This method can show you how to skim a wall the easier way and the tools you will need are as follows: Welcome to Plastering Superstore The leading distributor of plastering tools, equipment and machinery in the UK. Some people, especially the professionals like to skim coat a wall the traditional way, using a hawk and trowel – and for this, you will need to be aware of the six stages of skimming. There’s no short cut around this and it’s vital that you follow each stage, letting the plaster firm up a bit before you move on to the next. Like most Fine Homebuilding editors, my house is a work in progress. One of the reasons it’s not finished is that I hired the world’s worst drywall contractor. By the time I realized just how bad a job they were doing, I was completely jammed for time. The lease on the house we were renting while we were building had expired, and the landlord had sold the place. There simply wasn’t time to fire that contractor, then find and hire another. Faced with eviction and a choice between homelessness, finding and moving into another rental (with a short-term lease), or doing the bare minimum to get a certificate of occupancy and move into the house, my wife and I chose to move in. Spreading Mud After this first coat has gone on, you can then trowel it smooth with your squeegee knife. Keep a damp cloth and mud pan handy to wipe off any excess mud. And, don’t worry if you have to go over a few areas more than once. Start at the top corner and pull the knife vertically downwards, stopping around halfway, then, once you have rolled the joint compound on the bottom half of the wall, start at the bottom and pull the knife upwards.

If you’re slightly newer to plastering, or are just an occasional plasterer, the whole process of skimming a wall with a trowel and hawk may seem a little daunting. It takes a lot of practice to wield the trowel and hawk successfully, so you’ll be pleased to know there is a different, slightly easier way to skim a wall using a paint roller and squeegee knife. As with the method above, you’ll need to ensure you have the right tools for the job to avoid frustration half way through and also make sure the wall is ready to skim, so be prepared beforehand and fix uneven sections, torn away paper and holes before you start. Plastering Equipment Needed to Skim a Wall In the early stages of plastering a wall you don’t need to worry so much about smoothness, because it’s getting the walls as flat as possible that should be the real focus. As a final note, after more than 30 years with a beard, I shaved a couple of months ago. Dust masks actually work now.There’s a second factor to my accelerated progress. One huge disincentive to working with drywall in an occupied house is the dust, particularly with the amount of sanding I do. Right now, we’re working on the foyer of our house – A centrally located space that’s hard to isolate, so there’s a real possibility of spreading sanding dust throughout the entire house. Myron also recommended USG’s Lightweight Joint Compound with Dust Control. It’s noticeably more expensive than regular joint compound – 3.5 gal. sells for a little more than 5 gal. of regular compound. I don’t care. It’s well worth the money. According to the company, the fine dust particles bind together, forming heavier particles that drop to the floor. That seems to be true. I sanded for over an hour last night, and the dust all stayed in the room I was working in. Win. After the last coat has dried you can then pole sand the wall to get it looking flawless. Hopefully this won’t take too much trouble if you’ve followed the stages of skimming a wall as mentioned.