Orpington is largely twentieth century, built out in estates between the wars and again in the fifties and sixties, and that gives it a very consistent housing stock: three bedroom semis and terraces with solid or early cavity walls, boarded ceilings in the newer ones and lath in the older, and almost all of them extended at the back at some point.
Consistent stock means predictable jobs. The commonest by a distance is a full house skim after a purchase, room by room, while the family moves around it. The second commonest is making good where an extension or a knock through meets the original house, which is where the two different wall constructions have to end up as one flat surface.
Artex, and why it is everywhere here
Textured ceilings went on across these estates in the seventies and eighties and a great many are still there under several coats of paint. Taking one back to flat is either a skim over a shallow pattern or a board over a heavy one, and the decision is made with a fingernail rather than a guess.
What never happens is sanding or scraping it. Textured coatings from before the mid eighties can contain asbestos, and disturbing one is the only part of the process that is actually dangerous. Skimmed over or boarded over, it is sealed and left alone, which is both safer and a better finish.
Extensions, and where the old meets the new
A rear extension puts a new blockwork or timber wall against a ninety year old brick one, and the junction between them is where cracking turns up a year later. The two structures move differently, so the joint gets treated as a joint rather than plastered straight over and hoped for.
The same goes for the ceiling line where an extension meets the original room. Getting those to read as one continuous surface is the difference between an extension that looks built in and one that always looks stuck on, and it is mostly about set out and beading rather than about plaster.
“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.”
