In message , Andrew Gabriel
writes
In article om,
writes:
So, my questions are- would reskimming solve the problem of my lumpy
plaster so that I could just paint the walls without having to line
them?
Yes, if it's done better than the original. No otherwise.
If I were to rekim is there any preparation I should conduct
prior to having a plasterer out?
Remove all electrical accessories (after isolating the relevant
circuits, obviously), and coil the cables in the back boxes so
they do not stick out past the wall surface. This enables the
plasterer to sweep his trowel right across and gives you a
much better result than if he has to steer around accessories
or protruding wires. When I skim, I cut a tight fitting cardboard
square or rectangle and push it into the front of the box. This
helps keep the plaster and PVA out of the box. I've never seen
a plasterer to this though. Finding the box afterwards can be
difficult if you don't know exactly where it is and it's been
skimmed right across. Remove the cardboard before the plaster
sets completely.
This is also a good time to think what extra sockets, switches,
wall lights, etc you want to fit before the reskim.
Huh? I've had a number of rooms skimmed now, no cardboard and no
difficulty finding the back boxes... I really can't see how on earth
they'd get 'lost'?
Maybe your good intentions (cardboard in the boxes) suggest to the
plasterer that you want the holes covered? I dunno?
For me, the last thing of the day (if & when the plasterer's labourer
forgets) is to go round the edges of the sockets & switches with a
stanley knife, but it literally is no more than a "clean up the edge".
Back to the OP's point though, yes a good skim followed by
quality/careful painting - you'll have a class finish.
Around our way (darn sarf - North Essex) reckon on 200quid per room for
a good quality skim.
Hth
Someone