Finishing (skimming) with topcoat plaster is an art that takes Finishing (skimming) with topcoat plaster is an art that takes practice to get a smooth finish. Follow these steps to master practice to get a smooth finish. Follow these steps to master the technique of applying finishing plaster.the technique of applying finishing plaster.

Prepare Plaster

• Half-fill a bucket with clean tap water, and slowly add the plaster, carefully following the manufacturer's instructions. Mix more as you need it.

• Use a power stirrer to mix the plaster. Submerge the stirrer before starting the drill and use at a low speed. You can also mix manually.

• Keep adding plaster and mix until it has a creamy consistency. Run a trowel around the edge of the bucket to incorporate all the dry plaster.

• Pour the plaster onto a board. It should be thick enough to spread evenly over the board without running over the edge.

Apply The Plaster

• Use a trowel to cut away a section of the mixed plaster, and transfer it to a hawk. Use a small amount at first to get used to handling the hawk.

• Holding the hawk in front of the wall, cut away a section of plaster, using the plastering trowel. Push the plaster up and onto the wall surface.

• Spread the plaster across the wall surface, pressing firmly and distributing it as evenly as possible. Work from the top of the wall to the bottom, in broad, vertical and horizontal strokes. Aim to work quickly to cover the surface before the plaster starts to dry.

• Continue to add more plaster, building up a rhythm of loading the hawk and transferring the plaster to the wall surface.

Smooth The Plaster

• Once the surface is covered, go back over it, smoothing the plaster to an even thickness. Do not try to achieve perfect smoothness yet.

• Leave the plaster to dry for another half hour, until it is harder, but still slightly damp.

• Sweep a clean, dampened trowel blade across the entire surface, smoothing the plaster and redistributing any excess to fill small indents. Hold the blade at a slight angle with only one edge on the plaster to achieve a smooth finish.

• Leave the plaster to dry for at least half an hour, until the surface is firm enough to touch without moving the plaster, but is still damp. Repeat the smoothing process, again using any excess surface plaster to fill small depressions. If necessary, use a wet brush or garden spray gun to dampen the plaster as you work. Aim for a smooth finish at this final stage; it is more effective than trying to sand rough plaster when dry.

Applying a Second Layer

• An alternative to smoothing off the first layer of plaster is to apply a second, thinner layer, giving two topcoats. If you want to follow this option, do it after smoothing the plaster for the first time, before allowing it to dry. Most professional plasterers do this to achieve the flattest, highest-quality finish. Once the second layer has been added, continue the step titled Smooth the Plaster from STEP2 onward.

Finishing an External Corner

An alternative to using a corner bead on an external corner is to smooth the plaster with a corner trowel. This gives a more rustic finish, rather than a clean, straight line. A corner trowel is not suitable for achieving a high-quality finish; corner beads give better results. A similar finish is achieved on an internal corner by using an internal corner trowel.

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