July 28, 2026 · 5 min read
Seven questions to ask before hiring a plasterer
These are the questions we would ask if we were hiring someone else, and we are entirely comfortable being asked all of them.
1. What preparation is included?
A quote that does not describe substrate work is not a quote. Ask specifically what happens if the wall turns out to be worse than it looks once work starts.
2. How many coats, and what sealer?
Coat count is where corners get cut, because it is invisible once finished. In a wet room the sealer specification matters as much as the finish itself.
3. Does this finish suit this room?
If the answer is that every finish suits every room, keep looking. Lime does not belong behind a range and Roman clay does not belong in a shower, and anyone who says otherwise is selling rather than advising.
4. Is my house pre-war, and does that change anything?
For a Boise house built before 1940 the answer should involve breathability. If a contractor has no view on vapor permeability in an old house, they have not thought about the wall behind the finish.
5. Can I see the finish in person?
Photographs flatten texture and misrepresent color. Ask for samples on your own wall, in your own light, at a meaningful size.
6. What is the realistic timeline, and what drives it?
The answer should mention cure time and weather. If it does not, the schedule is being set by convenience rather than by the material.
7. Are you licensed and insured?
In Idaho, contractors taking on projects of $2,000 or more must be registered with the Idaho Contractors Board and must show that registration number in their advertising. Ask for it and verify it.
In short
The best signal is not a portfolio. It is whether someone will tell you a finish is wrong for your room before you have paid them anything.
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