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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?
We are a building company that have been in operation for over 25 years We are mostly architect or customer recommendations based We can organise a local architect to produce your plans or price plans you already have We are a little old school where we will give you a competitive estimate and then show you the works we are doing also a job we have finished recently
P & L have just completed today(9/10/24) our bathroom makeover & we are absolutely delighted with the work done. This was to remove existing floor tiles , prepare for new ones & fit & grout replacements. Then to fit a toilet bowl plus seat. All done in budget and to the timescale promised. They may well be equalled but never beaten. Thank you Peter & Adam you did a fantastic job. Regards Jenny & Jim
Neil Chamberlain Property Services
Plaster Skimming
Neil Chamberlain Neil has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, where he has gained a comprehensive level of knowledge and a thorough and in-depth understanding of most trades and skills. Neil commenced his career in construction as a sub-contractor building loft conversions, primarily in West London, and was awarded by The Federation of Master Builders for an exceptional conversion in Wimbledon. Neils recognised high standard of work has secured many diverse construction projects, including the substantial renovation of Period Houses, including listed buildings, single and double storey extensions, detached new build projects, an award winning Chelsea landscaping and garden design, as well as commercial buildings. Neil has worked as part of a team, as a main contractor and has also project managed all elements required in completing building projects large and small successfully. Property Service, (NPS) is a family owned and run business, bringing an extensive level of ability to benefit our clients projects. Whether you require property maintenance or are planning something more substantial our team will assess your requirements and put in place a tailored package for you, from an appropriately detailed quotation on smaller projects, to an all encompassing design and build service, including - planning, building control and a detailed costed schedule of works, we have the experience and background to meet your requirements.
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.
Sebastien and his colleague came and definitely delivered! They cleared my garden from all the weed, overgrown grass and thornbushes so well I forgot how big my garden was. I could see how meticulous and careful they were with their work and also cleaned up after themselves before they left the premises. 5 stars all around!
We are Murdock plumbing and property maintenance. We are a family run business with over 30 years plumbing and property maintenance experience. All our tradesmen are fully qualified with city and guilds certification. Please feel free to phone or email to arrange for free of charge quotation at a time and date of your choosing. From a dripping tap to a full bathroom suite installation. No job is too small. We also provide a 24 hr call out emergency service.
I'm very pleased with the work done by John & Junior, nothing was too much trouble. There were a couple of unexpected problems which they dealt with quickly & calmly, and when I changed my mind about some things they didn't make me feel I was being a nuisance at all, but went out of their way to make sure the end resut was exactly what I wanted. They arrived at exactly the time they said they would & cleaned up after themselves each day. I am very happy with every aspect of the job & highly recommend them
Ebbs Plastering
Plaster Skimming
Plasterer with over 15 years experience great attention to detail all jobs considered no matter the size from boarding and skimming to patching
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Very fast service. Well within my budget.
Hi, I do high quality Carpantery work. -Fitting doors -kitchen fitting -wooden floor installation as well as sanding and varnashing -Fitting sash windows
Qamil He constructed our loft conversion, which we more than happy with. He paid attention to detail and followed the drawings by the architect precisely.He was always willing to discuss any issues and communicate his next plans for the ongoing work. As he was hardworking and punctual the work was done to programme. Would highly recommend him and all the sub-contractors that he has used. Tracey and Andy Sparks
Neil Prescott @Nsp Carpentry Qualified level 3 carpenter & Multitrader with 20+yrs experience in all aspects of internal and external carpentry, including Plastering, basic plumbing and Electrics. Ranging from small to big projects. Please check out some of my work pictures attached and a list of all the works I can carry out confidently. I always strive to deliver customers expectations with a open,honest approach and finishing with a high level of standards. Thanks Neil
Neil was superb and did an excellent job, I'd strongly recommend.
Pinecraft construction has been established since 2003. I do all aspects of building work, joinery, plumbing,minor electrics, alterations, extensions,newbuilds,tiling,etc. No job is too big or small. I take pride in my work and will always offer the best of my ability and experience to my customers and always turn up on time as agreed. I offer a great job at reasonable prices to all of my customers.
We are very happy with the results of our kitchen. Derek did a great job.he is very respectful, profesional and punctual. We will definitely save his number.
Catalin Timaru
Plaster Skimming
Hi We are experienced builders, residential and commercial building and maintenance services Have been in business for around 15 years We offer quality services at reasonable prices
We cover all aspects of plastering, dot and dab, skim, traditional methods can be done (sand / cement and skim). We also do external rendering including coloured render. Pictures and references can be supplied. We are happy to come and give you a quote.
Chris is a great guy, plastering work was excellent and tidied up after job. Cannot fault his work and would highly recommend.
Oaktree Home Improvements provides a complete renovation service. All aspects of your project can be completed by qualified and competent craftsmen to a very high standard. All aspects of work are undertaken however small or large.
Richard and his team did a wonderful job on our bathroom, they were very tidy, the workmanship is fantastic and nothing was to much trouble, we also added the utility room to the job and again they surpassed all of our expectations
We do all aspects of bathrooms and minor building works, we take pride in our work and enjoy leaving the customers with a smile on their faces.
Our build prerequisites were to divide a room & close an open archway, build two extra walls, move steps and a handrail, put in two entrances with doors for the new build and paint & carpet this area. Matthew (MDCC Construction) was qualified and very helpful – giving us good advice. He is an honest, tidy and thorough builder, willing to accommodate the building manager's questions and happy to make amendments. We were thrilled with the speed and finish of this build, and we will definitely use them again.
I am local to the Inverclyde area but travel all over the west of Scotland area if asked. I am a Landscape gardener specialising in driveways, patios. We also do turfing, astro grass laying, decking, walls, hut foundations. All aspects of landscape work undertaken. As well as rated people you can also google my company for more photos of completed works.
First class job .
Renovation company based in Crawley, West Sussex. Specializing in all types of interior work. Decoration, skimming and wallpapering. Bathroom refurbishments. Kitchen refurbishments. Full house refurbishments. Real wood, laminate and vinyl flooring. New plumbing installations and old plumbing maintenance. Wall removals, RSJ inserting and room reconfigurations. Any size project from small to large scale is welcome! Offering over 20 years experience, high quality with minimum hassle!
Slavek and his team worked meticulously to complete our bathroom refurbishment to our requirements. They were prompt everyday, gave us some good constructive advice and carried out work to a high standard. We will definitely be using his company for future projects and will recommend them to friends. Great service!!
A highly competent, enthusiastic and hardworking team with ability to adapt to any environment. We are flexible guys who enjoys of challenges of meeting deadlines and targets. We have excellent communication skills and attention to details. Positive and highly self motivated professionals with proven excellent work skills.
Truly excellent honest reliable and helpful service and team. Highly highly recommended
We Specialise in External Wall Insulation / External Rendering systems. Qualified Renderers. Johnstone’s Storm-shield Approved. We offer different ranges of Render - Silicone Enhanced Render - Full Silicone Render - Brick Slips - Pebble Dashing. - K-Rend
Well so far Robbie has been great honest and straight to the point not getting job done till March but very happy with him not many like him.
SKG CONSTRUCTION LTD is a family run company with over 10 years of experience in creating high quality loft conversion, Extensions, complete home renovations. We offer a full package from conception through to completion. Our services range from providing you with your architectural drawings, involving buildings regulations and obtaining the necessary planning permissions through to allocating you a construction team and issuing a full guarantee for the completed project. Our loft conversion, Extension architects offer cutting edge design solution and will work closely with you to maximise the space without compromising on quality. They will guide you through the whole process. Catalin will ensure smooth running of the project, being on hand every step of the way making sure projects is delivered on time and most importantly on budget. We’ve perfected the loft conversion, extensions over the years to keep it as simple as possible from start to finish, making sure your aware every step of the way. We offer a 10 years insurance backed guarantee on all major works carries out by SKG CONSTRUCTION LTD all work is fully insured comes with a 10 years workmanship warranty. we carry out all types of building works Loft, Extensions, home renovations, tiling, flooring, plumbing, painting, rendering, brickworks, plastering, carpentry, roofing, steel structural works
I have money. I asked if you had a PayPal account so I could send you the deposit and you told me to “forget it” and to “find someone else”. You also gave me 1 week to get the work done before you left for 3-4 months. As I said, my feedback was accurate. You seemed nice and willing to help, but the minute I asked for a different more secure way to get you money you told me to forget it. PayPal is tracked, and secure.
Newman plastering. I am a one man band company, with just myself on the tools This means I have no overheads, so I am able to keep the cost down for my clients, but if needs be I can lay my hands on quality plasterers who share the same skill and passion for the job as me. range of services cover: * skimming plastering * Damproofing * External rendering * Dry lining * Internal rendering * Monocouche scratched renders(k rend) Why choose me? * friendly & reliable service * Many years of experience * Pay attention to health & safety * clean & tidy I have more than 10 years experience in all aspects of the plastering trade, and started learning the art of plastering with my uncle . By the time I was ready to leave school I was already becoming handy with the trowel and had some experience behind me, so I went on to do my apprenticeship and work with various other plasterers gaining more experience and learning my trade on housing sites and various big commercial jobs, as well as doing the odd domestic and private jobs. What makes me different from most companies? Well, I actually enjoy what I do and love plastering, so you can be sure to get a top job. So now you know a bit about me, feel free to use me for your plastering needs.
Arrived as agreed and completed the job to a good standard and to his very reasonable quote Happy to use again for larger plastering job
I'm experienced handyman skilled painter & decorator , plaster inside ,external render outside ,key render, tiling, kitchen/bathroom floors general builder works
Landi did a great job at short notice and for a reasonable price. I will certainly be using him again for future jobs.
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