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Miro gave me a fair price and had a slot so could do the work next day. He did an excellent job and was polite, clean and tidy. Had a short lunch break and was finished mid afternoon. Would recommend.
Richard
Brilliant, very nice man and did a very good job
Liam
GM Plasterers did a very good job for us. Quickly and up to a high standard.
Magda
Skimming plaster is a relatively straightforward job. It’s literally a few millimetres thick, but it can have a huge impact on your home. Finding an expert for your skimming is a must to get a smooth crisp finish. To refresh your walls and ceilings this year and create the ideal surface for decorating, find an expert plasterer today.
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Skimming plaster is the secret weapon of any home renovation connoisseur, giving you a smooth, modern finish to work from. It instantly transforms a drab interior and can be used to cover up dated decorative surfaces and fusty old-fashioned patterns.
It may look easy enough, but skimming is a job for a seasoned plastering pro. The skim layer itself is wafer-thin –just 1–2 mm in depth. That means it must be applied precisely, and with painstaking care. And before you even reach for a trowel, you’ll need to ensure the surface you’re plastering is correctly prepared, while also mixing your skim plaster to perfection.
Once your tradesperson has finished skimming walls and ceilings in your home, it will be ready to decorate however you choose. But remember – painting on fresh plaster may need a dedicated base coat, or the new surface may start to flake and crumble.
What is the price of skimming?
Most plastering jobs are priced per square metre. While a full plastering job will cost around £15 per sqm, skimming alone is usually cheaper (as it’s quicker). Expect to pay between £3–£5 per sqm.
How to skim plaster
- Every experienced tradesperson knows that the essential first step in any job is gathering the right tools and materials. For skimming plaster, it means the correct type of plaster (more on that below). It also means a large bucket, an electric mixer (or a drill with a mixer attachment), a stainless-steel trowel, a plastering hawk, a float, a step ladder and a large paintbrush. Finally, you’ll need a supply of clean water nearby too.
- The next task is measuring the ceiling or wall to calculate how much plaster is needed. Depending on the type of plaster your professional is using (and the manufacturer), this could vary. Be sure to check the instructions on the plaster bag.
- Following those same instructions, your plasterer will slowly fill the required measure of water in a large bucket and gradually add the plaster, stirring the mixture as they go. When all the water and plaster has been added, they’ll start to mix using an electric mixer or drill. The consistency they’re looking for is similar to that of double cream.
- Your pro will moisten the surface of their hawk and apply some plaster to it. They can then take the necessary amount of plaster from the hawk onto the float and apply it to the wall or ceiling. When plastering, they’ll hold the float at a slight angle to the wall and work towards themselves, aiming for a thickness of around 1–2 mm.
- The entire wall or ceiling needs to be covered in one hit, including all edges and extremities. The plaster lasts around 30 minutes before it goes off. At this stage, the plasterer will just be looking to make sure there are no large lumps.
- After around 10–15 minutes, they can do a touch test. If the plaster marks but doesn’t leave a fingerprint, it’s ready to be smoothed over with a clean float. This is when any lines or bumps can be removed.
- It’s then time to apply a second coat of plaster, following the same process that we’ve outlined above. As soon as the second coat is dry, it can be “closed in” – smoothing it over with a metal float. This process should be repeated another three or four times, leaving an interval of around 10–15 minutes between each pass.
- Finally, your plasterer will use a dry paint brush to sweep away any plaster from the edge of your wall or ceiling. The plaster will then need to be left to dry out fully for a few days before decorating.
What type of plaster to use for skimming
Pop down to your local DIY store or builders’ merchant and you’ll probably find a deluge of plaster products. The type of plaster you’ll need will depend on the surface you’re skimming over.
Here’s a brief guide to the types of plaster you can use for skimming:
- Multi-finish plaster. A versatile plaster that can be used to skim over undercoats, existing decorative surfaces and plasterboard.
- Board-finish plaster. Ideal for use on plasterboard, as well as other low grip surfaces.
- Durable or tough-finish plaster. This versatile product is tougher than standard plaster and engineered to withstand knocks or bumps.
- Finishing plaster. Designed to finish undercoat plasters and plasterboard, this product delivers a supremely smooth surface.
- PVA-less plaster. A plaster that will grip without having to prepare surfaces using PVA first.
The qualifications your tradesperson needs
Your plasterer won’t necessarily need any trade body accreditations or formal certifications. But you should expect them to hold some evidence of training – either a City & Guilds, NVQ or diploma qualification. This shows they’ll be versed in best practices and have the necessary knowledge to deliver a top-notch service.
Insurance your tradesperson needs
Check your tradesperson has public liability insurance. Chances are everything will be fine. But just in case anything goes awry when your skim plastering is taking place (think stained carpets or damage to your possessions), public liability insurance will cover you and your tradesperson.
Questions you should ask your tradesperson
- What type of plaster would they recommend using (and why)?
- Can they skim over the particular type of surface you want to plaster?
- Does their quote include labour and materials?
- How would they recommend preparing the new plaster for decoration?
C & N Constructions is a well-established company offering construction and landscaping services for both residential and commercial clients. Our faith: We believe in open and honest communication and shared goals which will generate greater continuity in workload and thereby provide sustained improvements in quality, efficiency & delivery. Our mission: To safely deliver any project, any time, in any environment for the benefit of our customers, shareholders, employees and the communities we serve. Company vision: C&N Constructions is committed to building long-term relationships based on integrity, performance, value, and client satisfaction. We will continue to meet the changing needs of our clients with our quality services delivered by the most qualified people. Get in touch and we can start asap! We offer free and no obligation project estimate.
The job was to cut back a severely overgrown patch of garden. Chris & his team, Adrian & Cosmin, gave me a competitive quote, after coming to visit the site to assess what needed to be done. They started next day and completed the job quickly and to my complete satisfaction. The site was cleaned up & all waste taken away. I will definitely use them again and strongly recommend them.
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A&K CONTRACTOR ARE SPECIALISTS IN ALL TYPES OF BATHROOMS AND HOUSE REFURBISHMENTS. IT GIVES CUSTOMERS PEACE OF MIND TO KNOW THEY CAN DEAL WITH A COMPANY WHO CAN RELAYED FROM THE START TO FINISH THEIR PROJECT! OUR ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON DELIVERING A FRIENDLY SERVICE WITH HIGH QUALITY WORK FOR EVERY CUSTOMER ,WHILE AT THE SAME TIME OFFERING GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY. OUR ETHOS IS; -PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION -MAINTAINING AND CLEAN AND TIDY ENVIROMENT -HIGH STANDARD FINISH -POLITE AND PUNCTUAL -REALIABILITY -GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY.
Fast, efficient job properly done. Will hire this company in the future
Spreads Plastering Service established since 1979. Reliable, clean & experienced service with reasonable rates in Greater London.
I am absolutely delighted with Val's work. I sent out a SOS looking for someone to re-plaster a wall that was badly damaged after having wallpaper removed. I needed the job done with some urgency as I am on a tight schedule. Val responded within minutes of me posting the job & was happy to work out of hours as he knew I needed the job done quickly. He arrived promptly & the job was completed in 4 hours to a wonderful standard at a very fair price. I would highly recommend Val!
Hi there we are a plastering and building company We are a family run business Our aim is for customer satisfaction on every job Over 30 years exp All trades back up No job to small or big We cover Edinburgh lothians Fife Scottish Borders Artex removal specialist Damp proofing Fireplace specialist
We are a family run business with 10 years experience in plastering and general building services - all our work is professional and guaranteed 100% satisfaction in all our services we are provide. Reliable,clean& reasonable prices to suit all budgets
Ziyad Construction with over 15 years of experience in the Construction industry, We carry out all aspects of Domestic/Commercial building works to the highest standards. Services include plumbing, carpentry, brickwork, loft conversions, extensions, house renovations, painting/decorating, plastering and all other general building works.
Pump installation for a lack luster shower. Sorted well. Now have a powerful shower. Thankyou.
I’ve been in the building trade for over 20 years and would like to think I’ve gained knowledge and experience in most aspects of domestic building i always like a challenge and try to make people’s concepts a reality I will always try my best to give a fair price and always adhere to time scales my main background is general building work .but I have a host of sub contractors working with me so we can take on more or less Any work you may require
Installed French doors into the side of a garage which involved cutting a new opening into the brickwork. Great job. Very quick to respond. Clear on timescales and a very fair price. Would highly recommend based on this experience.
We Do all trades From your Roof to your Drains . Have Built 7 Houses. But Will do all Small Jobs As well as the Larger Ones .
ES Building Services is a family run business with a team of highly skilled, well experienced and passionate professionals who puts your needs at the forefront of what we do. All our work is completed to the highest industry standards and compliance with current regulations is always met. We focus on providing a high end finish on all of our projects regardless of budget. We will make sure you are involved and understood at every step of the process, from design to completion. Whether it’s a simple maintenance job or a full internal refurbishment, we aim to provide a level of service that exceeds your expectations. Our predominant active contacts consist of bathroom and kitchen refurbishment work. We work alongside multiple industry leaders and have an excellent track record in providing high quality installations across London. With a skilled and mature team of professionals we have an abundance of experience in all areas of building services. We specialise in full internal refurbishments covering all aspects of the build: strip out, plastering, kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing, electrics and everything in between. With over 300+ 5* reviews accross all platforms, rest assured your property is in safe hands with ES Building Services. Kitchens Bathrooms Refurbishments Electrical installation + Everything in between NICEIC Aproved Contractor. GasSafe Registered Engineers. SafeContractor Approved.
We hired ES Electrical to fit our new Kitchen and also added a toilet and shower unit downstairs. From the begening we found Harry and his Team to be very professional but also had have a very friendly approach. They listerned to our concearns during the process of the instillation and also gave us some good advice and ideas. We found them to be very tidy with their work and respected our property. Overhall we are very happy with the outcome of our new Kitchen and Bathroom,hence we have giving this rating.
Hi we are a two band company me and my son plus contractor when we need them we do all aspects of the building game as specified in are categories from bricklaying to decorating we aim to keep all are customers happy from start to finish thanks
TC Property Renovations cover all aspects of trades from roofing, extensions, home remodelling, to carpet fitting. We are a trusted family business which has grown over 20 years, if you require home renovation advice, we are happy to help, if you are looking for bespoke joinery, we are here, if you require conversions, we are happy to help.
Providing a professional Painting, Decorating and Plastering Service both Internal & External. My services include but are not limited to; Plastering- Skimming Internal Painting & Decorating Door / Window Painting External Wall Painting I pride myself and am dedicated to providing high quality workmanship to ensure all of my customers are completely happy and satisfied.
Vio and his team went above and beyond to deliver outstanding service. Their professionalism and dedication truly set them apart, and it’s clear why they’ve earned a five-star rating. I’m grateful for the excellent support and wish them continued success
Chameleon Refurbs have over 25 years experience in all types of Building Refurbishments so choose Chameleon Refurbs with confidence
Free quotes. Free Advice. Public Liability Insurance. Clean & Tidy Worker. Over 25yrs Experience in the building trade. We are a friendly family run business. We cover All roofing work undertaken, repairs to complete Re-Roof. Flat Roof. Chimney repairs. Fascia. Soffits. Guttering. Pointing. Also Landscaping. Patios. Blockpaving. Driveways. Fencing. External & Internal Painting. Brickwork. Extensions. Small jobs are welcome.
A really good job. Very happy with the finished product. Waiting on a quote for something else now.
Been trading for over 35 years now
All the work was completed smoothly and to a great standard. Pleasant guy to deal with.
I am hard working and reliable, I have been in the business 30 years and my work is second to none. I pride myself on my excellent workmanship and being able to give my customers the best possible price. I guarantee all my damp proofing work. I will come out at a time to suit you for a free no obligation quote.
Excellent and easy to work with
I've been working in the maintenance Industry for the past 19 years and i've worked for 6 different councils in London, I've been trading since 2012 with this company.
A & L Ever Ready did an amazing job. I wouldn’t hesitate to contact them again.
Welcome to create that space – Your Trusted Handyman Service At create that space, we understand that home repairs and improvements can be daunting. Whether you're dealing with a leaky tap, need help assembling furniture, or have a larger renovation project in mind, we’re here to help. Our skilled and reliable team offers a wide range of services designed to make your life easier and your home more comfortable. With years of experience, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, efficient work with a personal touch. Our goal is to provide you with the best handyman services that are not only affordable but also performed with precision and care. Why Choose Us? Experienced Professionals: Our handymen are experts in a variety of home maintenance tasks. Affordable Rates: We believe in providing great value for your investment. Reliable Service: We arrive on time, and we always complete the job to your satisfaction. Wide Range of Services: From minor repairs to major home projects, we’ve got you covered. Let us handle your to-do list, so you can focus on what matters most. Ready to get started? Contact us today for a free quote!
We were very pleased with the work. They were punctual and did an excellent job. Would definitely recommend.
We have 25 years experience,----our specialist are experts in construction and maintenance.
Martin did a fantastic job building and installing covers for our meter boxes. His work was of excellent standard and he kept us fully up to date on timing and progress. Highly recommended.
Our team of building professionals offers a solution for all of your building related needs. Whether its kitchen or bathroom installation or even something much smaller, we have the experience & personnel to provide the highest quality work.
Stanley & his team originally came on board to build us a new rear extension which would house our kitchen as well as fit a new bathroom but as the project developed it ended up being near enough an entire house renovation and we're thrilled with the results. We still have work we would like to do to the outside of the house as well as a loft conversion and when we have enough money to take on those projects, we would definitely re-hire Stanley and his team. Highly recommend Stanley & his team.
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