Plastering - What Is Skimming?

Plasterers Terms - Plastering - What Is Plastering Skimming?

Skimming in the plastering world is pretty much exactly what it says.  It means to apply a thin skim or layer of plaster (usually referred to as skim, skimming plaster, multifinish plaster or board plaster, depending on the surface to which the top coat of skim is being applied).

Skimming Plastering - What is Multifinish Plaster?

Multifinish is used a lot as the final skim coat when plastering due to its versatility and range of surfaces which it can be applied to.

Skimming is usually the last process when carrying out a plastering job.  Firstly the basecoat or backing plaster as it is sometimes referred to, is applied.  This can either be browning plaster, bonding plaster, tanking plaster (for damp or very thick walls or similar - maybe cellars), or after fixing plasterboards to walls with dry wall adhesive or to timber batons.

Skimming plaster should not be used to hide a multitude of plastering errors.  It literally is such a thin coat of plaster it will follow the contours of whatever it lies on (i.e. the basecoat) and every lump and bump in your groundworks (basecoat or backing plastering) will be there for all to see when you apply the final thin coat (skim) of plaster.

Do not confuse two similar words in plastering terms - skim and scrim.  Skim is the final finishing coat for plastering and scrim is a type of plasterers tape which is used to form a secure bond between plasterboards.

Be careful not to ask for a roll of skim and a bag of scrim as its a roll of scrim (like sellotape but not the same texture) and a bag of skim - usually a 25kg bag of multifinish, board finish or skimming plaster.

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