Plastering Brighton's period homes
Brighton and Hove has 34 conservation areas, from Regency Square and Kemp Town in the centre to the old village cores of Patcham and Rottingdean. Many older homes in these areas have solid walls and original lime plaster.
Lime and modern gypsum behave differently. Lime lets a solid wall breathe, while gypsum is less permeable and can hold moisture in. Patching old lime walls with gypsum is a common cause of repairs that fail or stay damp. We work with lime plaster, so period walls can be repaired in a material that suits them.
Listed homes
If your home is listed, internal work that affects its character, such as removing original plaster or cornicing, can need listed building consent. Check with the council before work starts. Where a room needs new coving or a replacement section of cornice, see our coving and cornice fitting.
Painted stucco and render
Smooth painted stucco is part of what makes Brighton's Regency streets recognisable, and the city council has published guidance on looking after it. Its guidance on external paint finishes and colours says, among other things:
- Smooth painted stucco should be kept on Regency and early Victorian buildings.
- Heavy textured or high-build coatings shouldn't be used on historic buildings.
- New render must be fully dry before it's painted, or the coating will fail.
- Impermeable paints and hard renders can trap moisture and damage walls.
- Some terraces and squares, including Regency Square, Sussex Square and Park Crescent, follow a single colour scheme.
So repairs to stucco need to match the existing surface, not just fill the gap. For cracked, hollow or blown areas, see our render repair service, and for new render or re-rendering, our house rendering page.
For more detail on materials, colour schemes and permission, see rendering in Brighton and Hove.
Living by the sea
Homes near the seafront take salt-laden wind and driving rain, which are hard on external walls. Small cracks in render let water in, and a frost can then widen them. It's worth checking render every year or so, especially on the side facing the weather, and getting small cracks repaired before they spread.
Modern homes and flats
Not every Brighton job is a period one. For newer homes and flats, the usual work is re-skimming tired walls and ceilings, smoothing textured ceilings, and boarding and skimming new rooms.
In flats and shared buildings, access matters. When you get in touch, tell us about stairs, lifts, parking and any shared areas, so we can plan how materials come in and how communal spaces are protected.
Who to ask about planning
Brighton & Hove City Council handles planning for Brighton, Patcham, Woodingdean, Rottingdean and most of Saltdean. East Saltdean is the exception: it's part of Telscombe parish in Lewes District. In some of the city's conservation areas, extra controls called Article 4 directions apply, including to painting fronts that haven't been painted before.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with lime plaster?
Yes. We work with lime plaster and lime render, which suit many of Brighton's older solid-walled homes.
Can new gypsum plaster go over old lime plaster?
It's usually best avoided on solid walls. Gypsum is less breathable than lime and can trap moisture. We'll look at the wall and recommend the right material.
Do I need permission to repaint or re-render my stucco front?
It depends on where you live. Listed buildings, some conservation areas and terraces with a set colour scheme have extra rules. Check the council's guidance before any work starts.
Which parts of Brighton do you cover?
All of Brighton, including Patcham, Falmer, Woodingdean, Rottingdean and Saltdean. We also cover Hove and Portslade. See all the areas we cover.
Are your quotes free?
Yes. Quotes are free anywhere in Brighton.
Get a quote in Brighton
Send us a few photos of the wall, ceiling or front, and tell us roughly where in Brighton you are. If you know your home is listed or in a conservation area, mention that too. We'll come back to you with a free quote. In Hove? See our plasterer in Hove page.
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