Cyncoed and Lisvane in the north through Roath, Canton and Grangetown to the Bay, and out to Radyr, Penarth and the Vale.
Related services
Plastering & Skimming
Over-skims, float and set, whole rooms and one-wall repairs. Walls flat enough that paint goes on evenly.
Read moreExternal Rendering
Sand and cement render, scratch and top coat, beaded and finished to suit the house and the weather.
Read morePlasterboarding & Dry Lining
Stud walls, dot-and-dab, ceilings and bulkheads — boarded square and skimmed flat.
Read moreNeed a price for damp & re-plastering?
Send the details and a couple of photos, or ring and talk it through.
Ask about damp & re-plastering
Tell him what the walls are doing and he will come and look. Free quote, no obligation.
- Phone 07988 455215
- Based in Pant Glas, Pentwyn, Cardiff CF23 7EW
- When he answers Call or message any time — Jetnor answers early mornings and evenings.
- Google rating 5.0 from 5 reviews, every one of them five stars