Paint shows everything underneath — good prep or bad, flat walls or rippled. Professional skimming throughout Edinburgh that creates surfaces worth decorating.
When you need professional skimming, the traditional platform route adds unnecessary steps. List the job, wait for responses, compare quotes, check reviews, make a decision — all while your walls sit there looking rough. Simpler is better.
We keep things direct.
One plasterer covers skimming work across Edinburgh. You speak to them directly, they assess your walls, and they complete the job. No platform delays, no multiple callbacks — just straightforward professional service.
Skimming requirements vary between properties. Victorian solid walls behave differently than modern plasterboard, and each surface type needs appropriate preparation and application — recognising these differences ensures professional finishes throughout.
Have a read through the service details below. If it sounds like the right fit for your rooms, give us a call or fill in the form. If it’s not quite what you need, that’s fine — appreciate you taking the time.
Our Skimming Services in Edinburgh
Wall skim plastering creates the blank canvas every decorator dreams of. Lumpy, bumpy, or damaged walls get transformed into perfectly flat surfaces ready for any finish. Professional plasterers assess existing conditions, prepare surfaces correctly, and apply smooth skim coats that hide imperfections completely — delivering the quality foundation that makes decorating straightforward and results impressive.
Expert ceiling skimming handles textured surfaces that paint alone can’t fix. Artex patterns, stippled finishes, and rough plaster need professional skim coating to create flat, contemporary ceilings. Skilled tradesmen prepare surfaces correctly, apply even coverage overhead, and finish to high standards — ceilings transformed and ready for decoration.
Blending patch repairs into existing plaster takes skill that professional plasterers develop over years. Visible damage gets properly filled, keyed, and skim coated with careful attention to edges and texture matching. Seamless feathering ensures patches disappear completely — walls restored to consistent smooth finishes ready for decoration without full re-skimming costs.
Expert new build finishing transforms plasterboard into the smooth, professional surfaces your project deserves. Extensions, garage conversions, and renovation work all require skilled taping, jointing, and skimming to create seamless walls and ceilings. Quality workmanship ensures lasting results — no visible joints, no future cracking, just flawless finishes throughout.
Complete room re-skimming delivers total transformation when walls and ceilings all need attention. Full coverage ensures consistent finishes throughout — no texture variations, no visible joins between old and new work. Experienced plasterers work systematically through each room, creating smooth surfaces that unify spaces and make decorating effortless.
Walls that look smooth wet can show every flaw once painted. Here’s how we ensure finishes stay flat under any light throughout Edinburgh.
Plastering from Edinburgh Castle to Palace of Holyroodhouse and across to Arthurs Seat for years teaches you what Edinburgh walls are actually made of. The Victorian terraces have lime underneath. The inter-war semis have hard pink gypsum. The estates have lightweight board. Each needs handling differently.
Extension walls joining original walls, old ceilings meeting new plasterboard, repairs that must disappear into existing finishes — transitions need careful handling. Seamless results across Edinburgh come from managing where different surfaces meet.
For the most part Georgian and Victorian tenements and New town Georgian townhouses make up most of Edinburgh, typically with 2.8m to 3.5m (9.2ft – 11.5ft) ceilings. Those building types share common features — similar construction eras, comparable materials, predictable issues. Understanding the patterns improves every job.
Your call reaches the plasterer who’ll actually skim your walls — not an office worker reading from a script. You discuss surface conditions, room layouts, and realistic timelines with someone who’s spent years reading walls and knows what questions matter.
Your call reaches the plasterer who’ll actually skim your walls — not an office worker reading from a script. You discuss surface conditions, room layouts, and realistic timelines with someone who’s spent years reading walls and knows what questions matter.
Site visits involve genuine wall inspection — checking for blown plaster, assessing suction, noting previous repairs, identifying preparation requirements. You’ll understand what needs doing before skimming starts. Quotes reflect actual surface condition and realistic preparation time.
Jobs happen professionally — thorough prep, even application, timely finishing work. Furniture and floors get protected properly, and comprehensive cleanup follows. You receive specific advice about drying periods, mist coating, and when full decorating can start.
The same queries come up before most skimming jobs — surface preparation, job duration, drying periods. Here’s the no-nonsense answers.
How long does skimming a room take?
Skimming a standard room takes roughly a day on walls in reasonable condition. Poor surfaces needing bonding, repairs, or extensive preparation add significant time. Ceilings alongside walls extend the schedule. Accurate duration estimates follow from proper wall assessment.
Do my walls need stripping back before skimming?
Surface condition governs preparation requirements. Well-bonded existing plaster takes skim coats directly. Blown sections need removal. Thick previous coats sometimes require stripping. Assessment identifies what your walls actually need rather than assuming worst-case scenarios.
What’s the difference between plastering and skimming?
Skimming applies thin finish layers over prepared surfaces — creating smooth walls from existing plaster. Full plastering includes base coat application on masonry, rendering, or building thickness. Typical home re-finishing means skim coats over what exists already.
Can you skim over painted walls?
Paint type and thickness determine preparation. Matt emulsion over good plaster receives skim after proper keying. Gloss, silk, or heavy paint buildup causes bonding issues — typically requiring stripping or specialist treatment. Assessment reveals what your walls need.
How long before I can paint after skimming?
Allow proper drying before decoration — typically 2-4 days for surface drying in ventilated rooms, though full curing takes weeks. Apply mist coat first using diluted matt emulsion — this seals porous new plaster for proper paint adhesion. Decorating too early causes problems.
Fill out the form or call now to speak directly to the plasterer covering your area. No call centres, no delays – just clear answers and fast action.
Your details are safe – we only use them to respond to your enquiry
Services extend throughout Edinburgh for quality skimming. Tradesmen who know local walls — the pre-war terraces, inter-war semis, post-war estates — and what each building era needs for proper finishes.
Abbeyhill, Balerno, Barnton, Blackford, Blackhall, Bonnington, Broughton, Bruntsfield, Calton, Canongate, Canonmills, City Centre, Colinton, Comely Bank, Corstorphine, Craigentinny, Craigleith, Craigmillar, Cramond, Currie, Dairy, Davidsons Mains, Dean Village, Duddingston, Fairmilehead, Fountainbridge, Gilmerton, Gorgie, Gracemount, Granton, Greenside, Haymarket, Holyrood, Inverleith, Joppa, Juniper Green, Kirkliston, Leith Walk, Leith, Liberton, Marchmont, Mayfield, Meadowbank, Morningside, Muirhouse, Murrayfield, New Town, Newington, Niddrie, Old Town, Oxgangs, Pilrig, Pilton, Portobello, Prestonfield, Queensferry, Ratho, Ravelston, Restalrig, Sciennes, Seafield, Shandon, Sighthill, Silverknowes, Slateford, South Gyle, South Queensferry, Southhouse, Southside, Stenhouse, Stockbridge, Swanston, The Inch, The Shore, Tollcross, Trinity, Warriston, West Coates, West End, Wester Hailes, Western Harbour
EH1, EH10, EH11, EH12, EH13, EH14, EH15, EH16, EH17, EH2, EH28, EH29, EH3, EH30, EH4, EH5, EH6, EH7, EH8, EH9
Not after skimming? Check out the other plastering services in your area.
