Skim coat (skimming)
Also called: skimming, skim plaster, plaster skim, skim finish
A skim coat is a thin (a few millimetres) layer of finishing plaster or filler applied over a wall or ceiling to level out imperfections and give a smooth, flat, paint-ready surface. It's used to renew a tired or patchy wall, cover minor damage or a rough substrate, or finish new plasterboard/gypsum — turning an uneven surface into one that takes paint cleanly (uneven, unskimmed walls are a common reason paint looks patchy or shows every flaw). A good skim takes real skill (it shows every trowel mark if botched) and must be fully dry and sealed with a primer before painting. For a flawless wall, skimming is the step between 'filled' and 'finished' — best done by a painting and finishing specialist.
Related terms
Primer / sealer
The prep coat that seals a surface and helps the topcoat stick, cover evenly and last — the step that makes or breaks a paint job.
Elastomeric paint (flexible weatherproof coating)
A thick, flexible rubber-like exterior coating that bridges hairline cracks and resists UV, heat and chalking — for exteriors that last in the UAE sun.
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