Short answer: Concrete effect plaster gives flat walls the raw, cloudy look of poured concrete without the weight or mess of actual concrete, so it works well in Newcastle flats, from Quayside apartments to traditional Tyneside flats. It goes straight onto sound plaster or plasterboard in thin coats. In a flat, the main things to sort early are permission from the building’s managing agent, access, and working hours.
Newcastle flats and what they are like inside
Newcastle has a wide spread of flats. Along the Quayside and the riverside there are modern apartment blocks and converted warehouses, often with plasterboard walls and concrete ceilings. Across the city there are Tyneside flats, a local type of terraced house split into an upstairs and a downstairs flat, each with its own front door. These usually have older plastered brick walls.
Concrete effect plaster suits both. In a modern apartment it adds texture to plain white walls. In an older Tyneside flat it can give one wall, or a chimney breast, a more modern feel without stripping the character of the rest of the home.
What concrete effect plaster actually is
It is a decorative plaster, troweled on in two or three thin coats, with the colour and marks worked in by hand so it looks like cast concrete. It can be left with a soft matt surface or sealed so it wipes clean. Because it is a plaster coating and not structural concrete, it adds almost no weight, which matters on upper floors and stud walls. It can also go on ceilings, though that is slower work. Our concrete effect plaster page shows the finish in more detail.
Permissions and building rules
If you own a leasehold flat, read your lease before booking any work. Many blocks need the managing agent or freeholder to approve works, and some have rules about working hours, noise and where trades can park. We are happy to send a short description of the work and our RAMS (risk assessments and method statements) for the agent to see. In a Tyneside flat you will usually have fewer rules, but it is still worth letting the neighbour above or below know when work is happening.
If the building is listed, listed building consent can be needed for internal work. Ask Newcastle City Council’s conservation officer before booking.
Access, protection and the programme
Flats bring practical problems a house does not. Materials and tools have to go up in a lift or up shared stairs, so we protect lift walls and common areas and keep deliveries small. There is rarely an outdoor space to mix in, so we set up a covered mixing area inside the flat and protect floors, kitchen units and windows.
Newcastle is a long drive from Birmingham, so we plan the job in one block where we can. Each coat needs to dry before the next, and we arrange the days so the team is not waiting around. If you are living in the flat, we agree which rooms stay usable each day. If you are having other work done, we fit in after the electrician and before final decoration and flooring.
Is it right for your flat?
Concrete effect suits people who like an urban, pared back look. If you want something softer, Marmorino gives a chalky stone texture instead. For floors to match, microcement is the usual choice. We will tell you honestly if a wall is too damaged or damp for plaster to be a sensible answer.
Send photos of the walls, rough measurements and the type of building you live in to get a free online quote. You can also call 07592 929191 or email info@finestplastering.co.uk. See our Newcastle page for more about how we cover the area.
Questions we get asked
Can concrete effect plaster go on plasterboard?
Yes, as long as the boards are firmly fixed, the joints are taped and filled, and the surface is primed properly first.
Do I need my landlord or managing agent to agree?
If your lease requires approval for works, yes. Check the lease and ask the managing agent before you book.
Is it cold or rough to the touch?
It is a smooth plaster surface with a slight texture, not rough cast concrete. It feels like a wall, not a pavement.