How to Hire your Plaster Contractor and Save Big Money

Hiring a plaster contractor may be the wisest choice when you decide to repair and renovate your old plaster walls and ceilings.

• when you don’t have confidence that you can learn to repair your own plaster

• when you don’t have the time to do it yourself

• when you want a plaster contractor to just come in and do it fast

But ... be prepared to spend some money. Professionals can provide convenience but they
don’t come cheap. Depending on where you live (US), you can spend anywhere from 35 to 65 dollars an hour or more (‘07) on your plaster contractor, depending on the kind of work you need done.

That being the case, might you be interested in some tips to help you get those old plaster walls and ceilings done for less money? Sure you would!

As a plaster repair and renovation expert myself, I love it when my client does things to get ready for me. That way, I can get into the part that I am specialized to do right away, without spending valuable time doing prep things he could just as easily do.

So here is what I suggest. When you make first contact with your (potential) plaster contractor, ask him - what can I do by way of preparation to make your job go easier? And ... will this save me money?

When I have a client eager to help, here are some things I tell them to do.

• empty the room of all furnishings, pictures, etc. (if this is an extensive project).

• cover the floors well with flattened cardboard. (important if old plaster will be removed).

• wash all areas to be repaired to remove dust, grease, fingerprints, cleaning agent residues, etc.

These may seem like common sense things, but you might be surprised at how many people don’t even think of these things - until maybe after I have arrived.

I will cover the cardboard myself with my drop materials, but the cardboard protects a hardwood floor. Old paneling or plywood will work even better.. When removing old plaster from wood lath, it is very easy to have chunks fall to the floor and they can really dent that fine hardwood. The cardboard helps prevent damage.

Anything like dirt, grease, etc. will interfere with the adhesion of new plaster materials to the old painted surfaces. So we need to get it off.

If the old plaster is to receive a new veneer coat, any plaster contractor worth his salt will put on a bonding agent first. He will roll or spray it on. This provides that extra “stickum,” as I call it - insurance for getting a good bond.

If this is the case with your project, ask your prospective contractor if he would give you a break in price if you roll on the bonding agent yourself. He will want to furnish it, but you save him time if you can do the application. It’s easy - just roll on like paint.

If your plastering project is quite extensive, involving taking off all the old plaster down to the wood lath, your plaster contractor will probably be quite pleased to offload that task to you. And if you are also responsible for all the debris removal and cleanup, he will be ecstatic.

You will want to investigate local contractors and get estimates. You can talk to building contractors and see who they like to use for their plastering projects.

For real convenience, you can go online at my website and use my free service to get free, no obligation bids from plaster contractors in your area. See the author's information below.

How far you can go in helping your plaster contractor will depend on his cooperation and your available time. But with these basic tips, the potential for saving a nice amount of money on your plaster repair and renovation project is there. It’s up to you to be proactive and see how far you can (or want) to go.