Ceiling Skim Coating in South Bend

Skim coating means we spread a thin layer of joint compound over the whole ceiling and sand it flat. It is for South Bend homeowners who have just had popcorn scraped, or who want to cover a painted texture without removing it. You end up with a flat surface that takes paint without blotches and hides the seams and patches underneath.

What a skim coat involves

We fill gouges and reset loose tape first. Then we roll or trowel compound across the full ceiling, knock it down flat, and let it dry. We sand, check the surface with a work light held flat to the ceiling, and touch up the low spots. Most ceilings take two coats. After the last sand, we prime.

Level 4 and Level 5 finishes

The Gypsum Association's GA-214 standard defines finish levels. Level 5 means a skim coat over the entire surface, for rooms with critical lighting or glossy paint. Rooms with big south-facing windows, pot lights or long hallways show every ripple, and those are where we recommend Level 5. A bedroom with one window and flat paint can sit at Level 4 for less.

Skimming South Bend's older ceilings

Older houses around River Park, Chapin Park and Lincoln Way East often have plaster ceilings. Plaster can have hairline cracks and patches from decades of repairs. We bond the cracks with mesh tape before we skim, so they don't come back through the new surface. We check for loose plaster at the quote and tell you if a section needs repair first.

What affects the price

A skim coat is part of our finished price of $3.50 to $6.00 per square foot when we also do the popcorn removal. As a stand-alone job, we price it per room after we see the ceiling. Level 5, high ceilings and cracked plaster add time.