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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?
Internal skimming Plaster boarding Dry lining External rendering and dashing EWI Over 30 years experience NVQ time served
Lovely job, Mark. I'm really pleased with what has been done. On time, very polite will definitely be using him again. Thank you
We had a huge renovation on our hands, so house full of builders, plumbers, electricians and then Michael and his young apprentice. He was the only consistently reliable worker and all of his work was totally to highest specifications. He even bailed out the builder a few times. Couldn't have wished for a better plasterer.
A professional,reliable,friendly service by a tradesman who cares about his standard of work.Full range of tiling, natural stones to ceramic tiles.Can prepare walls and floors for tiling,underfloor heating fitted.Tiles supplied or advice given if required
Shower tray work completed but water does not run to drain due to level setting. Have had to hire alternate contractor to remedy this. Follow up shower screen not fitted as messages not returned
ACCOMPLISHED PLASTERING AND BUILDING SERVICES. SPECIALISING IN BUILDINGS. LOFT CONVERSION. PATTEN CONCRETE. PLASTER RESTORATIONS. CELLAR TANKING.FOR BEAUTIFUL ROOMS. SOVEREIGN APPROVED DAMP PROOFING. EMERGENCE.ROOF.REPAIR. FULL PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE
Clear communication detailed quote and did exactly what was asked,friendly and helpful towards my tenants,would use again and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
we provide reliable solutions to all your plastering and building needs. We are both fully qualified tradesmen, we pride our selfs on an outstanding service to every job we do,with competitive prices.
Fab job done. Whole team very helpful & courteous. Prompt and reliable & kept us informed at every stage. Left everything tidy at end of job. Would definitely recommend & would use this team again.
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With over 41 years' experience in creating high quality bespoke building projects, look no further than Turley Properties Ltd for all construction / Landscaping services for your property. * Call Us Now For A Free Quote
Qualified carpenter with 10 years experience, Edwards Construction is an independent family owned carpentry and joinery business established in Kingston - Surrey, We pride ourselves On: high quality services in the commercial and private sector while doing this we ensure we strive to achieve absolute 100% positive customer satisfaction, ensuring we deliver the highest standard of work whilst delivering a Professional, Friendly, Rapid response and most of all Reliable Service at a Competitive Price. Throughtout working in the Building sector with over 10 years experience i have seen Various Scales of works from Big jobs to small jobs , High end Jobs such as Montpelier Terrance while at Bowen Builders Knightsbridge or Low end Finishes - the Attention to Detail remain the same and meets Clients Satisfaction Endless Times. With all the knowledge gained over the years our staff have the experience necessary to complete any project no matter the scale of works with a Company built off Trust. We provide Bespoke wardrobes, Kitchens installations, Internal & External ( FD30s Intumescent Strips/Smoke Seals & Door closer ), Decking, Windows and other aspects of carpentry and joinery. Edwards Construction & Maintenance Ltd employees: Hard working with detail for quality work. Rapid Response Take pride in their work, Punctuality Quality workmanship, Working together as a team, Strong work ethic, Attention to Detail Internal + External Fire Doors ( Intumescent strips/Smoke Seals & Door closers also) Windows, Solid timber Flooring, Skirting boards & Rails, Kitchens Installations , Fencing, Decking, Fascia & Soffits, Wood Flooring, Roofing, Maintenance and Handyman Services. We are very Unique with the service we provide which ensures our clients Vision to come reality, remain happy with the timeframe provided for scale of works and scheduled works to be completed on time, If delayed due to Sourcing materials etc Clients will be Informed Immediately, Rescheduled works are Carried out to work within Clients recommendations. EdwardsConstruction1@outlookcom Thank you for viewing our page Look forward to starting our New Business Adventure!
Nathan fitted fire regulated doors and all its components in our property. He is softly spoken, calm and puts you at ease. He carefully considers the job and gives a fair price. He is on time and does what he says he will. He cleared up after the job. I will definitely use him again. Thanks Nathan
IVE BEEN FITTING BATHROOMS TILING AND PLASTERING TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD FOR 0VER 20yrs,IM HONEST/FRIENDLY AND CRB POLICE CHECKED,I have over 60 5 star ratings for you to look through all with very satisfied customers .
had my bathroom renovated by M Brayden and his son Jack . they completed the work to a high standard arriving everyday prompt and worked har throughout the day loverly family so polite friendly and very professional , always cleaned up at the end of every day could not of asked for a better company to do the job thanks guys will deffo be hiring again in the new year
My work is to a high end professional standard and I absolutely believe that preparation and attention to detail is the key to a successful long lasting job. I am a Professional Painter & Decorator based in London mainly specializing in interior residential decorating but also undertake small exteriors and commercial projects. Other work I usually undertake are offices, shops,pubs, new builds, maintenance painting contracts for landlords, letting and management companies.
We’d highly recommend Alex, From the start he was really helpful and understanding of the job we had. He visited our property within 24 hours of the job going live and had a quote with us that evening. The work completed is of an incredible standard and Alex went above and beyond at our property to leave it looking like new. He cleaned up after himself constantly and was very helpful. We will absolutely be asking Alex to do more work on our property.
Welcome to our page! Who we are: The company was founded in 2015 and since then has registered a rapid growth in its expertise, reputation and a wide acknowledgment in the community of South West part of London. This was possible to achieve with our dedicated team that has its primary motivation and a magnificent obsession to put SERVICE FIRST! Our team has experience of over 20 years of working in the field and we put passion to all details as we think that details are responsible for making the difference between good job and a great job, between average job and outstanding job! We understand that our succes is not only possible because we meet the expectations of our clients but we are committed to exceed them. Our experience tells us that you will not only remain pleased with our service but you will tell all your friends about it and that is how we expanded. It is pleasing to notice how our old clients are keeping coming back to us and referring their friends. What we do: We have a creative approach to deliver to you what you want in the best way possible. We do that by designing, remodelling, creating, building and finishing of your living or working space. We know how to turn your house into a place where you will enjoy spending time. Your house should be your favourite location, it should be a place where you could recharge, you could feel good instantly as you enter it and we know the science behind it, even down to the colours of your walls, the arrangement of your furniture and how that affects your state of being. We know how to create that environment that stimulates your well-being. Either you think to redesign your kitchen, your bathroom or any other of your living spaces, we are committed to serve you and help you to make your dreams a reality. We give colours to your dreams! Why? We believe you deserve a better experience when you are undertaking any design, building or decorating project and it shouldn't be a hassle. We believe your house can be transformed to a holiday destination! We believe service first approach is how business should be conducted. We believe there can be trust of 100% because we consider our clients our bigger family and are guided by the philosophy that what we do to another affects us ultimately. We want you to be our next happy costumer and we want to develop a long term relationship with you so that you enjoy the process of your renovations. The journey can be pleasing as well!
I cannot rate this company highly enough Reliable, hardworking and trustworthy I will definitely use them again
We are a family run business who pride ourselves on quality workmanship and customer satisfaction, trading for 10 years now. In that time we have completed many projects, large and small, which have included commercial and residential ones.
Very professional. Arrived on time, immediately started putting down floor protection from the front door right the way through to the studio room. Said what time they would be finished and actually finished a little early. Did a good job of cleaning up after. And as for the plastering, it’s some of the best I’ve seen! Absolutely fantastic. I would thoroughly recommend them, and would use them again in a heartbeat!
JLM building maintenance is the place to go for quality work and real life prices!! Starting up in 2023 we are the new guys on the block, that’s why we are determined to create a rock solid reputation for our; quality of work,
Here at Weathertite Constructions we cover a wide range of building roofing extensions conversions damp problems drainage with camera inspection, garden design with patios driveways and walls. James has 20 years experience Lee has 35 Gary has 17 we are here to provide a good service information and a very reasonable quote kind regards James
M S Building Services is a Worcestershire based building company with over 20 years of experience, proudly serving clients across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Birmingham. We specialise in all aspects of groundwork, building and landscaping, delivering high-quality results tailored to your needs. No job is too big or too small – from minor improvements to large-scale projects, we bring the same dedication, expertise, and attention to detail every time.
Mark was very professional and reliable. Excellent standard of work, left everything clean and tidy on completion of the job. We are very pleased and would highly recommend them.
Mbg builders ltd is a professional building Company. We have been helping domestic Clients across the West London since 2012. We specialists in… Bathroom installation and repair Electric and plumbing and heating Painting and decoration Carpentry work Plaster and skimming Property maintenance Tiles floor and walls Emergency drainage Electric underfloor heating Also we provide very reasonable price Basins . Taps .bathtub.shower tray . Radiators.tiles .showers.all bathroom Material.
Came and did a great job at reasonable price. Highly recommended.
EcoHome plus Ltd, provides property maintenance, carpentry, painting and decorating, full bathrooms, kitchens refurbishment, House extensions, full electric insulation, fitted cupboards etc. and groundwork’s to clients throughout the UK. Our team has many years of experience
Eco did our £8000 post leak repairs. Very good carpentry and plaster work and painting. Mohamad is honest and hard working. We are very happy to recommend Eco.
21 years experience in construction.Attention to details from the start of your project right through to the end
Punctual and efficient. Good job done
Weardale Construction have been in business for over 16 years. Our main works include extensions, loft conversions, sun rooms and conservatories, We are a team of 8 covering all services without the need to sub contract out any works
So pleased with the work completed by Dave and his team. We hired them to build a single storey extension and couldn’t be happier with the result. Everything went smoothly with all work completed earlier than planned. All of the building work was completed to an exceptionally high standard, all without any issue or stress. Reliable, professional, a pleasure to work with.
SRG Renovations Ltd have built a reputation to be proud of, with our team of highly qualified tradesmen we can carry out any project you may have in mind weather it be a small job or a major renovation project all at a very competitive price.
Clean, high quality plasterers. positive attitude. Highly recommended.
Welcome to Fife Roofing and Repointing. we specialize in all aspects of roof coverings, in Fife, Lothians, dundee and Perthshire. References always available, H&S documentation, 10 year insurance backed guarantee on all new & re-roofing jobs and Atleast a 20 year guarantee from us. We also specialise in natural hydraulic lime pointing. We are fully insured and cover a 50 mile radius outside of Glenrothes.
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