Eltham is unusually mixed. There are Edwardian terraces near the station, very large interwar estates built out through the twenties and thirties, and pockets of postwar and later infill. The three want different things: the Edwardian houses have lath ceilings and solid walls, the thirties estates have consistent proportions and mostly sound plaster, and the later stock is boarded throughout.
So the first visit matters more here than in a place with one kind of house. Knowing which of the three you are standing in decides whether a room is a one day skim or a three day strip and replaster, and that is not something to guess at over the phone.
Rooms that have been patched for decades
The commonest job is a room that is structurally fine and cosmetically exhausted. Forty years of filler, a fireplace taken out, sockets moved twice, lining paper put up and pulled off, and a surface that will not take paint flat however carefully it is rolled.
That is a skim, and it is the single best value job in plastering. Two thin coats over what is already there, one day for a normal room, and the finished surface is identical to a wall that has been taken back to brick at three times the cost.
Stairs, landings and the awkward bits
Hallways, stairwells and landings are where people stop and call somebody in, because they are tall, awkward to reach and impossible to do half of. A stairwell needs a proper working platform rather than a ladder leant across the flight, and that platform is most of the setting up time.
Done properly it is one continuous surface from the front door to the landing ceiling with no joins in it, which is the part that is genuinely hard to get from a weekend attempt. It is also the first thing anybody sees when they come in.
“Good honest business, we called SMB after we had a bad experience with previous contractors. ... The work is immaculate (we had our house skimmed), the detail, care and attention is spot on.”
“Frank and Steve did a fantastic job on my hallway! Really professional team and their work is seamless. I was really impressed, and they even fixed my skirting board and put it back on for me, a very appreciated extra! Would highly recommend.”
“They did a great job. I had an awkward hallway area and a large ceiling to skim. I thought they'd finished earlier in the day as it looked great to me then, but they went over the whole area to make sure that the finish was perfect.”
“Excellent work! Scott plastered our living room including some tricky details around fireplace and bay window. Great finish looks really good, all the work was tidy and well communicated all done on time. Would highly recommend.”
“Frank completed a wall for me that needed plastering, he was on time, very polite and nothing seemed an issue. ... Although only a small job, kept my house tidy, even outside the house, cleaned up after he finished and done a perfect job, highly recommended from myself.”
“Hi, Had the team in plastering for a week. What a joy. There were no problems they turned up on time everyday and very polite. Would recommend them to anyone. Thanks very much guys.”
“I don't often leave reviews, but Frank was so helpful and pleasant to work with that he deserves 5 stars. Very responsive and professional. He did a great job and left our place clean and tidy. Thanks again Frank!”
“Frank very kindly stopped by to plaster a chipped wall. Perfectly done and really helpful and kind guy. 100% calling if I ever need any more plastering done!”
“Although we didn't require any work, Frank was extremely helpful and knowledgable on his visit to inspect our issue. He was prompt and on time and responded quickly.”
“Very, very happy with Franks work finishing off kitchen walls after having been let down by a builder. It was a tricky job as the granite worktops ect had already been installed but I couldn't be happier with the result.”
“Really happy with the work. Great finish and very professional. Turned up on time, kept things tidy, and did a top-quality job. Would definitely recommend.”
“very pleasant experience in communication and the level of service provided. tradesman was very polite. He came around for a diagnosis before outlining the job in details with cost and what needs doing.”
“Just had Scott round, Arrived on time started straight away and just got on with the job. Pleasant at all times clean & tidy worker will definitely use again. Work looks good and he stuck to his price. Thanks Scott was was good to meet you.”
“Very professional, was very clear on what exactly will be done. Agreed a price and kept me update all the way through. Happy with the work completed and after care as well. Very helpful and highly recommended.”
“Scott called me before booking a date to come and do work. He reasured me about somethings i was worried about. He come in time he said he would and helped me with another job as well. Very helpful and happy with service”
“Great job by Scott plastering the small room, he managed to sort out the uneven ceiling and walls. Will be using Scott again to sort out a couple of other rooms.”
