A town with houses of every age
Burgess Hill grew up around the London to Brighton railway, which reached the town in 1841. It nearly doubled in size between 1951 and 1961, and many of its Victorian houses and terraces survive alongside post-war estates. Now the Brookleigh development is adding around 3,500 homes to the north of the town.
Each age of house tends to need different plastering work, so it helps to know what you're dealing with.
Victorian and older homes
Older solid walls were often finished in lime plaster. Where it's still sound, lime is usually best repaired with lime rather than patched with modern gypsum plaster, which is less breathable and can hold moisture in a solid wall. We work with lime plaster and lime render, so repairs can match what's already there. For cracks, holes and blown patches, see our plaster repair service.
Post-war and later homes
These homes often just need a refresh. A re-skim gives tired, patched walls a smooth finish again, and textured ceilings from past decades can be smoothed into a flat modern finish. If the ceiling is cracked as well as textured, overboarding the ceiling may be the better option.
New homes at Brookleigh and elsewhere
Small cracks in a newly built home are common. The NHBC explains in its guide to your new home that these are usually shrinkage, as timber and other materials dry out. That drying usually takes around nine months to a year, and the cracks are normally filled and painted at your first redecoration.
If cracks are wider than a hairline, keep reopening or are getting bigger, speak to your builder or warranty provider first. Once any cause is sorted, we can repair or re-skim the walls. Our guide to cracks in new-build homes explains more.
Extensions and loft conversions
New rooms need new walls and ceilings. We fit plasterboard, including dot and dab boarding on masonry walls, then skim it so it's ready to decorate. We fit around the other trades on the job.
Rendering in Burgess Hill
Rendering protects external walls and can change the whole look of a house. Common choices are traditional sand and cement, through-coloured monocouche and silicone thin-coat render. Each has its own preparation, finish and upkeep, and our house rendering page explains the differences.
Most of Burgess Hill comes under Mid Sussex District Council for planning, but part of the north-east of the town falls in Lewes District. Re-rendering with a finish that looks like the existing one is usually permitted development. Rendering a brick house, changing the colour or type of render, and work on flats or listed buildings usually need permission or consent. Our guide to rendering and planning permission explains the rules.
Choosing a plasterer
A few questions are worth asking whoever you choose:
- What preparation is included? A good finish depends on the surface underneath.
- Is lime or gypsum right for my walls? For older solid walls, the answer matters.
- How long before I can decorate? New plaster needs to dry fully first.
- Is the quote in writing? It should say clearly what's included.
Frequently asked questions
Do you cover all of Burgess Hill?
Yes, the whole town, including the new homes at Brookleigh.
Can you match old lime plaster?
Yes. We work with lime plaster, so repairs to older walls can be made in a compatible material.
When can I fill cracks in my new-build home?
The NHBC suggests letting the house dry out gradually, usually over nine months to a year, then filling minor cracks during routine redecoration.
Do I need planning permission to render my house in Burgess Hill?
Re-rendering like for like usually doesn't. Rendering over brick, changing the render's colour or type, and work on flats or listed buildings usually do. Check with Mid Sussex District Council, or Lewes District Council if you're in the part of north-east Burgess Hill that it covers.
Are your quotes free?
Yes. Quotes are free anywhere in Burgess Hill.
Get a quote in Burgess Hill
Send us a few photos and tell us roughly where in Burgess Hill you are. We'll come back to you with a free quote. You can also see all the areas we cover. Further south? See our plasterer in Hassocks page.
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