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Plastering and skimming are two different techniques for finishing walls. Plastering involves applying a thick layer of a plaster mixture—typically containing gypsum, lime, cement, sand, and water—to create a new surface. This process often requires multiple coats and is used for repairing significant damage or creating decorative textures. Skimming, on the other hand, is a technique that involves applying a thin layer of drywall compound or joint compound over an existing surface to smooth it out, covering minor imperfections, small cracks, or uneven textures for a polished look. Plastering is generally more costly and labor-intensive than skimming. Although some people use the terms interchangeably, they refer to different processes and materials.

It is possible to apply plaster on the interior or exterior of your home, but we don’t recommend it. Plaster is easy to apply in theory, but in reality, it can be a challenging material to work with, and it’s difficult to get the finished product to look clean, even, and smooth. Many DIYers end up calling in a professional afterward to touch up the area or even redo it entirely because of mistakes they made in the process. Hiring a plaster pro will cost more, but it’s usually the best option to achieve high-quality results.

You can repair plaster ceilings yourself after the cause of the ceiling damage has been addressed. However, the repair can easily take 5 hours and can be slightly challenging for those without previous experience. If you do decide to flex your DIY muscle, have a helper to help hold the ladder and pass you the tools for safety purposes.

Depending on how much adhesive was used as well as the strength of the adhesive, you may have some drywall damage when removing a mirror. You can typically repair most drywall damage if it’s small by sanding the damaged area, applying spackle to smooth the damaged section so it’s flush with the rest of the wall, and repainting the area.