To skim or not to skim

Mr.Stu · 31 Mar 2014 at 12:23

In the process of refurbing a house. Upstairs rooms complete, now on to the downstairs.

Upstairs the walls were in pretty bad shape after stripping the paper, we opted for a full reskim of 3 rooms.

I spent yesterday stripping one of the reception rooms and cleaning the surface as much as possible.

Can I get away with filling sanding these walls?

Would you go for a full re-skim to save the hassle?

4T5 · 31 Mar 2014 at 12:26

Plaster looks like it's lifting to me but I can't tell unless I went around the room Tapping.
Trade way to see where you are is to give the walls a quick coat of cheap trade emulsion. With a light coat of paint over it you can pick out the bits that need sorting & leave what don't, It's the most efficient way to work.

jellybeard999 · 31 Mar 2014 at 13:11

If the plaster is in and you can afford it, I'd just get it done.

Andyt_uk · 31 Mar 2014 at 13:17

How much would it be to skim a room of that size roughly? I'm in a similar position with the house that I've just bought!

Mr.Stu · 31 Mar 2014 at 13:23

Including ceiling about £200 for that room.

Nightglow · 31 Mar 2014 at 13:25

Skim it.

Will work out cheaper in the long run, than patching it, with something like Gypsum Gyproc Easi-Fill around £12 for a 10kg bag.

There are a few blown areas, first just go around the room & remove any loose areas, before skimming, that plaster over fire place looks a later addition, so I would remove it.

Strip & prime/undercoat all the woodwork before you have the skim, save you damaging the new plaster with a scraper, also do any electric work needed beforehand.

pitchfork · 31 Mar 2014 at 13:47

Skim it, I wouldn't bugger about filling and sanding that, it looks knackered - you'll not get glassy smooth walls unless you spend days on it.

Mr.Stu · 31 Mar 2014 at 14:24

Folks - thanks for the reality check! Will get the professionals in

LOAM · 31 Mar 2014 at 22:06

For £200 you will kick yourself if you dont skim it.

Pabl0 · 1 Apr 2014 at 08:11

Why have double sockets around the room when you can just have three doubles on the chimney breast! Lol

I'd skim.

Mr.Stu · 1 Apr 2014 at 09:22

Pabl0 said:
Why have double sockets around the room when you can just have three doubles on the chimney breast! Lol

Thankfully there are two in the corner that was not photographed.

In a similar vein when I get this room reskimmed, is there anything I should factor in, hiding TV cables, fitting new sockets first, spotlights first, etc etc?

Cheers

Tesla · 1 Apr 2014 at 11:08

Mr.Stu said:
In a similar vein when I get this room reskimmed, is there anything I should factor in, hiding TV cables, fitting new sockets first, spotlights first, etc etc

Yes, all of these. Depends on your plans for the room though.

I'd get rid of the artex ceiling too.

Tinders · 1 Apr 2014 at 12:35

Most definately get it skimmed, get it done once and not have to worry about it. I wish i wasnt such a skin flint and had my house done a few years ago.

Mr.Stu · 1 Apr 2014 at 12:56

Unanimous it seems! Had our usual plasterer around yesterday for a full quote. £450 for the two rooms all inc, that includes getting rid of the ceilings.

Will update in a few weeks :cool:

For reference, here is one of the rooms upstairs before/after skim+decorate:

Wizzfizz · 1 Apr 2014 at 13:15

looking good

Nightglow · 1 Apr 2014 at 14:01

£450 for the two rooms all inc, plus ceilings :eek:

A very good price.