YIELD & PACKAGING: SKIM COAT is available in 20-lb (9.1-kg) bags. One 20-lb bag will yield 600 ft2 (55.7 m2) as a skim coat or approximately 67 ft2 (6.2 m2) at 1/8" (0.3 cm) depth. Coverage may vary due to jobsite conditions.
The Plaster comes in 25kg and has an approximate coverage of 10m2 (this is based on 2mm thickness).
Coverage Depending on surface conditions, A 20kg bag covers about 12-14m². Clean Up Clean all tools with water immediately after use.
How much skim coat do I need? Skim coating requires 1 gallon of joint compound per 50 to 150 square feet of surface area. Skim coating an average 12'x12' room takes two 4.5-gallon buckets of ready-mixed joint compound or drywall mud diluted with water.
Be prepared to apply at least two coats for a smooth finish. You don't need to wait for the first coat to dry before applying the second. As soon as you've finished covering a wall, go back to the beginning for your next coat, dragging your trowel.
You don't have to sand between coats; just knock off lumps or proud mud lines with a 5- or 6-in. putty knife to avoid streaks in the next coat. Brush off the wall and you're ready for the next coat.
Provides for a smooth skimmed coating to walls using skim coat plaster. 25kg Bag. Gives a final smooth finish to internal walls. Coverage (approx.): 9.4M2 per bag based on 2mm thickness.
A skim coat should be applied in thin, even layers. Each layer should be no more than 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick.
The benefits of skim coating are numerous. It helps hide imperfections such as cracks, nail holes, or other damage. It creates a uniform texture on walls. It makes surfaces easier to clean.
Cons of the Skim Coats
Skim coating walls seems to be more tedious than expected. It can consume more time for those who aren't familiar with the steps used to repair walls. This process can also be intensive labor-wise and energy-consuming.
What is the coverage of one 25kg bag? A 25kg bag of Thistle Multi-Finish plaster typically covers an area of 10 square meters.
The gypsum plaster does not expire, rather the retartders that prevent it from setting quickly, expire. This means when usuing a bag of plaster (multi/board finish) that is truley out of date, will result in a mix that will set within about 10 mins.
Step 5 - Skimming and smoothing
After the first coat of plaster has been applied, wait approximately 20 minutes to let the plaster dry slightly. You can then get rid of lumps and bumps by skimming and smoothing over with the trowel.
USG Sheetrock® Brand All Purpose Joint Compound is a best-in-class solution for embedding tape with superior filling and finishing qualities and is an excellent choice for skim coating.
"A skim of plaster should be about 5 millimetres thick."
Care must be taken when applying finish coats in low temperatures and an allowance made for slightly longer setting and drying times. Plasters must only be applied where backgrounds are not frozen or will remain at 5°C or above until dry.
Before skim coating, prime the wall with paint primer. Priming prepares the surface and seals loose drywall paper. Apply one to two paint primer coats to the wall or ceiling.
Skim coats dry quickly. Any skim coat or the outer edges of feather coats will dry within 15 to 20 minutes. Properly installing drywall requires not just effort but also plenty of time, particularly when it comes to drying time for each coat of drywall mud. For a better paint job, avoid pushing drywall mud times.