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Wirral's
Premier Plastering Service
​ Seriously Smooth Plasterers

Skimming

The team at Plastering Wirral is extremely proud of our expertise in skimming . Its often said that skimming is the  most difficult of all the plastering skills to master, and I'm sure anyone who has tried it would agree. Skimming is hard. Very hard. Don't underestimate it. 

So what is skimming ?

A skim is the top layer of plaster. Its very fine and very smooth. It’s the part of the plastering process that you can see, once the plasterers have left. A skim coat is used either as the top coat, after a prior coat of plaster has been applied, or as a new top coat when the existing plaster is tired or crack, and needs renovating. If the plaster is essentially sound, and has been well prepared, a skim coat will make it look like new. Skimming produces a layer roughly 2mm thick, so will hide a multitude of sins.

Skimming isn’t a shortcut. For a skim to be effective, the existing finish must be well prepared, and that takes time. Skim can be applied to a painted wall, but only if the paint is sound. Otherwise, it’ll need to be sanded down to provide a good key for the skim. Wallpaper must be removed. You cannot skim over wallpaper, no matter what you may be told.

​Any significant imperfections or faults will need to be filled and sanded. All loose and crumbling plaster must be fixed. The existing plaster must be firmly affixed to the underlying structure, and clean too. This preparation is absolutely vital to the finished result. A layer of PVA can be applied to the surface using a roller, prior to the skim being applied. This helps adhesion to the original layer.

Get the preparation right, and the skim will look great. Get it wrong, or cut corners, and it will look little better than before you started. Inexperienced plasterers, or cowboys, will often skim a wall to save time. They’ll claim to have re-plastered, take the money and disappear. The wall will look adequate for a short while, and then gradually deteriorate and need to be done again. But this time at greater expense, as more work will be required.

A good skim, by an experienced and conscientious plasterer can be almost miraculous. It can transform old, tired plaster and fool you into thinking its been completely re-plastered. But at far less cost. It really is all about the preparation. If enough time is spent on the preparation, you’re at least halfway there.

But don't forget. Skimming is very hard. It takes years of practice before a plasterer can produce a high quality skim coat. Its impossible for an amateur to match the skills of a professional. Don't believe anyone that tells you otherwise. There are plenty of YouTube videos to study, and we are all for anyone having a go. But don’t ever think you’ll get a good result. If you want a perfect finish, call a professional.

We are proud of our skimming skills. We have spent years learning the art. We’ve gone through the frustration and tears so you don’t have to. Give us a call, and lets chat about your skimming requirements. All our quotes are free and no obligation. You’ve nothing to lose.

​We’ll skim your walls and ceilings. We will do it well. We will do it right. We won’t cut corners. Just great skimming. At great prices. 

Give Plastering Wirral a call, and lets discuss your project
Our advice is completely free, as are our no obligation quotes

If you want the highest quality skimming at the very best prices
it has to be Plastering Wirral
​
Seriously smooth plasterers, for seriously smooth walls

Our Services

General Plastering

Skimming

Exterior Render

Artex Removal

Ceilings

Plaster Boarding

Plastering Services for the Wirral
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0151 317 2550

Five Star Reviews

Quick and Efficient

Had a lot of skimming work done by the plasterers at Plastering Wirral. No complaints. They were quick and efficient and left no mess anywhere. The standard of their work was very high and they were polite and friendly - a pleasure to deal with
​
Phillip Shepherd
​​Greasby

Highest Quality

I used to be a plasterer. I'm in a wheelchair now. ​I knew what I needed. I hired Plastering Wirral. I can say they really know what they are doing. Their work is of the highest quality. They were very helpful to me too. Thank you for all your help
​
R Campbell
​Leasowe

The Best I have Seen

We used Plastering Wirral on a recommendation from work. I was told they were good and I wasn't disappointed. From start to finish they were the best I have seen. They were dead punctual and left no mess. If only this was the norm
​
Steve Biddulph
​Thornton

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​0151 317 2550
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