by John
(Wigan)
I've recently done a couple of minor skimming jobs which have gone well and was going to tackle a larger wall. Although I've had quite good results so far, I think this wall is too much for me to do in one go and successfully complete the 6 stages before it sets.
Is it ok to skim a wall in sections? How would you divide it up? How do you avoid a visible join where two sections meet? Would you wait for one section to completely set before starting another?
Thanks!
Answer
You are wanting to divide the wall up into manageable sections so that it is not all setting at the same rate but you have a series of wet edges that you keep moving down the wall.
For example splitting the wall into 3 sections.
Apply a 1st coat to section 1. If for example this has taken 15 minutes then the next batch you mix up to 1st coat the 2nd section will be 15 minutes setting time behind the 1st section.
Then flatten off the 1st section and apply a 2nd coat. Then mix up a bit more plaster to 1st coat the 3rd section and 2nd coat the 2nd section.
So you are buying extra time by mixing the plaster in different batches. Then just advance each section one stage at a time but never spending too long on any one section. So eventually you may have completed stage 5 on section 1, stage 4 on section 2 and stage 3 on section 3 but because each section or join is only 1 stage different to the next it just merges in.
Failing that you can always try joining the plaster. If so make sure before it sets that you cut it back to give you a definite edge and always make sure it is damped down with water. Then when applying plaster to the new section always make sure you avoid getting any plaster on what you have just finished. Always keep this clean by scraping and cleaning with a brush any plaster that mistakenly gets applied. Then make sure you keep the plaster on the new section flat and never thicker than what you are joining to. Never lose sight of the edge otherwise before you know it you may be applying plaster on top of the previous section and bumps can develop.
Be prepared to spend a bit of time on the join!
Paul