When someone asks me to quote for a room, the first thing I do is work out what is under the surface. Two walls can look the same once they are painted, but one might take a fresh skim perfectly well and the other might need stripping right back. Getting that decision right is the difference between a finish that lasts and one that cracks again within a year or two.
What a re-skim is
A re-skim is a thin finish coat of plaster applied over an existing surface that is still sound. It covers small cracks, old filler, uneven patches and tired decoration, and leaves a smooth wall ready for paint. It is quicker and less messy than stripping a wall, and the room is usually back in use sooner.
The catch is that a skim is only as good as whatever it is stuck to. If the plaster underneath is loose, a new skim will not hold it in place.
What back to brick means
Back to brick plastering means hacking the old plaster off down to the bare brickwork, clearing it away, then building the wall back up in layers with a bonding or undercoat and a finish coat on top. It is a bigger job, with more mess and longer drying, but it gives you a fresh start where the old plaster is past saving.
Signs a re-skim should be fine
- The wall sounds solid when you tap it with your knuckles.
- Cracks are fine and on the surface rather than wide or moving.
- There is no damp staining, salts or crumbling.
- The surface is mostly flat, just tired, patched or textured.
Signs a wall needs to come back to brick
- Hollow sound. If large areas sound dull or drummy when tapped, the plaster has come away from the wall behind it. Small patches can be cut out and repaired, but a wall that is hollow across most of its area is usually better stripped.
- Bulging or crumbling. Plaster that is bowing out or turns to powder when you press it will not hold a skim.
- Damp damage. Staining, white salts or soft plaster at the bottom of a wall are signs of a damp problem. The cause has to be fixed first, then the damaged plaster removed.
- Layers of old repairs. Some walls have been filled and patched so many times there is no consistent surface left to work on.
Older houses around Birstall
A lot of the housing stock in Birstall, Batley, Morley and the surrounding towns is older solid-walled property. These walls often still have their original plaster, which has had decades of knocks, damp and redecoration. That is why back to brick comes up more often here than on newer estates. Not every old wall needs it, though. Plenty of older plaster is still sound and takes a skim very well, which is why I check before quoting rather than assuming.
Is there a middle option?
Often, yes. If most of a wall is sound but a section is hollow, I can cut out the blown area, make it good and then skim the whole wall so it finishes as one surface. Another option on some walls is dry lining, where plasterboard is fixed over or in place of the old surface and then skimmed. That depends on the wall, the room and whether you can spare the small amount of room space it takes.
Why the cheaper job is not always cheaper
Skimming over failing plaster can look fine on the day. The trouble shows later, when cracks reappear, patches sound hollow or the skim starts to come away with the old plaster underneath. At that point you are paying for the wall to be stripped anyway, plus the cost of redecorating twice. I would always rather tell you up front if a wall needs more than a skim.
Drying times are different too
A wall built back up from brick holds a lot more water than a thin skim and takes longer to dry before decorating. I go through what to look for in how long new plaster takes before you can paint it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I tell myself whether my plaster is blown?
Tapping the wall gives you a rough idea. A solid wall sounds sharp, a blown area sounds dull and hollow. It is a good first check, but I will always test it properly when I come out to quote.
Is back to brick much messier?
It does create more dust and rubble, so I sheet up, keep the work contained to the room and clear the waste away when I finish.
Get the right job quoted
If you are not sure what your walls need, I am happy to come and take a look. I cover Birstall and the nearby towns. Request a free quote or call 07590 357963.
