What's the difference between skim coating and drywall finishing?

Great question! The terms skim coating and drywall finishing are related but not exactly the same: Drywall Finishing – this refers to the entire process after drywall sheets are installed. It includes taping the seams, applying multiple coats of joint compound, sanding, and finishing to achieve a smooth, paint-ready surface. The levels go from Level 1 (basic tape) to Level 5 (perfectly smooth finish). Skim Coating – this is one specific technique within finishing. It involves applying a thin layer of joint compound (often across the entire wall or ceiling) to smooth out imperfections, cover old textures, or create a uniform surface. Skim coating is often used when you’re repairing existing walls (like after wallpaper removal), not just new drywall. 📌 Key difference: Finishing is the whole system of steps to complete drywall, while skim coating is a specialized method (usually the last step) to achieve a perfectly smooth surface. 👉 Tip for your kitchen: After removing wallpaper, protect your cabinets with plastic and painter’s tape, sand lightly with 80–100 grit, then apply skim coats in thin layers with sanding between. This avoids damage to cabinetry and leaves you with a modern, smooth finish. Best regards, Fortis Build Group

What’s the difference between skim coating and plastering? Skim coating is a thin layer applied over existing walls or ceilings to make them smooth and ready for paint. It’s commonly used after wallpaper removal to cover small imperfections. Plastering is a thicker application used when walls or ceilings are more damaged or uneven. It’s stronger but more labor-intensive. For most kitchens, skim coating is usually all that’s needed once the wallpaper is removed. How do you do this without damaging kitchen cabinets? At Copper Construction, we: Fully cover and protect cabinets and countertops Carefully remove wallpaper using proper tools Clean off any leftover adhesive Apply skim coating or plaster as needed Sand and clean everything before uncovering cabinets This process keeps your cabinets protected while giving you smooth, paint-ready walls and ceilings.

What I would do is, once all the wallpaper is removed, sand the existing surface with 80 or 100 grit, fix any issues with cracking or damage. Then start applying one thick and two thin skim coats of joint compound. Sandding in between coats. We don't see much plastering in modern homes these days. However, if your home is substantially older than 50 years, plaster may indeed be an option for you. Cabinetry and floors, as well as vents and furniture, need to be masked off with drop polly or covered in temporary protective coverings to prevent damage.

First, cover any areas that need protection. Remove wallpaper, sometimes you can just pull it and it will peel off, other times you need to wet it or steam it to remove it. If you have a lot of glue residue, remove any loose glue by sanding or scraping. Install new screws to drywall if any area doesn't feel tight to the joints. The very important thing is to prime the area with an oil-based primer to seal any glue residue. At last you fix any imperfections, make sure all the joints have paper tape or other type you prefer, like fiberglass tape. Plaster if that was not previously done and skim until the area is smooth without imperfections. Prime with a drywall primer and paint🙂

Drywall finishing is the name of the trade (taper/Drywall finishers) Skim coat is the last coat before a final sand

Well plastering is thicker, and skinning is more refinement, so depending on what it looks like under the wallpaper really. You may need a thicker layer and plaster over everything and build it back up to a smooth even layer once the wallpaper is removed, Or you can chose to just put new drywall sheets over the entire thing. Skimming is just applying a thin layer over the surface, usually at the end