By the Bouwsector België team, 97 in-house tradespeople · reviewed by Geert Jan Hendrik, director · updated
Having a tongue-and-groove (wood panel) ceiling removed and replaced with a plasterboard ceiling typically costs between €20 and €40 per m². The finishing comes on top: with us, skim-plastering the new ceiling ready for painting costs €23.99 per m², and lining paper (renovlies) with one coat of paint costs €26.49 per m², excluding VAT.
Wooden panelling is mostly found in homes from the 1970s. If you want a smooth, white ceiling, it usually has to go. At Bouwsector België, our own contractor crews take down the panelling and fit the new ceiling, and our plasterers or wallpaper hangers then finish it.
From wood panelling to a crisp white ceiling? Request your quote
After a free consultation you receive one quote covering the removal, the new ceiling and the finishing, with fixed prices per m² for the plastering or the lining paper
What does removing a wood-panel ceiling cost per m²?
The price has two parts: the building work and the finishing. For the building work we use going market rates, and for the finishing we use our own price list.
Item
Per m²
Source
Panelling removed and a new plasterboard ceiling
€ 20 to € 40
Going market rate
Skim-plastering the ceiling, ready for painting, materials included
€ 23.99
Our price list
Priming and painting the ceiling after plastering, RAL 9010 or 9016, 1 coat
€ 19.99
Our price list
Hanging lining paper (renovlies) on the ceiling and painting it, RAL 9010 or 9016, 1 coat
€ 26.49
Our price list
Market prices are indications from public price overviews for 2026; they are not consistent about VAT. Our own prices come from the 2026/2027 price list, valid from 1 September 2026, and exclude VAT. For renovation work on a home over 10 years old you will usually pay 6% VAT, otherwise 21%.
A worked example for a ground floor with 60 m² of panelled ceiling. Removing the panelling and fitting new plasterboard typically costs €1,200 to €2,400. With lining paper, the finishing then costs 60 × €26.49 = €1,589.40, plus €99.99 call-out charge: €1,689.39.
If you choose plastering, the finishing is 60 × €23.99 + 60 × €19.99, plus €199.99 for the floor protection runner and €99.99 call-out charge: €2,938.78. According to Knauf, plasterwork needs about 4 weeks to dry before paint goes on. We paint lining paper as soon as the adhesive is dry.
M² calculator: your m² and price
Enter the floor area of your home and see a price indication straight away, without leaving your details first.
You only find out once the first panels are off. Panelling is fixed to wooden battens, and behind it you often find an older ceiling or the joists of the floor above.
What you find
What it means
An older ceiling that is still fixed firmly
The new ceiling can often go straight onto it
Loose or sagging sections
Remove first, then fit a new ceiling
Old ceiling boards in an older home
Asbestos survey first, demolition only afterwards
Old pipes or wiring
The moment to renew the electrics, before the ceiling is closed up
Asbestos is the main point here. In older homes, asbestos can be present in old ceiling boards. The panelling itself is wood, but you cannot know in advance what is behind it. If in doubt, have an asbestos survey carried out by an accredited expert first.
If asbestos is found, it must be removed and disposed of by an accredited firm. Check the current rules and notification requirements with your region. That is why we raise it in the consultation already.
Plasterboard over the panelling, or remove the panelling?
There are two routes to a new ceiling. Which one suits depends on how firmly the panelling is fixed and what you want above the ceiling.
What you are comparing
Plasterboard over the panelling
Panelling removed, new ceiling
When it is possible
Only if the panelling and the battens are firmly fixed
Always, and necessary if the panelling is loose or sagging
Demolition and waste
Almost none
Panelling and battens are demolished and taken away
What you get to see
Nothing of what is behind it
The old ceiling, the joists and the pipes
Room for spotlights or pipes
Limited
Can be combined with a suspended ceiling
Fitting plasterboard over the panelling is the quickest route, because almost nothing is demolished. If the panelling is loose or you want to see what is behind it, it comes off. If spotlights or pipes have to go in, having a suspended ceiling made is the other route.
In both cases you then have a plasterboard ceiling with joints and screw heads. If you want a completely smooth ceiling, it has to be plastered. If you want to keep small joints and hairline cracks out of sight, choose lining paper, just as with finishing plasterboard on a wall.
Can’t you just paint the panelling white?
You can, and it is cheaper than a new ceiling. But the wood stays visible, with every groove and joint between the panels. You get a white wooden ceiling, not a smooth ceiling.
Painting is also more work than it seems. Varnished wood has to be sanded first, otherwise the new coat will not stick well. And every groove has to be filled with paint while you work above your head.
If you want a crisp ceiling without lines, replacing it is the only route. If you want to keep the wooden character, leaving it as it is or painting it is an honest choice. In the consultation we set both options side by side.
How do you have your panelled ceiling replaced by us?
Request a quote or call us on weekdays between 9:00 and 17:00. Tell us how many m² of ceiling there are, the year your home was built, and whether spotlights or pipes need to go in. In a free consultation we discuss the route, and afterwards you receive a plan and a quote.
If you agree, we measure up and check the ceiling and the walls. The final price and the schedule are then fixed, and we start on the day we agree together. You pay 50% on the first working day, once all materials are on site and we have started, and 50% on completion.
The removal and the new ceiling are done by our four in-house contractor teams of four people each. Our 97 in-house tradespeople then finish it, with a plastered ceiling ready for painting or with lining paper on the ceiling. A plasterer plasters 100 m² per day on average.
If the panelled ceiling is in a home you are tackling from top to bottom, such as when renovating a 1970s house, we take on the complete renovation as your contractor. We work throughout Belgium: Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.
Want to know what a new ceiling instead of your panelling costs?
What does it cost to have panelling removed from a ceiling?
Removing the panelling and fitting a new plasterboard ceiling typically costs between €20 and €40 per m². The finishing comes on top: with us €23.99 per m² for plastering ready for painting, or €26.49 per m² for lining paper with one coat of paint, excluding VAT.
Can you fit plasterboard over wood panelling?
Yes, if the panelling and the battens behind it are firmly fixed. That saves demolition work and waste. If they are loose or the ceiling sags, the panelling comes off and a new ceiling goes in.
Can there be asbestos behind wood panelling?
The panelling itself is wood. But in older homes, asbestos can be present in old ceiling boards, and those can be behind the panelling. If in doubt, have an asbestos survey done before any demolition starts.
Can you plaster a wood-panel ceiling?
Not directly onto the wood. First a plasterboard ceiling goes in, either over the panelling or after it has been removed. We then plaster that ceiling ready for painting for €23.99 per m², or finish it with lining paper for €26.49 per m².
How long does it take to replace a wood-panel ceiling?
The finishing is quick: a plasterer plasters 100 m² per day on average. After that, according to Knauf, plasterwork needs about 4 weeks to dry before it can be painted. We paint lining paper as soon as the adhesive is dry, without that waiting time.
By the Bouwsector België team, 97 in-house tradespeople · reviewed by 
