Just how thin can a ceiling skim be?

[MrGlassHalfFull]

Hi there,

Wondered if you can give me an idea on how thin (or thick) a ceiling skim needs to be to get away with it.

The boards were relatively flat when using a spirit level so was a good surface to skim to.

The plasterer did the skim but is it normal to be able to still see where the joins are. We used scrim tape which is ever so slightly visible in places.

Apart from the joins being visible (still flat to the touch though) I'm happy with the finish. Am I right in thinking the join linea will disappear when painted or does this need a thicker coat.

Cheers everyone

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[roughcaster]

When you think how thin the scrim tape is, it's shocking that after 2 coats of finishing, you can still see it. Just shows how thin the plaster has been put on. I put more butter on my sandwiches than some of these "plasterers' put stuff on the wall. No,, you shouldn't be able to see any tapes at all is the answer.

 

[Dextraneous]

I put more butter on my sandwiches than some of these "plasterers' put stuff on the wall..

Mind you, roughcaster does weigh 48 stone

 

[stevethespreader]

if you can feel the joints then they will be visible after paint, in your case it looks like you may be able to feel them as the joints are grinning so badly through the skim

 

[dann09]

I agree with the above.

Plus, far too much water has been used.

You can also see a multiplicity of grinning trowel edges/lines, stopping and starting, and going in various directions.

Its no big deal to fix: apply self adhesive scrim, PVA (50:50) once, and when PVA is tack, skim again.

Lay it on one way - across the light, and polish it in long strokes away from the light/window.

Others probably have better ways of dealing with it.

 

[stevethespreader]

Mind you, roughcaster does weigh 48 stone

its all the shortcake he eats he don't live far from the shortbread factory hes even sent me some

 

[stevethespreader]

skim again.

I agree with dan skim again but I wouldent bother putting another scrim on it as its already been scrimmed , I would go over the joints with a bit of skim first to help dub out the lines then give a full skim

 

[dann09]

You are right steve, but i've such a horror of call backs that its belt & braces for me everytime.

 

[MrGlassHalfFull]

Thanks for the replies. So it's dried and you can't really feel the joints but you can still see them. What'll happen if its too thin, will it crack?

 

[Happyplumber]

skim has no structural strength whatsoever and even if it was laid on properly it would be max of around 5mm

The reason it cracks is due to movement ie not enough screws ,or ceiling joists which have movement or where there are joints no nogging was installed

If you can not feel the tape then likely when it is dry the paint will cover it

Good luck ,I dont think you will want a huge mess again