The plasterer works on walls, ceilings and interior partitions, as well as on decorative fibrous plaster elements. Whether you are renovating a flat in town or a chalet in the mountains, the question is the same: who can do this work cleanly, and under what conditions? This page presents the trade, its points of attention in Western Switzerland and how to prepare a quote request.
What plastering and fibrous plaster involve
Plastering brings together several skills. The best known is the render: a layer of plaster applied to a wall or ceiling to obtain a smooth surface, ready to be painted or wallpapered. To this are added the installation of partitions and wall linings in plasterboard, the fitting of suspended ceilings, and the filling of cracks and chases left after electrical conduits or pipes have been run.
Fibrous plaster (staff) is the more decorative branch. It consists of plaster pieces, often reinforced with fibres, moulded in a workshop and then fixed on site: cornices, ceiling roses, mouldings, niches, surrounds. In older buildings, fibrous plaster is also used to complete or reproduce damaged decoration.
The most common jobs:
- redoing the render of a room after damp has been treated, or after a crack or detachment;
- creating a partition to separate a living room from an office or a bedroom;
- fitting a suspended ceiling to hide ducts or to integrate spotlights;
- lining a wall to improve its appearance or prepare for insulation;
- restoring or adding a cornice, a ceiling rose or a moulding.
When to call a plasterer
A small repair can be done yourself. As soon as the surface is large, the substrate is uneven or the result must be perfectly flat, the professional’s skill makes the difference: a poorly tightened render or a badly treated joint shows after painting, sometimes only in raking light.
Also call a professional in these situations:
- the plaster sounds hollow or comes away in sheets;
- cracks reappear after a first repair;
- you are creating or moving a partition, which may affect acoustics, the routing of services or fire protection;
- the decoration is old and you wish to keep it;
- the work follows water damage: the plaster must be dry and the cause treated before any repair.
A plasterer is no substitute for a damp specialist or an engineer: if the origin of a problem is uncertain, the cause must be identified before the surface is redone.
Plasterers in Switzerland: training and framework for the work
In Switzerland, the trade is learned through an apprenticeship and leads to a federal vocational certificate (CFC, certificat fédéral de capacité). This dual training alternates practice in a company with vocational schooling. A CFC attests to a recognised career path, but says nothing about the quality of a particular job: the quote, references and discussion with the company remain the best guides.
The contract may refer to the SIA 118 standard (issued by the Swiss society of engineers and architects), which sets general conditions for construction work. If so, it applies in addition to the rules of the Code of Obligations (CO). Check this point in the offer before signing.
Ceilings and partitions sometimes involve other trades. A suspended ceiling often hides electrics or ventilation, and a wall lining sometimes precedes insulation. In a larger renovation, coordination with the electrician, the painter or the carpenter is worth planning from the start. For the finish, the page on painting can help you anticipate the sequence of work.
What changes from one canton to another
Interior plastering is not always subject to a permit. But as soon as the work is part of a wider transformation, or the building is protected, cantonal rules come into play. Always check with the commune or the relevant cantonal department before starting.
- Geneva: building permits are issued by the canton, through the Office des autorisations de construire. For energy, the cantonal energy law (LEn) and the cantonal energy office (OCEN) oversee, among other things, the Buildings Programme subsidies. Many rental buildings are managed by property managers, whose consent is useful, and the old town and certain districts are protected.
- Vaud: the building permit is issued by the municipality, going through the cantonal permit centre (CAMAC) when cantonal departments must give an opinion. Energy falls under the Vaud energy law and the cantonal energy directorate. The old towns and the Lavaux vineyards, a World Heritage site, call for particular care.
- Valais: the permit is issued by the commune within the building zone, and by a cantonal commission outside it. The cantonal energy and hydropower service manages the subsidy programme. For chalets and second homes, the federal law on second homes applies in the communes concerned.
- Fribourg: applications go through the cantonal platform FRIAC, and the permit is issued by the prefecture or the commune depending on the type of work. The cantonal energy service offers a subsidy programme. The canton is bilingual and its old towns are protected.
- Neuchâtel: applications are made through the cantonal one-stop shop SATAC, with a decision by the commune. The cantonal energy and environment service handles subsidies. The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, a UNESCO site, deserves to be taken into account.
- Jura: the permit is issued by the commune or the canton depending on the scale of the project. The cantonal energy section manages the subsidy programme. Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne have old towns to preserve.
- Bern (Biel/Bienne): the permit is issued by the commune or the prefecture depending on the project, and the cantonal office for the environment and energy manages the subsidy programme. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual, French and German: state your contact language in the request.
In a protected building, old fibrous plaster decoration cannot be replaced freely. Ask the heritage department before any removal.
Preparing your plastering request
The more precise the request, the more comparable the quotes. Gather the following:
- the type of property (flat, house, chalet, premises) and its approximate age;
- the rooms concerned and the nature of the work: render, partition, ceiling, fibrous plaster;
- the current condition: cracks, damp treated or not, old decoration to keep;
- a few photos, including details such as corners and ceilings;
- the desired finish (ready to paint, smoothed, visible decoration);
- your constraints: occupied home, access, floor, lift or narrow staircase;
- the consent of the landlord or property manager if you are a tenant, and that of the co-owners for common areas.
If the home remains occupied during the work, say so: protection of floors and furniture, dust and the handling of rooms affect how the site is organised.
What a reliable quote details
A clear plastering quote describes each item rather than a single overall total. You should find:
- the surfaces or elements concerned, room by room;
- the preparation of the substrates: sanding, primer, treatment of cracks, removal of what exists;
- the materials: type of boards, render, plaster for fibrous plaster;
- the planned finish, and what is not included (for example painting);
- site protection, cleaning and removal of rubble;
- the payment terms, the planned schedule and the validity period of the offer;
- any work charged on a time-and-materials basis and how it will be invoiced.
Compare quotes item by item: two offers that seem far apart often come from a different scope, not from a difference in quality.
What makes the cost vary
The cost of a plastering job depends on several factors, which the quote should help you identify:
- the surface area and ceiling height, which change the need for scaffolding or a ladder;
- the condition of the substrate: a flat wall is easier to treat than an uneven or damaged one;
- the number of coats and the level of finish required;
- the complexity of the shapes: corners, arches, niches, custom cornices;
- fibrous plaster: a standard piece or a specific moulding made in a workshop;
- site access, the floor, and whether the premises are occupied;
- the schedule and coordination with other trades.
No figure means anything without a visit or photos: only a quote drawn up for your project allows a real comparison.
Legal warranties after the work
The Code of Obligations governs defects in work. For work on an immovable structure, the 5-year period of art. 371 CO applies to certain defects: a render permanently integrated into the building or a fixed partition falls into this category. For movable work, for example a piece of fibrous plaster delivered before installation, the period is 2 years.
If the contract refers to the SIA 118 standard, its rules apply in addition. To report a defect, keep the photos, the quote and the invoice, and write to the company as soon as you notice it. If you are unsure of your rights, a lawyer or a consumer association can guide you.
Requesting a plastering quote
SOS Travaux is a neutral matching service: you describe your work online, your request is passed on to craftspeople and companies in the region, who contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote. The site has no team of craftspeople of its own and no named partner.
To request a quote, state the location, the nature of the work (render, partition, ceiling, fibrous plaster), the current condition and your constraints. The more precise the description, the more comparable the replies.
Plasterers near you
Rules on permits, energy and heritage vary from one canton to another. Choose yours to see what applies:
Updated 29 October 2026