# Plasterer in Fleckney: Post-War Homes and Victorian Terraces

> A plasterer in Fleckney mostly works on post-war estate houses, where Artex ceilings and tired original plaster are common, and on the village's 19th-century workers' housing. Plastering over Artex typically costs £300 to £500 a room and a skim £475 to £650 in 2025/26 guides; test pre-2000 Artex for asbestos first. We can pass you to the plasterer we use.

Source: Kuote, Market Harborough trades (https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/plasterers/fleckney/). Updated 2026-11-11.

If you need a plasterer in Fleckney, it helps to know the village's story, because it explains the walls. Fleckney is about nine miles north-west of Market Harborough and nine miles south of Leicester, a little west of the A6. It's one of the larger villages in the district, with 4,926 residents at the 2021 census. We're a Market Harborough family who recently renovated our own house, and we recommend the one plasterer we used and trust. We're not paid for recommendations. We just pass you to people we trust.

## How Fleckney grew

Fleckney started as a farming village. In the 19th century it developed an industrial base, first in brickmaking and then in hosiery, and the old factory buildings at the edge of the village are the remains of those trades. A council design guide notes former factory sites and workers' housing as reminders of that past, and describes the village as mainly linear, with Kilby Road, Leicester Road and Saddington Road as its central routes.

After the Second World War, successive housing estates were built north-west and south-east of the old core, spreading out towards the parish boundaries. More recently there have been new developments too, including Brook Fields by Davidsons off Arnesby Road and a David Wilson Homes development off Kilby Road, with up to 150 more homes proposed south of Kilby Road.

We found no conservation area for Fleckney village itself. The Grand Union Canal Conservation Area runs just beyond the parish boundary.

## The big one: Artex in post-war houses

If your Fleckney home is on one of the post-war estates, there's a good chance it has, or had, textured Artex on the ceilings and sometimes the walls.

**Test it first.** Artex applied before 2000 can contain asbestos. It's safe left alone, but sanding, scraping, drilling or steaming it can release fibres. Have a sample tested by an accredited lab before work starts. A good plasterer will ask about this before quoting.

**Then choose:**

- **Skim over it.** If it's sound and the pattern isn't too deep, a bonding coat and skim gives a flat ceiling with little mess. This is usually the cheapest option.
- **Overboard.** Screw plasterboard over the ceiling and skim. Good for deep patterns or uneven ceilings.
- **Remove it.** If it's asbestos-free and you want it gone, it can be removed, but it's messier and dearer. If it contains asbestos, removal must follow HSE guidance and may need a licensed contractor.

Our guides to [plastering over Artex](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/plastering-over-artex/) and [Artex removal cost](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/artex-removal-cost-market-harborough/) cover the options.

Message us on WhatsApp: https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/go/plasterer

## Skim or replaster?

Post-war houses often have original plaster that's sound but marked by decades of decorating. A skim coat is usually enough. Where plaster is cracked, loose or hollow over large areas, a full replaster, or boarding and skimming, makes more sense. If you're doing a whole house, it's worth getting electrics and plumbing done first so the new plaster isn't chased out again. See [skimming vs replastering](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/skimming-vs-replastering/) and [cost to replaster a house](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/replaster-house-cost-market-harborough/).

## Victorian workers' housing

The 19th-century housing from Fleckney's brick and hosiery days is likely to have solid brick walls. Those cope best with breathable finishes such as lime, and patching them with gypsum or sealing them with cement-based products can trap damp. If you're in one of the older houses near the village centre and the plaster is blowing or damp, find the cause before replastering. Our [lime plaster in old houses](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/lime-plaster-old-houses/) guide explains why.

## Newer homes

On the newer developments, it's usually small jobs: filling settlement cracks after the first year or so, patching after fitting new kitchens, or skimming over damage. If the house is still within its first two years, check the developer's warranty before paying for crack repairs.

## Typical costs

These are typical UK ranges from 2025/26 cost guides, not quotes. We found no East Midlands-specific figures; guides agree London and the South East cost more.

| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Plaster over Artex (one room) | £300 to £500 |
| Remove Artex and replaster (asbestos-free) | £500 to £700 per room |
| Skim a room | £475 to £650 |
| Plasterer day rate | £150 to £300 |

Asbestos-containing Artex costs considerably more to remove. The exact price always comes from the plasterer's quote.

## Nearby

Fleckney is close to [Kibworth](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/areas/kibworth/) and [Great Glen](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/areas/great-glen/). More about the village is on our [Fleckney page](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/areas/fleckney/), and our main [plasterers in Market Harborough](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/plasterers/) page explains how we chose ours. For doors, skirting or stud walls, see our page on a [carpenter in Fleckney](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/carpenters/fleckney/).

Send us a WhatsApp with photos of the ceiling or wall and your postcode, and we'll pass it straight to the plasterer we use.

Message us on WhatsApp: https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/go/plasterer

## Typical prices

| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plaster over Artex | £300–£500 per room | Test pre-2000 Artex for asbestos first. |
| Remove Artex and replaster (asbestos-free) | £500–£700 per room | Trade guide figure including board replacement and skim. Asbestos-containing Artex costs more. |
| Skim a room | £475–£650 per room | Rated People 2025 and Checkatrade averages, small to large room. |
| Plasterer day rate | £150–£300 per day | Trade2base, MyJobQuote and Checkatrade figures for England outside London. |

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I know if my Artex contains asbestos?

You can't tell by looking. Artex and similar textured coatings applied before 2000 can contain asbestos, so the only way to know is to have a small sample tested by an accredited laboratory. Some sell postal kits. Don't sand, scrape or drill it until you have the result. If it does contain asbestos, follow HSE guidance.

### Is it cheaper to skim over Artex or remove it?

Skimming over is usually cheaper. Cost guides put plastering over Artex at around £300 to £500 per room, while removing asbestos-free Artex and replastering is more like £500 to £700. Removing Artex that contains asbestos costs considerably more because it needs specialist handling. A plasterer will tell you whether your Artex is suitable for skimming.

### Do I need to skim or replaster my 1960s house?

If the existing plaster is sound and firmly attached, a skim coat is normally enough to give a smooth finish. If it is cracked, crumbling or sounds hollow over large areas, it may need hacking off and replastering, or overboarding and skimming. A plasterer can tap-test walls to check. Our skimming vs replastering guide explains the difference.

### Is Fleckney a conservation area?

We could not find a conservation area for Fleckney village itself. The Grand Union Canal Conservation Area runs just beyond the parish boundary. Individual listed buildings still have their own protection. If you're unsure about your property, check with Harborough District Council before external changes.

### How long should plaster dry before painting?

A typical skim coat needs about a week in good conditions before a mist coat, longer in cold or damp weather or where backing coats were used. It turns from dark pink to an even pale colour when dry. Painting too early can trap moisture and cause peeling. Lime plaster on older walls takes longer still.

## Sources

- [Fleckney - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleckney)
- [Fleckney Neighbourhood Plan (Harborough DC)](https://www.harborough.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/6397/fleckney_neighbourhood_plan_referendum_version_2_1.pdf)
- [Fleckney Neighbourhood Plan review, design guide appendix (Harborough DC)](https://www.harborough.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/9483/appendix-3-design-guide-compressed_1.pdf)
- [Examiner's report, Fleckney Neighbourhood Plan (distances)](https://www.harborough.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/6336/examiner_report_fleckney_hdc_final.pdf)
- [Fleckney Parish Council](https://fleckney.parish.uk/)
- [Brook Fields, Fleckney - Davidsons Homes](https://www.onthemarket.com/new-homes/developers/development/brook-fields-64135)
- [South of Kilby Road, Fleckney - Catesby Estates](https://www.catesbyestates.co.uk/land/south-of-kilby-road-fleckney)
- [David Wilson Homes Fleckney launch - WhatHouse](https://www.whathouse.com/news/dwh-off-plan-launch-thorpebury-in-the-limes)
- [Artex removal costs UK - Trade2base](https://www.trade2base.com/blog/artex-removal-costs-uk)
- [Artex removal cost - MyBuilder](https://www.mybuilder.com/plastering-rendering/price-guides/artex-removal-cost)
- [What you need to know about Artex removal - Checkatrade](https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/planning-guides/artex-removal)
- [Cost of skimming a room - Checkatrade](https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/cost-skimming-room/)
- [Plastering costs 2025 - Rated People](https://www.ratedpeople.com/blog/?p=43047)
- [Plasterer day rates - Trade2base](https://www.trade2base.com/blog/plasterer-pricing-guide-uk)