Quality shows through paint — flat walls or rippled, proper prep or rushed. Professional skimming across Bilborough that delivers surfaces worth the decoration you’ll put on them.
Getting walls skimmed shouldn’t involve a research project. Posting online, comparing reviews, fielding calls from multiple tradesmen — it’s exhausting before anyone’s even picked up a trowel. Direct access to a proven plasterer simplifies everything.
Getting walls skimmed shouldn’t be complicated.
Bilborough has one trusted skimming specialist assigned. When you need walls finished properly, you contact them directly — and they respond promptly without platform delays or competitive quoting processes.
Skim coat plastering suits different purposes. Finishing new extensions differs from refreshing tired rooms, and each situation needs its own preparation approach — identifying what’s required ensures smooth, durable surfaces ready for decoration.
Read what we do below and work out if it fits your project. If it sounds right, call or send a message. If it’s not quite the service you need, no hard feelings.
Wall skimming transforms rough, damaged, or outdated surfaces into smooth, paintable finishes ready for any decoration. Whether following wallpaper removal, covering old Artex, or refreshing tired plasterwork, professional skim coats create flawless walls throughout your home. Skilled application ensures consistent coverage, clean edges around sockets and switches, and durable surfaces that won’t crack or flake — giving rooms a fresh, modern feel that makes decorating effortless.
Re-skimming ceilings eliminates textured patterns that date properties and make decorating difficult. Stipple, swirl, bark, and other Artex finishes vanish beneath professional skim coats, leaving smooth surfaces ready for paint. Skilled ceiling work requires experience — working overhead, managing drying times, avoiding joins — delivering flat finishes that transform room appearances.
Professional patch plastering fixes localised damage without the disruption of full re-skimming. Impact holes, cable chases, removed fixtures, and cracked sections respond to targeted repair work that blends invisibly with existing surfaces. Experienced plasterers match textures, feather edges, and finish seamlessly — patches that paint over perfectly and stay hidden permanently.
Finishing new plasterboard creates the smooth walls your extension or conversion deserves. Professional taping hides joints invisibly, while quality skim coats deliver decoration-ready surfaces throughout. Skilled plasterers work systematically — proper preparation, consistent application, clean finishing — transforming raw boards into flawless living spaces ready for decorating.
Complete re-plastering transforms whole rooms with consistent smooth surfaces from every angle. Full wall and ceiling skimming ensures unified finishes throughout — same quality everywhere, seamless results, professional standards. Skilled tradesmen work efficiently, delivering even coverage that refreshes entire spaces and simplifies decorating.
Flat ceilings show bad walls. Flat walls show bad ceilings. Here’s why we finish both to the same standard throughout Bilborough.
Properties around Bilborough College were mostly built pre-war — lime plaster, lath ceilings, solid walls. Near Bilborough Road the fifties estates dominate. Toward Strelley Road it’s newer construction. Each era across Bilborough needs different preparation approaches.
Blown plaster that sounds hollow, old distemper that kills adhesion, suction differences between old and new surfaces — these problems sink skimming jobs. We identify them first throughout Bilborough, fixing foundations before applying finishes.
inter-war council estate and post-war housing dominate Bilborough, usually 2.3m to 2.5m (7.5ft – 8.2ft) to the ceiling. These property types have predictable quirks — common damp spots, typical movement cracks, characteristic construction methods. Knowing them speeds every stage from quote to finish.
Calls and forms go straight to your area’s tradesman — no filtering through people who’ve never held a trowel. You get honest conversation about wall types, preparation needs, and what quality skimming actually requires.
Discussion establishes what you’re working with — existing surface types, room sizes, any issues you’ve noticed. Based on initial information, a site visit gets scheduled to assess walls properly, identify preparation needs, and provide accurate pricing.
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.
Work follows proper sequence — preparation, first coat, second coat, finishing. Dust sheets protect flooring and furniture throughout. Comprehensive cleanup follows completion. You’ll understand drying stages, mist coat requirements, and realistic timelines for decorating.
Walls and plastering raise plenty of questions — how long it takes, what preparation involves, when you can paint. Here’s the straight answers to what most people ask about skimming.
A typical bedroom skims in a day when walls cooperate. Surface problems — blown plaster, poor adhesion, previous bodge jobs — extend timelines significantly. Ceiling work adds roughly half a day. You’ll get accurate timing once walls have been properly assessed.
Not necessarily — existing condition dictates preparation. Sound plaster gets keyed and coated over. Blown sections need removing before re-coating. Heavy buildup from previous plastering might need stripping. Assessment identifies genuine requirements rather than assuming worst-case.
Skim coats are thin finish layers — 2-3mm typically — applied over existing surfaces to create smooth walls. Plastering covers heavier applications including base coats on masonry, render work, or building depth. Most domestic work involves skimming existing plaster rather than full replastering.
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.
Drying time depends on thickness, ventilation, and temperature. Surface usually ready for mist coating within 2-4 days, complete curing takes longer. Diluted emulsion first seals new plaster properly before full painting. 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.
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We operate across the whole of Bilborough. Professional skimming backed by genuine knowledge of local housing construction, typical wall conditions, and effective preparation approaches.