Quick guide to 2026 prices
- Venetian plaster: typically around £100–£250 per m² in London, supplied and applied.
- Feature wall (10–12 m²): roughly £1,200–£2,800, depending on finish and prep.
- Microcement floors: commonly £80–£160 per m²; complete bathrooms often £3,500–£7,000+.
- Expect a minimum charge for small jobs, because every coat needs its own visit.
These are indicative market ranges, not a quote. Every project is priced individually after a free survey.
“How much will it cost?” is usually the first question we’re asked — and the honest answer is “it depends”. But that’s not very helpful on its own, so this guide sets out typical London price ranges for polished plaster and microcement in 2026, explains what pushes the price up or down, and shows you how to compare quotes properly.
Typical prices per square metre
Published UK price guides for 2026 generally put polished Venetian plaster somewhere between about £90 and £250 per m² supplied and applied, with London and the South East typically 15–25% above the national average. Based on that, here is what you can broadly expect in London:
| Finish | Typical coats | Indicative London price per m²* | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marmorino (matt–satin) | 2–3 | £100–£200 | Hallways, period homes, large walls |
| Satin polished plaster | 3 | £120–£220 | Living rooms, bedrooms |
| High-gloss stucco veneziano | 3–4 + wax | £150–£250+ | Feature walls, dining rooms |
| Textured / travertine / metallic | 2–4 | £110–£240 | Feature walls, hospitality |
| Tadelakt | 2 + stone polishing | Usually higher (labour-intensive) | Showers, baths, niches |
| Microcement (floors) | 4–5 + sealer | £80–£160 | Floors, bathrooms, kitchens |
*Indicative ranges for straightforward walls in good condition. Ceilings, stairwells, complex detailing and heavy preparation sit at the upper end or above.
What does a typical project cost?
A feature wall
A single feature wall of 10–12 m² — behind a bed, sofa or dining table — is one of the most popular ways to start. In London, that typically comes to roughly £1,200–£2,800, depending on the finish, colour and how much preparation the wall needs.
A whole room
A bedroom or living room with 35–45 m² of wall area might typically fall between around £4,500 and £10,000, again depending on the finish and preparation. Ceilings add cost because overhead work is slower and harder.
A hallway, stairs and landing
Stairwells are often the most rewarding — and the most involved — spaces to plaster, because they need towers or scaffold and careful work around banisters and skirting. Expect upper-end per-m² pricing plus access costs.
A microcement bathroom
A typical London bathroom with microcement on the floor and walls (perhaps 25–35 m² of surface) often lands somewhere between £3,500 and £7,000+, including preparation, tanking in the shower area and sealing. See our microcement vs tiles comparison for how that stacks up against tiling.
What affects the price?
- Wall condition and preparation. Polished plaster shows what’s underneath. Cracked, uneven or patchy walls need filling, reinforcing or skimming first. This is often the biggest variable.
- Finish and number of coats. High gloss takes more coats and much more burnishing than matt Marmorino.
- Area and complexity. Larger areas usually cost less per m²; small rooms, alcoves, curves, reveals and lots of edges cost more.
- Height and access. Ceilings, double-height walls and stairwells need towers or scaffold.
- Colour. Very deep or bespoke colours may need more pigment and extra coats.
- Protection. Waxes, sealers and anti-slip treatments vary in cost.
- London logistics. Parking permits, the Congestion Charge, ULEZ, building-management rules and restricted working hours in flats all add time and cost — and should be included in a proper quote.
- Minimum visits. Because each coat must dry before the next, even a small job needs several visits. That’s why most specialists have a minimum charge.
Why is Venetian plaster more expensive than paint?
Almost all of the cost is skilled time. A painter can roll a wall in an hour; a polished plaster finish needs preparation, priming, several hand-trowelled coats, drying time between each, burnishing and waxing. Materials — genuine lime putty, marble and mineral pigments — also cost more than paint.
Against that, a good lime finish lasts for decades and can be repaired rather than repainted, so the long-term cost is closer than it first looks. Our guide to how long Venetian plaster lasts explains why.
How to compare quotes
When you collect quotes, check that each one tells you:
- Exactly which product and finish will be used (genuine lime or acrylic?)
- How many coats, and whether wax or sealer is included
- What preparation is included — and what happens if more is needed
- Whether protection, access equipment and clean-up are included
- How long the job will take and how many visits are needed
- Whether you’ll see sample boards in your chosen colour first
A cheap quote that skips preparation or uses fewer coats will rarely look — or last — the same.
Ways to make your budget go further
- Start with one feature wall rather than a whole room.
- Choose Marmorino over high gloss in large areas such as hallways.
- Plan ahead so plastering happens after messy trades but before flooring and final joinery.
- Combine areas into one visit — several walls in one programme cost less than separate jobs.
Get an accurate price
The only way to get a precise figure is a survey. We visit for free, check your walls, bring sample boards and send a fixed, itemised written quote — anywhere in London and the Home Counties. Commercial client? See our commercial service. Ready? Request your free quote.
We apply Venetian plaster, Marmorino, tadelakt and microcement across London and the Home Counties. More about us · Get a free quote
