Knowledge base: wallpapering, plastering and painting

Start here: what does it cost?

The questions we get most often are about price. Here you will find the answer per trade, with the m² prices from our price list.

Prices exclude VAT. For renovating a home more than 10 years old, 6% VAT usually applies, otherwise 21%.

How do you remove old wallpaper, and what does it cost?

Old wallpaper, adhesive residue and what lies underneath: the work and the price per m² differ for each type of wallpaper. If you want to have the work done, see our page on wallpaper removal.

• Removing wallpaper from plasterboard without damaging the paper facing – You remove wallpaper from plasterboard using as little moisture as possible: try peeling it off dry first, then soak briefly and only in patches, and stop as soon as the board’s paper facing turns soft or comes away with it.
• Hiring a wallpaper steamer or having the wallpaper removed? – Hiring a wallpaper steamer pays off for a small job: one or two layers of unpainted paper wallpaper on a brick or plastered wall.
• Removing photo wallpaper: a different approach for each material – How you remove photo wallpaper depends on the material: non-woven photo wallpaper usually peels off the wall dry, strip by strip, paper photo wallpaper is soaked loose with water or steam, and self-adhesive photo wallpaper needs yet another approach.
• Removing painted wallpaper: how to get painted-over wallpaper off – You can only get painted wallpaper off the wall if you first break through the paint layer, so that water or steam can reach the adhesive behind it.
• Removing fibreglass wallpaper: how it works and what lies underneath – You don’t remove fibreglass wallpaper simply by wetting it: the paint layer keeps water out, so you need a wallpaper steamer or a removal liquid that dissolves the adhesive.
• How long does wallpaper removal take per room and per home? – Our tradespeople remove an average of 100 m² of wallpaper per day.
• Removing wallpaper adhesive residue before painting or re-wallpapering – You remove wallpaper adhesive residue with warm water and a sponge: let the water soak in for a few minutes, wipe away the softened adhesive and rinse with clean water until the wall is no longer sticky.
• Removing several layers of wallpaper: what changes in work and price – You strip several layers of wallpaper one layer at a time, because water and steam only reach the lowest layer of adhesive once the top layer is off.
• Disposing of old wallpaper: general waste or paper recycling? – Old wallpaper usually doesn’t belong in the paper recycling but in general waste: the adhesive, paint, plastic top layers or glass fibres in or on it make it unsuitable for recycling as paper.
• Removing woodchip wallpaper: how to get the textured paper off the wall – You remove woodchip (Rauhfaser) wallpaper by first breaking through the paint layer, then letting water, steam or removal liquid soak in, and scraping the paper off the wall with a filling knife.
• Removing renovation fleece: can you do it without damaging the wall? – Yes, you can remove renovation fleece without damaging the wall, but not just by wetting it: the paint layer has to be broken through first and the adhesive softened with steam or removal liquid.
• Mould on or behind wallpaper: tackle the cause first, then the wallpaper – Mould on or behind wallpaper is always a damp problem: fix the cause first, such as poor ventilation, a leak or moisture coming through the wall, otherwise the mould will keep growing underneath.
• Removing fabric wallpaper: first the fabric, then the backing – You remove fabric wallpaper in two steps: first try to peel the fabric layer off the backing dry, then soak the paper or fleece layer underneath loose and remove the adhesive residue.
• Removing vinyl wallpaper: why it is trickier and what it costs – You remove vinyl wallpaper in two steps: first peel the plastic top layer off the wall dry, then soak the paper backing loose with water or steam.
• Removing non-woven wallpaper: peel it off dry, and what if that doesn’t work – You can usually remove unpainted non-woven wallpaper dry: pull one corner loose and carefully peel the whole strip off the wall, then wash off the adhesive residue with warm water.
• What do you find under old wallpaper, and what does the wall then need? – Under old wallpaper you rarely find a smooth, bare wall: usually there are small holes, adhesive residue, hairline cracks, old repairs or a layer of plaster that has come loose in places.
• What does wallpaper removal cost? Price per type and per layer – Wallpaper removal costs €6.99 per m² with us for one layer of unpainted paper wallpaper, excluding VAT.
• Renovating after buying a house: in what order and what does it cost? – The order in which to renovate a house you have just bought, what the finishing costs and how to have it done before you move in.
• Knocking through or removing a wall: what does it cost and what do you arrange? – What knocking through a wall costs, when you need a permit and a structural engineer, and what finishing the opening costs.
• Installing a partition wall: what does it cost, including finishing? – What it costs to have a partition wall, false wall or boxing-in installed, whether you need a permit and what the finishing costs per m².
• uPVC or wooden window frames: which to choose for a renovation? – What uPVC and wooden window frames cost, how much maintenance they need and which material suits your home.
• Having a house stripped out: what goes and what does it cost? – What is removed when a house is stripped out, which rules apply to demolition waste and asbestos, and what stripping the walls costs.
• Renovating a terraced house: what does it cost per m² and per component? – What renovating a terraced house costs per m² and per component, with a worked example for the walls and ceilings.
• Vinyl or laminate: which floor to choose for your whole home? – The difference between vinyl and laminate in price per m², noise, moisture and underfloor heating, for a whole home.
• How long does a renovation take? The schedule per phase – How long a renovation takes, per phase and per component, with an example schedule for renovation fleece and plasterwork.
• Finishing a house extension: walls, ceiling and the joint with your house – When you can finish a new extension inside, why the joint with the house cracks and what finishing a 6 by 4 metre extension costs.
• Quote for a renovation: what should it include and how do you compare? – The 8 parts of a good renovation quote, how to compare quotes and an example of the finishing section.
• Having a suspended ceiling made: cost, height and finishing – What a suspended ceiling costs per m², how low it can go and what finishing it with plaster or renovation fleece costs.
• Insulating an interior wall with a false wall: cost and finishing – What it costs to insulate an exterior wall on the inside with a false wall, and what to watch for with damp and finishing.
• Replacing interior doors: cost per door and finishing – What replacing interior doors costs per door, the difference between rebated and flush doors, and what the paintwork afterwards costs.
• Choosing a contractor for your renovation: what to look for – The questions to ask a contractor before you choose, how to recognise a reliable quote and how we take on a renovation.
• Renovating a 1960s house: electrics, insulation and finishing – What you will come across when renovating a 1960s house, the order in which to tackle it and what the finishing costs.
• Having a bathroom renovated: what does it cost and how does it work? – What a complete bathroom renovation typically costs, how long it takes and how our contractor teams do it from demolition to tiling.
• Walk-in shower or bath: which to choose for a new bathroom? – What a walk-in shower and a bath cost, how much space you need and when both fit.
• Having a kitchen installed: what does it cost and in what order? – What installing a kitchen typically costs, the order in which the work goes and what our contractor teams do around it.
• Moving a kitchen: what does it cost and what is involved? – What plumbing, drainage and electrics cost when your kitchen moves, and why the drain determines where it can go.
• Having a floor laid: what do vinyl, laminate and herringbone cost? – What laying vinyl, laminate and herringbone typically costs per m², which floor suits your home and why the floor comes last.
• Having a floor levelled: cost per m², drying time and when it is needed – What levelling a floor costs per m², how long self-levelling screed takes to dry and when it is needed for vinyl or laminate.
• Having a house extension built: what does it cost and what permit do you need? – What an extension typically costs per m², when it is exempt from a permit and how our contractor teams build and finish it.
• Converting a garage into living space: cost, rules and approach – What converting a garage into living space costs per component, what needs to happen and when you need a permit.
• Having a dormer installed: what does it cost and what do you arrange? – What having a dormer installed costs, when you need a permit and what the finishing inside costs.
• Converting a loft: what does it cost and what else is involved? – What converting a loft into a room costs, per component, with and without a dormer, plus the finishing at fixed prices.
• Having windows replaced: what does it cost and what else is involved? – What having windows replaced costs per m², which material suits and what still needs doing inside.
• Installing a sliding patio door: cost, opening and finishing – What a sliding patio door costs by width and material, when the opening has to be widened and what the finishing inside costs.
• Having a home insulated: what do cavity wall, floor and roof insulation cost? – What insulating the cavity, floor and roof costs per m², what it delivers and which grants your region may offer.
• Double or triple glazing: what does it cost and when do you choose which? – The difference between high-efficiency double glazing and triple glazing in price per m², insulation and savings, and when the frame has to be replaced too.
• Having a fuse box replaced: cost, duration and the walls afterwards – What replacing a fuse box costs, when it is needed and what has to be done to the walls afterwards.
• Rewiring an old house: cost and what else comes with it – What rewiring an entire old house costs by type of home, when it is needed, what an AREI inspection means here and how to plan it room by room.
• Having a timber panel ceiling removed: cost and what comes next – What having a timber panel ceiling removed costs, what may be behind it and what finishing with plaster or renovation fleece costs.
• Having underfloor heating installed: cost, chasing in and drying time – What having underfloor heating installed costs per m², when chasing it into the floor is possible and how long a new screed has to dry.
• Renovating a staircase: cover treads, closing it off and cost – What renovating a staircase with cover treads costs, what closing off an open staircase costs and when painting is enough.
• Having wall tiles removed: what does it cost and what is underneath? – What having wall tiles removed costs per m², what is under the tiles and what the wall needs afterwards.
• Renovating an apartment: what does it cost and what are you allowed to do as a co-owner? – What renovating an existing apartment costs per m², what you may do without the permission of the owners’ association (VME) or the building manager (syndicus) and what finishing walls and ceilings costs.
• Moving the meter cupboard: what does it cost and how do you plan it into your renovation? – What moving a meter cupboard costs with the network operator and the electrician, how long it takes and how to plan it into your renovation.
• Renovating a 1950s house: post-war construction, pipework and finishing – What you will find in a 1950s house, from lead pipes to a shallow cavity, and what the renovation and finishing cost.
• Having a tiled floor laid: what does it cost per m² and how do you plan it? – What having a tiled floor laid costs per m², why tiles work well with underfloor heating and when the floor can go in.
• Having skirting boards fitted: cost per metre, filling and painting – What having skirting boards fitted costs per metre, which skirting to choose and when they are caulked and painted.
• Having parquet sanded and varnished: cost per m² and planning – What sanding and varnishing or oiling parquet costs per m², when it can be done and how to plan it alongside the walls.
• Having a chimney removed: cost, permit and finishing inside – What removing a chimney or chimney breast costs, when you need a permit and a structural engineer, and what the finishing inside costs.
• Having a roof window installed: what does it cost and what else is involved? – What installing a roof window costs by size, when you need a permit and what the finishing around the window costs.
• Having an attic bathroom made: cost, drainage and ventilation – What a bathroom in the attic costs, how the drainage is pumped up, which ventilation is needed and what the sloping walls cost.
• Having floor insulation fitted via the crawl space: what does it cost? – What floor insulation via the crawl space costs per m² and per home, which grants your region may offer and when your crawl space is high enough.

What do you need to know about renovation fleece?

Renovation fleece is the most popular wall finish in new builds: it bridges hairline cracks and you can paint straight over it. If you want to have the work done, see the service page on applying renovation fleece.

• Skim coat or renovation fleece on an old wall: what does your wall need? – On an old wall, renovation fleece is only enough if the wall is still flat and sound after the wallpaper or paint has been removed.
• How smooth does a wall need to be for renovation fleece? – A wall doesn’t need to be mirror-smooth for renovation fleece, but it does need to be flat and sound.
• How long does renovation fleece last? – Renovation fleece has no fixed lifespan in years: Intervos and Sigma give none in their product information.
• How long does renovation fleece need to dry before it is painted? – You can paint renovation fleece as soon as the adhesive underneath is dry.
• How many layers of renovation fleece do you need for a neat result? – You apply renovation fleece in a single layer: the material is thick enough to smooth out small imperfections in one go.
• Intervos renovation fleece and Sigma paint: which products we use and why – We hang renovation fleece from Intervos and paint with wall paint from Sigma.
• Renovation fleece 150 or 200 grams: which weight do you need? – The weight of renovation fleece, such as 150 or 200 grams, is the number of grams of fleece per m².
• Renovation fleece in a renovation: old walls, holes and spachtelputz – Renovation fleece works perfectly well on old walls, as long as the surface is sound and reasonably flat: hairline cracks and small imperfections disappear underneath it.
• Renovation fleece with or without painting, or with your own materials: the price difference – Renovation fleece without painting costs €1.50 per m² less with us than the complete package, and if you supply all the materials yourself, you pay €2.00 per m² less.
• Renovation fleece or skim coat: what is the difference and when do you choose which? – Renovation fleece is the finish and skim coat is the preparation underneath: so you don’t choose between the two, you decide whether your wall needs skim coat first.
• Renovation fleece on plasterboard: can you just do that? – Yes, renovation fleece works well on plasterboard, provided the joints and screw heads have first been finished flat and the board has been primed.
• Painting over renovation fleece: must you, when can you and with which paint? – You can simply paint over renovation fleece: it is made to be painted, and later painted again in a different colour.
• Cleaning and maintaining renovation fleece – You clean painted renovation fleece via the paint layer: wipe dust off with a dry cloth and dab a stain with a damp cloth.
• Renovation fleece before and after: what changes on your wall? – After renovation fleece, your wall no longer has visible hairline cracks, small imperfections and joints, but an even, matt wall in the colour you choose.
• Renovation fleece: the pros and cons, honestly listed – Renovation fleece has three big advantages: it keeps small shrinkage cracks out of sight, a complete home is hung and painted in 3 days, and with us it costs from €14.99 per m² excluding VAT.
• Painting over renovation fleece: which colour and what does it cost extra? – With renovation fleece, one coat of paint in RAL 9010 or 9016 is included as standard in the price, from €14.99 per m² excluding VAT.
• Why renovation fleece is the most popular wall finish in new builds – Renovation fleece is our most popular wall finish in new-build homes, because a new home settles and shrinks in its first years and renovation fleece bridges the small shrinkage cracks that plasterwork follows.
• What does renovation fleece cost per m² and per room? – Having renovation fleece applied costs us €14.99 per m² above 150 m², €15.99 between 100 and 150 m² and €18.99 between 30 and 100 m², excluding VAT.
• Which renovation fleece texture to choose: smooth or textured? – For a calm, even wall, choose smooth renovation fleece.
• Which cracks does renovation fleece bridge, and which not? – Renovation fleece bridges hairline cracks and small shrinkage cracks, including shrinkage cracks that only appear after the fleece is already on the wall.
• Can you see the joints with renovation fleece? – With properly applied renovation fleece, you can’t see any joints after painting.

Glass fleece, woven glass fabric or non-woven wallpaper: which suits your wall?

Glass fleece, woven glass fabric, fibreglass and non-woven wallpaper look alike. These articles explain the differences, prices and uses. If you want to have the work done, see the service page on glass fleece.

• Painting fibreglass and glass fleece wallpaper: coats, paint and drying time – According to Sigma, you paint glass fleece wallpaper with one coat of wall paint, and unpainted woven glass fabric with two coats.
• Glass fleece, woven glass fabric and fibreglass: the same or not? – Glass fleece, woven glass fabric and fibreglass are not the same, but they do belong together.
• Woven glass fabric wallpaper: smooth, herringbone, diamond or coarse? – Choose a fine weave for a calm wall that looks almost smooth, herringbone or diamond for a clear pattern, and a coarse weave for walls that take a lot of knocks or are not completely flat.
• Is fibreglass wallpaper unhealthy? Fibres, itching and living with it – No, according to manufacturers, painted fibreglass wallpaper on the wall is not unhealthy: the fibres are fixed in adhesive and paint.
• Renovation fleece or glass fleece: which suits your wall? – Choose renovation fleece for a smooth result on a wall with small imperfections, and glass fleece for a wall that is already flat and deserves a sturdier layer containing glass fibre.
• Plastering over fibreglass wallpaper or removing it first? – We advise against plastering over fibreglass wallpaper: the plaster layer then hangs on the wallpaper and the old adhesive, and if that ever comes loose, the plasterwork comes with it.
• Non-woven or fibreglass wallpaper: which suits your wall? – Choose paintable non-woven wallpaper, such as renovation fleece, for living rooms and bedrooms with a normal or slightly uneven wall, and fibreglass wallpaper for walls that have to withstand knocks or where you want texture.
• Painting non-woven wallpaper: can you, and how often? – You can paint paintable non-woven wallpaper, and repaint it later: there is no fixed limit to the number of times, although each layer makes the texture a little fuller and the wallpaper harder to remove later.
• Non-woven wallpaper: pros and cons – The biggest advantage of non-woven wallpaper is that it doesn’t stretch when wet: the strips stay the right size, the joints close tightly and, if unpainted, you can often peel it dry off the wall later.
• Pre-painted glass fleece wallpaper: does it save a coat? – With woven glass fabric, pre-painted saves a coat: Sigma advises two coats of wall paint on unpigmented woven glass fabric and one on pigmented.
• What does glass fleece, woven glass or fibreglass wallpaper cost per m²? – Having glass fleece, woven glass fabric or fibreglass wallpaper applied costs us €16.99 to €20.99 per m², depending on the total area.
• What does having non-woven wallpaper hung cost? – Having paintable non-woven wallpaper hung costs us €14.99 to €18.99 per m², depending on the total area.

What is involved in wallpapering?

From preparation and priming to patterned wallpaper, ceilings and drying times. If you want to have the work done, see the page on having your home wallpapered.

• Wallpaper in the bathroom or kitchen: which wallpaper works? – Wallpaper works perfectly well in the kitchen, as long as you can wipe the wall down: think woven glass fabric or renovation fleece, painted with scrubbable wall paint.
• Having wallpaper put up in the bedroom: which types work? – Most types of wallpaper work in a bedroom, because the walls see little moisture and few knocks.
• Wallpaper in a rented home: what is allowed? – What a tenant may or must do to the walls of a rented home depends on the lease and the rules of your region. Check this with your landlord beforehand.
• Wallpapering on spachtelputz: can you, or smooth it first? – Wallpapering on spachtelputz is technically possible, but it won’t give you a smooth wall: the grain shows through every type of wallpaper and the wallpaper only sticks to the peaks of the texture.
• Wallpapering over painted walls: what to watch for – Wallpapering over a painted wall is fine if the paint is firmly attached, doesn’t chalk and isn’t glossy.
• Bubbles or blistering in wallpaper: what went wrong? – Bubbles or blistering in wallpaper appear where the wallpaper isn’t stuck firmly to the wall: there is air underneath, there is too little adhesive, or the surface itself is coming loose.
• Having a feature wall or half a wall wallpapered – Having a feature wall or half a wall wallpapered is perfectly possible, as a separate job or together with the rest of your home.
• Guarantee on wallpapering: how it works – Wallpapering work at Bouwsector België carries a 1-year guarantee, put in writing in the quote.
• How long does it take to have a home wallpapered? – Having a complete home wallpapered and painted takes us 3 days: hanging renovation fleece, filling and one coat of paint.
• How long must wallpaper dry before you can paint or put furniture back? – You can paint wallpaper or put furniture against it as soon as the adhesive behind it is dry.
• How much wallpaper do you need? Calculating rolls, strips and m² – You work out how much wallpaper you need in strips, not m²: the perimeter divided by the roll width gives the number of strips, and the roll length divided by the wall height plus trimming margin gives the strips per roll.
• Can you hang wallpaper over wallpaper? Explained per type – Hanging wallpaper over wallpaper is only possible if the old layer is firmly attached everywhere, and even then we usually advise against it.
• Can you paint over wallpaper? – Painting over wallpaper only works well on paintable wallpaper: renovation fleece, glass fleece, woven glass fabric and woodchip wallpaper are made for it.
• Wallpaper seams coming loose: cause and repair – Wallpaper seams come loose if the edges of a strip received too little adhesive, if the adhesive had already dried before the strip was pressed on, or if the wall drew the moisture out of the adhesive too quickly.
• Having patterned wallpaper hung: why it costs more – Having patterned wallpaper hung costs from €18.99 per m² at Bouwsector België, and luxury wallpaper from €23.99 per m², excluding VAT.
• Woodchip wallpaper: what is it? – Woodchip (Rauhfaser) is paper wallpaper with small wood fibres in it, which give the wall a grainy texture once painted.
• Having a stairwell wallpapered: price, scaffolding and planning – Having a stairwell wallpapered costs the same price per m² at Bouwsector België as your other walls: with renovation fleece from €14.99 per m², including sanding, hanging, filling and one coat of paint.
• Vinyl wallpaper: what is it and when do you choose it? – Vinyl wallpaper is wallpaper with a plastic top layer on a paper or fleece backing.
• Priming before wallpapering: when and with what – Priming before wallpapering is needed on every wall that is absorbent, chalky or absorbs unevenly: bare plasterboard, new plasterwork, repaired patches and a wall that has just had old wallpaper removed.
• What to look for when choosing a wallpaper hanger? – When choosing a wallpaper hanger, look at five things: who actually does the work, how the price is built up, whether the walls are checked before the work starts and what is included in the price.
• When is a wall ready for wallpapering? – A wall is ready for wallpapering when it meets 4 conditions: flat, dry, dust-free and primed.
• What do you do yourself before the wallpaper hanger comes? – Before the wallpaper hanger comes, there is little for you to do: make sure we can reach the walls, take paintings and shelves off the wall and choose your colour in advance.
• What does a wallpaper hanger cost? Per m², per day and per room – A wallpaper hanger costs from €14.99 per m² for renovation fleece at Bouwsector België, including materials, sanding, hanging, filling and one coat of paint, excluding VAT.
• Wallpapering yourself or having it done? Tips and an honest comparison – Wallpapering yourself works fine for a single, flat wall, but the bigger the job and the worse the surface, the greater the chance of visible seams and strips coming loose.
• Site survey and wall inspection: what happens? – During the site survey, we measure and inspect your walls.
• Having a small job done: what do you pay? – Below 50 m² a €249.99 surcharge applies; worked example, day rates and call-out charges.
• Removing wallpaper behind a radiator – The narrow strip behind the radiator: soak it in sections, scrape it narrowly, and what it costs per m².
• Removing wallpaper from a plastered wall – First soak it loose, only then pull. The tap test tells you in advance whether your plaster layer will hold.
• Renovation fleece quote: what should it include and what does it cost? – Which items belong in a quote for renovation fleece, how to compare quotes and a sample quote for a new-build home.

Which questions come up with plasterwork?

Skim coat, paint-ready plasterwork, spachtelputz and repairs: what your wall needs and what it costs per m². If you want to have the work done, see the page on having plasterwork done.

• Ready for wallpaper, ready for paint or ready for plastering: what is the difference? – Ready for wallpaper, ready for paint and ready for plastering are 3 different finishing levels.
• Finishing plasterboard: plaster, skim coat or renovation fleece? – You finish plasterboard by first filling the joints and screw holes and then, depending on what goes on top, wallpapering, skim-coating or plastering the wall.
• How thick is plaster? Layer thicknesses per finish – A paint-ready layer of gypsum plaster on a wall is about 10 mm thick: that is the layer thickness Knauf gives as necessary in the technical data sheet for MP 75, with a local minimum of 5 mm.
• How long must plasterwork dry? Drying time, dehumidifier and windows open or closed – A thin skim coat dries in 3 to 5 days for a complete home, faster in summer, and we can place heat blowers.
• Corner beads in plasterwork: what are they and what do they cost? – A corner bead is a long strip that the plasterer fits to an external corner, so that the corner stays straight and sturdy.
• How many m² does a plasterer do per day? – A plasterer at Bouwsector België plasters an average of 100 m² per day.
• Shrinkage cracks in a new build: normal or a problem? – Shrinkage cracks in a new build are normal in the first years: the home settles and shrinks as the construction moisture leaves the concrete and cement.
• Levelling walls before you paint: when is it necessary? – Levelling a wall before painting is necessary if it has holes, open joints, small cracks or a rough texture, because paint doesn’t make a wall flatter.
• Having walls plastered in a renovation: old walls, holes and adhesive residue – You can perfectly well have old walls plastered during a renovation, but the result depends on the preparation: loose layers off, adhesive residue gone, chases and holes filled first.
• Ceiling: plaster, spray or renovation fleece: what suits your ceiling? – Choose plastering for a ceiling that really has to be made flat, spraying for a ceiling that is already flat and only needs paint, and renovation fleece for a ceiling with joints or small cracks that keep coming back.
• Repairing cracks in plasterwork: patch or replaster? – You can patch a crack in plasterwork if it has stopped moving and the plasterwork around it is still firmly attached.
• Removing decorative plaster or skimming it smooth: what suits your wall? – There are two ways to get decorative plaster off the wall: you have the texture removed, or you have the wall skimmed smooth.
• Types of interior plasterwork: skim coat, thin plaster, sanded finish and paint-ready – Indoors you come across four types of plasterwork: paint-ready plasterwork, thin plaster (also called skim coat), textured plaster such as sanded finish and spachtelputz, and decorative plasterwork.
• Repairing spachtelputz: why it stays visible – A repair in spachtelputz almost always stays visible: the grain, the trowel pattern and the absorbency of the old layer can’t be matched exactly.
• Removing spachtelputz or skimming over it: which is better? – Skimming over is usually better if the spachtelputz is firmly attached everywhere: it saves demolition work, dust and the removal item of €14.99 or €22.99 per m², excluding VAT.
• Plastering in winter: can you, and what to watch for – Plastering indoors in winter is fine, as long as the room and the wall stay warmer than 5 °C and the damp air can escape.
• Stucen, stuken or plafonneren: which word is right? – Stucen and stuken are both used for the same trade, and in Flanders you mostly hear plafonneren: a short explanation of the different Dutch terms.
• Floor protection runner: why we lay it and what it costs – A floor protection runner is a roll of covering material that protects the floor against splashes, plaster residue and dust while plastering.
• Having plasterwork removed: thick or thin, and what it costs – Having plasterwork removed costs €14.99 per m² for a thin layer and €22.99 per m² for a thick layer at Bouwsector België, excluding VAT.
• Plasterwork or renovation fleece: when do you choose which? – In a new build, renovation fleece is usually the better choice, because it bridges shrinkage cracks while plasterwork cracks along with them.
• Sanding plasterwork: when is it needed and what does it cost? – Sanding plasterwork is needed for a skim coat that is to be wallpapered or painted, for patched holes and cracks, and for an old wall with rough patches.
• Priming after plastering: making new plasterwork paint-ready – You make new plasterwork paint-ready in three steps: let the layer dry completely, prime it and only then paint.
• What does a plasterer do, and what not? – A plasterer applies layers of plaster to walls and ceilings, so that they become flat and ready for paint or wallpaper.
• What is a skim coat and what does it cost? – A skim coat is a thin layer of plaster, also called thin plaster, that makes a wall flat enough for renovation fleece or other paintable wallpaper.
• What does a plasterer cost per hour or per day? – A plasterer costs €47.50 per hour for work charged hourly and €499.99 per day for a small job without materials at Bouwsector België, excluding VAT.
• What does it cost to have a whole house plastered? Worked example – Having a whole house with 240 m² of wall and 55 m² of ceiling plastered costs €7,400.04 at Bouwsector België including materials, corner beads and floor protection, excluding VAT.
• What does plastering cost per m²? – Plastering costs €22.99 per m² for a paint-ready wall and €23.99 per m² for a paint-ready ceiling at Bouwsector België, always including materials and excluding VAT.
• Having one wall plastered: what does it cost? – A wall of 10.4 m² costs €589.08 including surcharge and call-out charge; if you include the ceiling, the surcharge falls away.
• Having a new build plastered: can you, and what does it cost? – Whether plasterwork is sensible in a home that is still settling, when you do choose it and what it costs per m².
• Plasterer’s quote: what should it include and how do you compare? – Which items belong in a quote for plasterwork, how to compare quotes fairly and what a complete apartment costs.
• Renovating a 1930s house: what do the walls and ceilings need? – What you come across in the walls and ceilings of a 1930s house, what a reed ceiling requires and what the finishing costs.
• Renovating a 1970s house: spachtelputz, timber panelling and cost – What to do with spachtelputz, granol and a timber panel ceiling in a 1970s house, and what the finishing costs.

What do you need to know about painting walls?

Painting walls, spraying, priming and painting ceilings, skirting boards, window frames and staircases. If you want to have the work done, see the page on interior painting.

• Exterior painting: what is the best period? – The best period for exterior painting runs from April to October, at an outdoor temperature between 8 and 25 °C and low humidity.
• One or two coats of wall paint: when is a second coat needed? – One coat of wall paint is enough if you are freshening up a wall in the same or a lighter colour and the old layer covers and adheres well.
• How long must wall paint dry before a second coat? – Sigma states in its technical data sheet: dry after about 2 hours and ready for a second coat after about 4 hours, at 23 °C and 50% humidity.
• How long does paint smell after painting? – With water-based wall paint, the smell is usually gone within a day, and often much sooner.
• How much wall paint do you need per m²? – With a wall paint such as Sigmatex Superlatex Matt, you cover 8 to 10 m² per litre, per coat, according to Sigma.
• Wooden window frames and doors indoors: how often should you paint them? – For wooden window frames and doors indoors there is no fixed repainting interval.
• Latex or wall paint: which paint do we use? – Latex and wall paint are the same thing.
• Spraying or rolling latex: difference and cost – Spraying or rolling latex gives the same kind of wall paint on the wall; the difference lies in how it is applied.
• Priming walls: when is it needed? – Priming a wall is needed if it is absorbent or chalky: on bare surfaces such as new plasterwork, plasterboard and concrete, and on old wall paint that rubs off.
• Painting the walls of a new-build home: when can you and with what? – You can paint the walls of a new-build home as soon as the wall has fully set and is dry: for its wall paint, Sigma states a moisture content of at most 4%, and at most 1% for gypsum-based walls.
• Ceiling in the same colour as the wall: when does it work? – A ceiling in the same colour as the wall always works, and it works best in small, high or sloping rooms: because the transition between wall and ceiling disappears, the room looks calmer and less divided.
• Having a ceiling painted: what does it cost and how does it work? – Having a ceiling painted costs €13.99 per m² for one coat in RAL 9010 or 9016 at Bouwsector België, excluding VAT.
• Having a ceiling sprayed: what does it cost and when do you choose it? – Having a ceiling sprayed costs €14.99 per m² for one coat of paint in RAL 9010 or 9016 at Bouwsector België, excluding VAT.
• Having ceiling panels and attic panels painted or sprayed – Having ceiling panels and attic panels painted costs €13.99 per m² for one coat in RAL 9010 or 9016 at Bouwsector België, and spraying €14.99 per m², excluding VAT.
• Having skirting boards painted: price per metre – Having skirting boards painted costs from €9.99 per metre for sanding and one coat in RAL 9010 or 9016 at Bouwsector België, excluding VAT.
• RAL 9010, 9016 or a colour: difference and extra cost – RAL 9010 and RAL 9016 are the two standard whites in our price list: in those colours the painting is simply included in the m² price of €12.99.
• Sauzen or verven: what is the difference? – Sauzen (Dutch for painting walls with emulsion) means applying wall paint to walls and ceilings, with a roller or a sprayer.
• Textured spray finish: what is it and when do you choose it? – A textured spray finish is spraying a thicker layer of spray plaster on a wall or ceiling, giving a finish with a light texture instead of a smooth paint layer.
• Streaks on the wall after painting: cause and solution – Streaks on a freshly painted wall almost never come from the paint itself, but from the way it was applied or from the surface underneath.
• What does exterior painting cost? Why always on request – What exterior painting costs depends mainly on the condition of the wood and the surface, and that differs too much from home to home for a fixed price.
• What does a painter cost? Hourly rate or price per m² – A painter costs €47.50 per hour for hourly work at Bouwsector België, but we charge most jobs per m² or per item: painting walls costs €12.99 per m² and an interior door.
• What does it cost to have walls painted per m²? – Painting walls costs €12.99 per m² for one coat in RAL 9010 or 9016 at Bouwsector België, including the paint and excluding VAT.
• What do you do yourself before the painter comes? – We cover and mask everything and bring the paint; you clear the walls and choose your colour.
• Finishing a sloping attic wall: what does it cost? – A sloping wall counts as a ceiling: painting €13.99 and renovation fleece €26.49 per m², with a worked example.
• Painting walls in winter: can you? – Sigma states 5 to 30 °C and a maximum of 85% humidity, also while drying; heating on at night.
• Paint or wallpaper a wall? How to choose – Paint for a sound wall; if it needs a primer, renovation fleece with paintwork costs the same or less per m².
• Masking when painting walls: is it necessary? – Covering and masking are included in the m² price of €12.99; you clear the room and empty the walls.
• Having walls sprayed: price per m² and method – What spraying walls costs per m², when it pays off compared with rolling and which walls are suitable for it.
• Preparing a house for sale: which walls and ceilings to tackle? – Which walls and ceilings to tackle before your house goes on the market, what painting a whole home costs and how to plan it around the sale photos.
• Quote for interior painting: what should it include? – Which lines belong in a quote for painting, how to compare quotes and a sample quote for a whole home.
• Having interior doors sprayed: what does it cost and when does it pay off? – What having interior doors sprayed costs, the difference from rolling and when spraying pays off in a complete home.

How do you finish a new-build home?

From key handover and construction moisture to planning, neighbour discounts and the order of the trades. If you want to have the work done, see the page on new-build finishing.

• Combining wallpapering, plastering and painting in one schedule – Yes, with us you can combine wallpapering, plastering and painting in one schedule and one quote.
• Construction moisture in new-build walls: what does it mean for your finishing? – New-build walls keep releasing construction moisture for the first period after handover, because concrete, sand-lime brick, adhesive and filler were applied wet.
• Neighbour discount for new builds: finishing together, discount per m² – The neighbour discount is a discount per m² if you have your finishing done together with your neighbours: €0.25 per m² for 2 homes, rising to €1.00 per m² for 6 or more homes.
• The right finishing order in a new build: floor, walls or ceiling first? – The order is from top to bottom: first the ceiling, then the walls, then the woodwork and only then the floor.
• Handover and your walls: what to look out for – At handover, you record the condition in which your walls and ceilings are transferred.
• How many weeks to plan between collecting the keys and moving in? – If your walls are handed over ready for wallpapering, the finishing takes 3 days: hanging renovation fleece, filling and one coat of paint.
• Finishing your new-build home while you already live there – Finishing while you already live there is perfectly possible: we work room by room, so you can keep using the rest of the home.
• Painting window frames and doors in a new build: walls first or woodwork first? – Walls first, then the woodwork.
• New-build handover postponed: what does it mean for your finishing? – If the handover of your new-build home is postponed, the finishing moves with it: you give us the new date and we reschedule the site survey and the work.
• Renovating: when do you need a permit, and when not? – For wallpapering, plastering and painting indoors, you don’t need a permit.
• When can you start finishing after the key handover? – With renovation fleece you can usually start straight after the key handover, as long as the walls were handed over ready for wallpapering and don’t feel damp.
• What does “ready for wallpapering” mean in a new-build handover? – If your handover documents say “ready for wallpapering”, the contractor promises that you can wallpaper without extra preparation.
• What does it cost to have a complete new-build home finished? – A new-build terraced house with 220 m² of wall and 90 m² of ceiling finished completely costs us €4,556.90: hanging renovation fleece, filling and one coat of paint on the walls, plus a painted ceiling.
• What do you arrange before the key handover of your new-build home? – Before the key handover you arrange three things for your finishing: the condition of your walls at handover, your handover date with us and your neighbours.
• Painting in a new-build home: what do you have done and what does it cost? – Which walls, ceilings, doors, window frames, staircase and skirting boards in a new-build home still need painting, in what order and what that costs.
• Finishing a shell house: what still needs doing and what does it cost? – What still needs to happen in a home handed over as a shell, in what order, and a worked example for the walls and ceilings.
• New-build extras: have the walls finished via the builder or yourself? – Whether to have the walls of your new-build home finished as an extra via the builder or yourself, what you compare and what it costs.
• Finishing a new-build apartment: what is involved and what does it cost? – What still needs to happen in a new-build apartment, what it costs per m² and what you arrange with the building manager or owners’ association.
• Finishing a hollow-core slab ceiling: what do you do with the V-joints? – What finishing a ceiling of concrete hollow-core slabs costs with spray work, renovation fleece or plasterwork, and what you do with the V-joints.

Who writes these articles, and what can you do with the answers?

The articles come from the day-to-day practice of our 97 in-house tradespeople: 40 wallpaper hangers, 32 plasterers and 25 painters. They finish more than 600 new-build homes every year, and the questions they get at the door are written out here, with the prices from our own price list alongside.

What your job costs follows from our rates per m². A job runs from the first phone consultation to handover following our process step by step. You can make a first estimate of your area with the online m² calculator.