Tape and joint or skim finish

Tape and joint or full skim finishing on new plasterboard, ready to decorate. The differences, what's included and typical UK costs per square metre.

In short: Tape and joint finishes plasterboard by bedding tape into the joints and feathering jointing compound over them and the screw heads, so the board face itself is decorated. A skim finish covers the whole board with a thin coat of finishing plaster. Tape and joint usually costs around £6 to £12 per square metre in the UK, and a skim around £8 to £15 per square metre.

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Tape and joint, sometimes called dry jointing, is used on tapered-edge plasterboard. The tapered edges form a shallow recess where two boards meet, which is filled with jointing compound and paper or mesh tape, then built up in thin coats and sanded flush. Screw heads and angle beads are spotted and feathered in the same way. Finished properly, the wall is smooth and flat, and the board is then sealed with a drywall primer or mist coat before painting.

Skimming applies a coat of finishing plaster, usually 2 to 3 mm thick, over the whole board. It gives a harder, more uniform surface that hides minor board damage and copes better with knocks. Skim needs longer to dry and a skilled hand to get flat in raking light. Many homeowners prefer skim, while commercial jobs and new builds often use tape and joint for speed.

What is included

Checking boards are fixed tight with screws set just below the surface
Tape on all flat joints and internal corners
Angle beads or corner tape on external corners
Two or three coats of jointing compound, sanded between coats, for tape and joint
Scrim tape on joints and a two-coat skim, for skim finish
Spotting screw heads and filling cut edges
Dust control and protection of floors and windows
Leaving the surface ready for a mist coat or drywall primer

Who it is for

Newly boarded walls and ceilings of any type
New-build and commercial projects working to a programme
Homes where a hard, traditional finish is preferred
Walls that will be seen under strong side light
Overboarded ceilings and patched repairs

How much does it cost?

As a guide, tape and joint usually costs around £6 to £12 per square metre and a skim finish around £8 to £15 per square metre on new board. A whole room is often priced as a single job, so ask for an all-in figure. See our full cost guide.

How it works

Check the boarding

We check board fixings, gaps and damaged edges, and fill large gaps before any finishing starts.

Tape and bead

Joints are taped and corners beaded, either bedded in compound for tape and joint or scrimmed for skim.

Apply finish coats

Compound is built up in thin, wide coats and sanded, or plaster is laid on in two coats and trowelled smooth.

Final check

Surfaces are inspected under a work light to pick up any marks before the job is signed off for decoration.

Tape and joint or skim finish: FAQs

Is tape and joint as good as skimming?

Done well, tape and joint gives a perfectly good decoration-ready finish and is standard in new builds and commercial work. The board surface is softer than plaster, so it marks more easily, and differences in texture between board and filler can show through some paints if the wall is not primed properly. Skim gives a harder, more uniform surface.

Can you skim over tapered-edge board?

Yes. Tapered-edge board can be either taped and jointed or skimmed. Square-edge board is generally only skimmed. When skimming tapered-edge board, the recesses at the joints are filled flush first so the skim stays an even thickness. Moisture-resistant and some specialist boards may need a bonding coat before skimming, so the board type is checked first.

How long before I can paint?

Taped and jointed walls can usually be primed within a day once the compound is dry. Skim needs to dry fully, which takes from a couple of days to a week or more depending on heating, ventilation and the time of year. It turns from dark pink or brown to an even light pink when dry. Then apply a mist coat before normal emulsion.

Why does my new paint show the joints?

This is called flashing or photographing, and it happens when the paint soaks differently into the board face and the jointing compound. It is avoided by sealing the whole surface with a drywall primer or an appropriate first coat before decorating. It is a priming issue rather than a jointing fault in most cases.