What to expect when skimming walls with Gib stoppers
Learn more about skim coating your walls. Learn the proper procedures and what you can expect from a skimming specialist in your home.
Wallpaper removal
You can remove the layers of wallpaper by wetting them and letting the water soak in. This process can be accelerated by using a large wet sponge, or wallpaper steamer. I like to wet the area multiple times before starting. Save time by using the scraper to remove the paper and keeping it in large pieces. You can leave in place any stubborn layers. If they are well adhered, they should be stable enough for plastering over if the right preparation is followed.
Before you can start
Please clear the area before your Gib Stopper arrives.
- Take electronic equipment out of rooms to avoid dust damage
- Remove wall hangings, ornaments and other small items from the room
- The large furniture can be kept as long as they are positioned in the middle of the room.
- Use sheets to cover furniture and prevent dust from settling.
- Breaking the job up into smaller sections will increase the number of man-hours required to complete it.
How to prepare existing walls or ceilings for skim coats
After a light sanding to remove debris, your specialist will then apply a high-quality oil-based pigmented (OBPS) sealer. This specialist sealer has been designed to stabilize and bond the plasterboard, sealing in any old adhesives. It also prevents substances from reacting and leaching out once the skimcoats are applied.
OBPS is a mixture of modified oils that emits a strong odor when applied. We recommend not using the affected areas during this process.
External corners with steel slimlines
The gib stopper is designed to fit any steel slimlines on external corners.
Reinforce the joints to prevent cracking
Our specialist uses only perforated paper-based re-enforcing tap to protect the plastered surfaces from cracking. It is applied with high-adhesive plasters for a solid bond. We do not recommend the use of fibre reinforcing tapes. Auckland Gib stoppers, and Auckland painters use fibre tape because it is cheaper to use or they are not skilled enough to use perforated tape for certain applications.
Use paper tape to reinforce and redefine internal corners
To create a defined corner in the interior, we may suggest paper reinforcing tape. It strengthens corners, and enhances the aesthetic appeal of the space. We can also straighten out the line if the plasterboard or framing are significantly off-line to minimize the appearance of the defect. Some older homes have 1/4 round corner beads covering the internal corners. These should be removed prior to our gib stoppers starting work.
Wall skimming
The first coats of the compound are applied with high adhesive. These compounds are harder and stronger.
This second coat will cover any nail holes or scratches in the paper. We will check if pinholes are present after this coat. In this case, additional coats will be required on the affected area. The final skim coatings can be an air-drying compound that should cover the entire surface. We will again check for pinholes, and cover them. Light checks are performed with a 500w floodlight halogen. It is used to detect areas that don’t meet our quality standards. Pinholes are not unusual to appear after the final layer of sand. Sealing the entire area is best in this situation. The pin holes can be filled in without creating plaster demarcation marks.
Wall Straightness
Framing variations are common in older homes. Skimming provides a smooth texture. Even relining can’t fix framing errors. If there is a particular curve that is highly visible due to its shape or proximity to another straight object, we can soften it to minimize its appearance.
Timeframes
Skimming is a very time-consuming task. Stoppers would spend three to four times as much time skimming a wall as they would to gib stop the wall. Even small wall skimming jobs require multiple visits. Skimming walls can take up to a week for one room, or one and a quarter weeks for two people working on a 1/2 house. These timeframes allow for some drying time. Owner of Paint and Plasterboard Finishing Gib pro fixing, wrote this article. Gib pro fixing is a Gib stopping services in Auckland company that has a separate Painting Division. Auckland Gib Stoppers and Master Painters are specialized in Aucklands most luxurious homes.