DIY skimming over walls, should I attempt?

[johnny2007]

I'll give myself one wall, then maybe if it doesn't work out will call someone in.

I'm gonna be nosey and ask what you do for a living.
Whatever you do, never had the feeling that people should stick to what is within their reasonable reach?
Once again, plastering is not a trade for everyone, same as decorating.
Looks easy, but then we hear of many disasters here on this forums for things that should be a walk in the park: painting, drilling a hole, hanging a tv on the wall, etc.

 

[mattylad]

AT the end of it, you can always use a sander to smooth it out or even get a pro in to go over yours again.

 

[dontbelieveawordofit]

when is the big day?

 

[kitessurfer]

Always up for a challenge. Over nearly 30 years 3 home moves I've decorated about twenty rooms, wall paper painting, flooring, radiator exchange, garage conversion, plumbing, pumps, valves the usual. Called in bricky, plasterer, glazer, gas man, carpeter. Call me tight, or just maybe want job satisfaction and expand my DIY skills....

 

[kitessurfer]

Big day today, well chuffed with results. Will dry trowel and smooth down. Partner's happy too. Invest ed in Marshall fifty quid finishing trowel. Bit panicking along the way, but getting there....hats off to plasterer s, it's a skilled job

 

[mrrusty]

Well done. I've seen a lot of posters say skimming is not for DIY, but I have a go and can make a reasonable job. I'll never make a plasterer but as long as it's not too big an area I can make it look decent. Youtube is your friend

 

[kitessurfer]

Well done. I've seen a lot of posters say skimming is not for DIY, but I have a go and can make a reasonable job. I'll never make a plasterer but as long as it's not too big an area I can make it look decent. Youtube is your friend

Thanks, I've now got 80qiid or so invested in tools. Actually ended up better than I thought. Kept trying to correct first coat but then waited after flattening applied thinner second coat and that seemed to fill and make it all smooth. Was going to invest in ox skimmer but settled for expensive marshal trowel. What a day it was.smalller wall tomorrow. YouTube is great for tutorials you're right

 

[mrrusty]

I've now got 80qiid or so invested in tools.

This has always been what I have done. As projects come along, I buy the tools and justify against the money I've saved by not paying a pro. Spent ~£2K on gear to make 7 sash windows for the house we are in now, and probably saved at least £3K overall and still got the tools...

 

[kitessurfer]

This has always been what I have done. As projects come along, I buy the tools and justify against the money I've saved by not paying a pro. Spent ~£2K on gear to make 7 sash windows for the house we are in now, and probably saved at least £3K overall and still got the tools...

Life's for learning, great to hear. Ive got a fair amount of tools though the space to store them has diminished over time , I converted garage and now just left with shed, loft and s tad of storage in what was the garage. Next job will be flooring down by week end, painting, new internal doors. Never really enjoyed hanging doors, considering a router now for the hinges.

 

[johnny2007]

Life's for learning, great to hear. Ive got a fair amount of tools though the space to store them has diminished over time , I converted garage and now just left with shed, loft and s tad of storage in what was the garage. Next job will be flooring down by week end, painting, new internal doors. Never really enjoyed hanging doors, considering a router now for the hinges.

God bless the inventor of router.
I remember chiselling door hinges by hand in the old days... not fun when there's a knot just there...
Well done on the plastering, looks better than many jobs done by self called plasterers.

 

[Alec_t]

Partner's happy too.

That's the most important thing!

 

[kitessurfer]

Thanks all, appreciated. Was a tough job and that's just one wall .

 

[kitessurfer]

Bit slow going today didn't get the best of mixes. 50p multi skim 2kg b and q down from two quid. Before and after first coat pics. One more day hopefully complete.

 

[mattylad]

OK, so if things go pear shaped because of the pandemic you got an idea of another career to get trained for, you at least have some tools for it

 

[WoOt]

Impressive stuff!