Skimming over a fairly decent ceiling.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 268 (members: 0, guests: 268)

Share this page

R

Roy22

New Member
I've had reasonable success as a DIYer tackling some pretty rough ceilings, but would like some advice on a better on.

The kitchen ceiling in question was originally well plastered, but someone then glued polystyrene tiles all over it. These had to be scraped off, inevitably leading to many scratches and digs in an otherwise decent flat bit of plaster work.

When skimming it, does the '2 coats of plaster' rule always apply, or would just one be better for such a minor touch-up? Also, there is already a metal external corner bead set in it, again nicely done. If I skim over, I will be coming over this neatly buried metal piece. Should I put another similar edge on top of the old one (sounds daft to me) or if not how do I deal with it?
 
I can't answer the questions you've asked (no clue), but do you need to skim it?
Is it good enough to fill the scrapes with that Red Devil filler stuff?

I'm very new to this forum, but can sense that the guys on here love to see pictures.
 
OK, here is a picture of an area that is typical of it. If you imagine several square metres of similar surface, a mixture of fine scratches and occasional heavier digs, and you've got the whole surface like that.

I have in the past 'filled & sanded' and ended up spending an age doing that, with less than perfect results once paint has 'revealed' any unevenness, which was why I was talking of reskimming. But feel free to correct me if you know more.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20160721_225045.jpg
    IMG_20160721_225045.jpg
    2.1 MB · Views: 394
Roy22 said:
I've had reasonable success as a DIYer tackling some pretty rough ceilings, but would like some advice on a better on.

The kitchen ceiling in question was originally well plastered, but someone then glued polystyrene tiles all over it. These had to be scraped off, inevitably leading to many scratches and digs in an otherwise decent flat bit of plaster work.

When skimming it, does the '2 coats of plaster' rule always apply, or would just one be better for such a minor touch-up? Also, there is already a metal external corner bead set in it, again nicely done. If I skim over, I will be coming over this neatly buried metal piece. Should I put another similar edge on top of the old one (sounds daft to me) or if not how do I deal with it?
Click to expand...
One coating as strange as it sound is quite an art to get right ,many peeps think it's easier than 2 coat which it is to put on but experience plasterer can get a good finish with either tbh but without experienced it could be to much for you to get a good finish,post up pictures as above and lets see what you up against..
Welcome to tpf.
 
Thanks for the response. Hopefully the thumbnail picture at the foot of my earlier post enlarges to a clear enough picture of the problem? I've got about 4 square meters of that same picture of slight scratches everywhere and repeated heavier digs.

I wasn't trying to cut corners using one skim, I accept it's easier for a Pro, I was thinking more of the edge bead problem. If I use two coats, and so add 3 or 4mm depth, should I set another metal edge bead (external corner where this ceiling is lower than adjoining one) on top of the existing one? Sounds odd as an amateur, but please enlighten me.
 
Roy22 said:
Thanks for the response. Hopefully the thumbnail picture at the foot of my earlier post enlarges to a clear enough picture of the problem? I've got about 4 square meters of that same picture of slight scratches everywhere and repeated heavier digs.

I wasn't trying to cut corners using one skim, I accept it's easier for a Pro, I was thinking more of the edge bead problem. If I use two coats, and so add 3 or 4mm depth, should I set another metal edge bead (external corner where this ceiling is lower than adjoining one) on top of the existing one? Sounds odd as an amateur, but please enlighten me.
Click to expand...
Try knauf sheetrock, comes premixed in a tub you can get it in brewers and other paint trade places. You'll have to sand it down but it will be an easier way for you to tackle big areas instead of skimming

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
 
zolco said:
Try knauf sheetrock, comes premixed in a tub you can get it in brewers and other paint trade places. You'll have to sand it down but it will be an easier way for you to tackle big areas instead of skimming

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Can I ask why sand it down as opposed to skim? I've heard plasterers say a lot of bad things about sanding, including mess and final finish. Is Knauf Sheetrock any different from Easifill and related fillers which set to a fine finish? And wouldn't such fillers they be best finished with a trowel whilst wet rather than sanded when dry?

It's really just the corner bit I'm puzzled over most, do I put another metal external corner over the old one if I reskim?

I've tackled 3.5 sq.m. with success, this isn't much bigger.

Kitchy - why would I overboard a flat ceiling with minor pot marks and then skim that?
 
Roy22 said:
Can I ask why sand it down as opposed to skim? I've heard plasterers say a lot of bad things about sanding, including mess and final finish. Is Knauf Sheetrock any different from Easifill and related fillers which set to a fine finish? And wouldn't such fillers they be best finished with a trowel whilst wet rather than sanded when dry?

It's really just the corner bit I'm puzzled over most, do I put another metal external corner over the old one if I reskim?

I've tackled 3.5 sq.m. with success, this isn't much bigger.

Kitchy - why would I overboard a flat ceiling with minor pot marks and then skim that?
Click to expand...
It's a jointing compound, similar to easyfill, if you only have little pothole marks I'd fill it instead of skimming it, mess will be similar. Whichever way you go sheet up everything to keep cleaning to a minimum.


Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
 
Looking at the picture, you'll see lots of fine scratches where a scouring pad of some sort was used to clean off old glue etc. I assume the whole of the ceiling will need to be covered with filler, by a very thin layer, to hide these scratches as well as the occasional digs & holes you can see?

If so, would you recommend filling then sanding dry (I have an Mirka Abranet type extracted sanding pad that captures most of the dust), if so how fine. 400 or finer?

Or would I be better off trowelling a very fine layer of the filler all over it and working it smooth whilst wet, as for plaster but with very little there?
 
Judging by the picture I don't think filler and sanding would work. Skim it and feather it into the edge or rebead it and skim the return.
 
Roy22 said:
Can I ask why sand it down as opposed to skim? I've heard plasterers say a lot of bad things about sanding, including mess and final finish. Is Knauf Sheetrock any different from Easifill and related fillers which set to a fine finish? And wouldn't such fillers they be best finished with a trowel whilst wet rather than sanded when dry?

It's really just the corner bit I'm puzzled over most, do I put another metal external corner over the old one if I reskim?

I've tackled 3.5 sq.m. with success, this isn't much bigger.

Kitchy - why would I overboard a flat ceiling with minor pot marks and then skim that?
Click to expand...
Who said overboard? I didn't it was flynny
 
Roy22 said:
Looking at the picture, you'll see lots of fine scratches where a scouring pad of some sort was used to clean off old glue etc. I assume the whole of the ceiling will need to be covered with filler, by a very thin layer, to hide these scratches as well as the occasional digs & holes you can see?

If so, would you recommend filling then sanding dry (I have an Mirka Abranet type extracted sanding pad that captures most of the dust), if so how fine. 400 or finer?

Or would I be better off trowelling a very fine layer of the filler all over it and working it smooth whilst wet, as for plaster but with very little there?
Click to expand...
Ull be better off hiring a spread
 
I never asked in the Decorators forum. Based mostly on Zolco's advice, I skimmed it with two very thin coats of Easifill, working it like plaster with trowel pressure both wet & dry.

Overall I'd say it's worked very well, probably comparable to a job done with Multi-finish, only much thinner so no problem flushing into the existing metal external corners. The hardest part was that there isn't as clear a colour change as Easifill sets (just pale grey to white) making it harder to see gaps missed in second coat.

It isn't perfect by any means, odd little bits to patch here & there, but overall much better. I'll attach an after pic, but I couldn't get the camera to show the detail, like the auto-focus couldn't quite pick up anywhere. More a reflection of limited phone camera technology than having reached plaster perfection!

But could I have done just the same with Multi-Finish, or would that have flaked away?

IMG_20160725_173120.jpg
 
Roy22 said:
I never asked in the Decorators forum. Based mostly on Zolco's advice, I skimmed it with two very thin coats of Easifill, working it like plaster with trowel pressure both wet & dry.

Overall I'd say it's worked very well, probably comparable to a job done with Multi-finish, only much thinner so no problem flushing into the existing metal external corners. The hardest part was that there isn't as clear a colour change as Easifill sets (just pale grey to white) making it harder to see gaps missed in second coat.

It isn't perfect by any means, odd little bits to patch here & there, but overall much better. I'll attach an after pic, but I couldn't get the camera to show the detail, like the auto-focus couldn't quite pick up anywhere. More a reflection of limited phone camera technology than having reached plaster perfection!

But could I have done just the same with Multi-Finish, or would that have flaked away?

View attachment 12964
Click to expand...
Lot of feckin about for a not very good finish entailing more feckin about.:aburrido:
Sorry but true.
 
Roy22 said:
I never asked in the Decorators forum. Based mostly on Zolco's advice, I skimmed it with two very thin coats of Easifill, working it like plaster with trowel pressure both wet & dry.

Overall I'd say it's worked very well, probably comparable to a job done with Multi-finish, only much thinner so no problem flushing into the existing metal external corners. The hardest part was that there isn't as clear a colour change as Easifill sets (just pale grey to white) making it harder to see gaps missed in second coat.

It isn't perfect by any means, odd little bits to patch here & there, but overall much better. I'll attach an after pic, but I couldn't get the camera to show the detail, like the auto-focus couldn't quite pick up anywhere. More a reflection of limited phone camera technology than having reached plaster perfection!

But could I have done just the same with Multi-Finish, or would that have flaked away?

View attachment 12964
Click to expand...
Multifinish wouldn't have flaked, don't listen to the haters, I see bugger all on that picture but you can still sand it back with your mirka, which you should've done between the two coats
Now try to use a decent flat durable Matt paint on it which will hide imperfection.
@A.plasterer living on the Costa del Spain, weather must have been cloudy hence he's hard to please

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
 
A.plasterer said:
Lot of feckin about for a not very good finish entailing more feckin about.:aburrido:
Sorry but true.
Click to expand...

Like Zolco says, I don't see much wrong there in comparison to how it was. And how was two coats of filler any more 'feckin about' than two coats of Multifinish?

I guess it wasn't a paid Plasterer doing the feckin' about, but then this is the DIY section.....
 
Roy22 said:
Like Zolco says, I don't see much wrong there in comparison to how it was. And how was two coats of filler any more 'feckin about' than two coats of Multifinish?

I guess it wasn't a paid Plasterer doing the feckin' about, but then this is the DIY section.....
Click to expand...
Think you may have had greater success with multi even if pushed for time being a diyer.
 
A.plasterer said:
Personally if I can't do something I'm happy with the finish I get someone in
Click to expand...
So how did you become a Pro Plasterer then? Was your first attempt perfection, or did someone encourage you to keep going and make less mistakes each time?

I'm just a DIYer tying to pick up a useful skill whilst renovating an old house in a poor state with little to lose whilst I learn.
 
I was 14 first time I picked up a trowel small ceiling was good start guess some take to things easier than others I renovate places and sell on plus do the same for others including multi trades I'm 48 now . Plastering is something your good at or not but if it devaluates the property you are intending on selling then it's a waste of time along with all the other skilled jobs in a building.
As most will look at a place and decide what needs doing!!
I have seen and been called in on plenty of have a go jobs to know.
Generally by the wives as the husbands still believe they have done really well.
Plenty of peeps take to building work like naturals and complete with a good finish, grand designs has shown a few so yes it's possible of course.
But also some are delusional also some clients wouldn't know a good job and proudly show off bad workmanship.
Who am I to say I guess if you believe it to be good but i am also allowed an opinion it's mine.
Good luck.
Ps life is full of criticism it's generally healthy as it wakes you up.
 
Id take no notice he's got a chip on his shoulder..ceiling looks shite tbh but he thinks It looks gud so let him crack on..all for the sake of £150-£200..
 
Kitchy said:
Id take no notice he's got a chip on his shoulder..ceiling looks shite tbh but he thinks It looks gud so let him crack on..all for the sake of £150-£200..
Click to expand...
I'd love to know what looks shite in that picture? As I said, it's not clear enough to show any faults!

But certainly you're right about one thing. There are some very large chips on certain shoulders here, generally those trolling a DIY help sub-forum and whose advice is to use the Yellow Pages....
 
Roy22 said:
I'd love to know what looks shite in that picture? As I said, it's not clear enough to show any faults!

But certainly you're right about one thing. There are some very large chips on certain shoulders here, generally those trolling a DIY help sub-forum and whose advice is to use the Yellow Pages....
Click to expand...
Trolling lol..
 
Roy22 said:
I'd love to know what looks shite in that picture? As I said, it's not clear enough to show any faults!

But certainly you're right about one thing. There are some very large chips on certain shoulders here, generally those trolling a DIY help sub-forum and whose advice is to use the Yellow Pages....
Click to expand...
I said I'd say no more but you seem upset with good advice given.
YOU!!! Have asked for advice and it has been given . Good honest advice !!
The fact you don't like that advice is nobody else's problem.
As said if your happy with what you have achieved (are you?)and believe that others looking to buy will not be looking to have redone then surely that is enough for you.
But don't get upset if we don't agree with you or anyone coming to view the property who decides differently .
However frustrating that may be for you or the dent it leaves in your ego .
I have seen enough bad building works carried out by so called builders to diyers to know what I'm talking about .
Waste of materials and time and only devaluates a property or leaves it in standstill only then would a rise in house prices provide a profit, but as said it would be viewed as another job needing doing.
Apologies if you don't want to hear that , but if that's the case stop asking .
 
If ceiling's sound then new bead and two coats finish. Filler will never achieve what a decent plasterer can do but if you're happy with it then crack on. I think anyone should give it a go in their own home if they wish. Tempers flair because its a long road to learn and then do it well so you prick pride is all. Bloody hell lads talk about a mountain out of a mole hill!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top