Do me walls need skimming

Ciderarmy1987

Hi

We have stripped the wallpaper in our lounge and dinning room and have revealed the plaster. It is in various conditions but we are planning to paint the walls but are unsure if it needs to be skimmed or if we would be ok at using polyfiller to repair etc

cattie

I don't think anybody can tell you for sure without being able to see your walls.

Have you considered using lining paper on the walls if the condition is reasonable? Much cheaper than skimming. You can get various grades & the heavier grades are excellent at covering up defects, allowing you to paint over once paste has fully dried.

LEJC

Skimming does give a lovely smooth finish and its good to paint onto...but it does come at a price...we have just completed a renovation of a property and had every wall and ceiling skimmed at a cost of somewhere around £2500

In our other property we probably could benefit from a skim in the room that we are now doing but funds dont really cover it so its had to be a good quality lining paper that we have painted...cost of the room probably about £50 including the paint...we've a couple of bubbles in the surface but overall its not a bad result.

keystone

Ciderarmy1987 wrote: »

Hi

We have stripped the wallpaper in our lounge and dining room and have revealed the plaster. It is in various conditions but we are planning to paint the walls but are unsure if it needs to be skimmed or if we would be ok at using polyfilla to repair etc

A decent weight (min 1200) lining paper will cover up a very large number of sins. You'd be better using Easyfill than Polyfilla if going for the fill option. Could you post up some pics?

Cheers

Leif

If your walls are pocked, or have small holes in the plaster, then as said above use Easifill. Use a flat bladed scraper to skim the filler it over the surface and fill pock marks, wait one day, then lightly sand. Larger holes can be filled with a scraper, then use a straight edge such as a small spirit level to smooth it level. You will need several coats as it shrinks. With care you can fill 6" holes. It can be quite a lot of hard work, but with care you can get a first rate result.

jcb208

No need for lining paper unless theres cracks which keep opening out .I always do it the same way as Leif using easi-fill and a plaster trowel or caulking board.After first fill rub down,apply a coat of thinned emulsion and this will hi lite further in perfections then refill..I don't know why so many people keep getting there walls re- skimmed as usually it is not needed