Plastering

Skimming is surface work done properly: old wallpaper residue and flaking paint dealt with, walls primed so the plaster keys, beads set plumb on the corners, then two tight coats trowelled up to a flat, polished finish that is ready for paint once it has dried out.

Patch repairs are blended into the old plaster so the join does not telegraph through the paint. Ceilings, walls, window reveals and the chases left after electrical work are all everyday jobs — as is over-skimming tired Artex once it has been checked and prepared properly.

Plastering is priced by the room or the wall rather than a vague day rate, so you know the cost before work starts. Freshly skimmed walls need a mist coat before the colour goes on — you will be told how long to leave it, and the room is left clean and ready for the decorator.