newly re skimmed walls

worried123

how perfect should newly plaster re skimmed walls be........is it usual for there to be some imperfections and to need a sand before decorating....thanks

worried123

nobody knows then.

pendragon_arther

A good plasterer should leave it with no imperfections, but a handyman who thinks they're a plasterer would leave it needing a sanding down.

DRP

pendragon_arther wrote: »

A good plasterer should leave it with no imperfections, but a handyman who thinks they're a plasterer would leave it needing a sanding down.

^yes this

We even had a plasterer who was recommended very highly for skimming dry-lined walls, but after doing work for us from bare brick in a period property, he clearly wasn't as skilled at this speciality...

Regarding the OP, I'd be even more concerned about the electrical work he's done, tbh :eek:
(although this has been deleted from the original post)

Furts

The reality is that there are few excellent plasterers. Plus plasterers have to cover up all manner of bad work from out of true blockwork, to patching, to holes and the list goes on.

Most plasterers are working on a price because the first thing a customer asks, is in effect, how cheaply can you do that. Add to this most customers do not recognise what a good job is, so the end result is frequently poor.

There will always be decorators filler and making good to be done.

worried123

Thanks everyone - Furts, i will go with `there will always be decoraters filler and work to be done`

I suppose for the price what can i expect......and also i feel they were in a rush.......7 hours to do that lot (need to get home and pack for holiday) - i am not concerned by the electrics....i do believe that he is an old pro but they were rushing and didnt hang around afterwards to inspect and tidy etc......i do have a lot of tidying up ont he plaster work and sanding and one section of wall needs redoing in my view.....

DRP I edited my first post as i thought the length was putting people off reading it.....hope you eventually got your walls sorted out properly - i jsut really didnt want to have to sand etc afterward as i have loads of allergies and its gong to be awful for dust........and my sister didnt need to do a thing when she had hers done.....

Thanks everyone.

LandyAndy

I recently took out a 60's stone fireplace, had the grate blocked up and the chimney breast slightly reshaped. then the walls plastered and skimmed with the skim being faded into the rest of the wall over a doorway. Took a plasterer and his 'apprentice' two days and cost me about £650. The finish was glass smooth and required no 'fettling' before being painted.

DTDfanBoy

Post some images, I'm certainly no plasterer but have recently taught myself some of the basics via YouTube.

I've only plastered for less than 15 hrs but I can skim a wall so that it requires virtually no filling of rough spots afterwards, I've even managed a few which needed nothing at all, if a proper plasterer can't do the same I'd be concerned.

Here's a wall I skimmed then fitted some shelving and painted the whole lot with gloss paint, gloss tends to highlight every little imperfection

tony6403

^^^ well done indeed.
We use several plasterers for full rooms and patching jobs.
There is never any need for any corrective work.

worried123

well done on your plastering......I cannot upload pictures because i cant do it......i am not happy - to be honest the entire thing needs sanding down and i am worried about `flashing` when it comes to emulsioning.....that the rough bits against the small amount of smooth bits will show and hit the light.......

He is supposed to be coming back to do something else here - said he would call on weds and i have stupidly paid him the full amount for the whole job......i couldnt tell til it was dry how rough it was......i have been going over the entire walls and ceiling and putting a bit of masking tape where there are imperfections that really need sorting and there are countless bits of tape stuck everywhere.....

Obviously i will tell him that i am not happy....do you think i should ask him to sand the whole thing??? i dont see why it should be left to me
- it is more rough than smooth everywhere
Thank you

Furts

worried123 wrote: »

well done on your plastering......I cannot upload pictures because i cant do it......i am not happy - to be honest the entire thing needs sanding down and i am worried about `flashing` when it comes to emulsioning.....that the rough bits against the small amount of smooth bits will show and hit the light.......

He is supposed to be coming back to do something else here - said he would call on weds and i have stupidly paid him the full amount for the whole job......i couldnt tell til it was dry how rough it was......i have been going over the entire walls and ceiling and putting a bit of masking tape where there are imperfections that really need sorting and there are countless bits of tape stuck everywhere.....

Obviously i will tell him that i am not happy....do you think i should ask him to sand the whole thing??? i dont see why it should be left to me
- it is more rough than smooth everywhere
Thank you

Obviously I do not know how bad it is. But my suggestion is to apply a couple of coats of Trade Obliterating Emulsion. Rub down between the coats and it is amazing what can be achieved by way of a finish. Cheaper versions are Leyland Trade and I have used this many times. It works. The real thing would be Leyland Super Leytex, or Crown Covermatt - to name two that come to mind. They will cost more but in your situation I would not risk using a cheaper product.

In the past I have filled bowed walls with rough filler then coated on obliterating emulsion to the depth of many millimetres. It can produce a superb finish and you would never know what has been hidden!