Certificate of Performance — Service Region: Greater Los Angeles
Square Feet Skimmed
This calendar year alone
Avg. Job Completion
Days from first coat to final inspection
Years Licensed & Insured
Continuously bonded, State of California
Bonded. Insured. Guaranteed flat.
Bedroom Ceiling Patch
Water damage, hairline cracks, failed tape joints
Pasadena, CA — Single-family home
~120 sq ft ceiling patch
1 Day
Job Duration
120 sq ft
Area Repaired
2 Skim
Coats Applied
The Problem
A slow roof leak went undetected for one season. By the time the homeowner noticed the brown ring on the ceiling, the drywall paper had delaminated across a 10-foot span, tape joints were bubbling, and three hairline cracks had opened along the crown molding edge. Standard spot-patching would have left ghost shadows under any sheen of paint.
The Process
Cut out the damage
We removed the softened drywall back to solid substrate — no papering over the problem. New 5/8″ board, properly fastened to the joists.
First skim coat
USG Sheetrock Taping Compound applied at 1/16″. We feathered 24 inches past every edge so there's no ridge line for raking light to catch.
Sand, second coat, sand
Two passes of finish compound, hand-sanded between each. The goal: a surface that reads flat under a 500-watt work light held at a 10-degree angle.
Prime and inspect
PVA primer seals the new compound. We prime, let it dry, then stand under the work light again before signing off.
The Result
Completed in one day. The homeowner's painter arrived the following morning and called to say the ceiling "took paint like it was brand new." The repair is invisible under any lighting condition.
"I had two other contractors tell me I needed a full ceiling replacement. Skim patched it in a day and I genuinely cannot find where the repair is."
Rebecca Torres
Homeowner, Pasadena
Similar damage? We assess, quote, and schedule within 48 hours.
Get Your Free Wall AssessmentFull Exterior Re-Stucco
Failed three-coat stucco, extensive cracking, moisture intrusion
Glendale, CA — Rental duplex, unit turnover
~2,400 sq ft full exterior
14 Days
Job Duration
2,400 sq ft
Area Covered
3-Coat Portland
System
The Problem
The property manager had a 30-day window between tenants. The existing stucco was original to the 1962 structure — a three-coat Portland cement system that had reached the end of its service life. Map cracking covered 60% of the surface, two sections near the foundation had delaminated entirely, and moisture readings behind the scratch coat were running high enough to indicate active intrusion. A cosmetic color coat would have lasted one more winter at best.
The Process
Demo and lath inspection
Full removal of existing three-coat system. We inspected and replaced corroded galvanized lath, applied self-adhering waterproof barrier at all penetrations and window flanges.
Scratch coat
3/8″ Portland cement scratch coat applied and cross-raked for mechanical bond. Seven days cure time — we don't rush this. Shrinkage cracks at this stage are by design.
Brown coat
3/8″ brown coat brought to a true plane. We rod the surface with a long darby to catch any humps before they're locked in by the finish.
Color finish coat
Integral-color dash finish applied in a single continuous session per elevation — no cold joints, no lap lines. Consistent aggregate distribution edge to edge.
The Result
Completed in 14 working days including cure time. The property manager re-leased both units before we pulled our scaffolding. The new stucco system carries a 10-year warranty against cracking exceeding 1/16″.
"I manage eight properties. Skim is the only plastering crew I've found who actually understands cure schedules. They didn't rush the scratch coat and it shows — no map cracking at the 6-month inspection."
David Kim
Property Manager, Glendale
Similar damage? We assess, quote, and schedule within 48 hours.
Get Your Free Wall AssessmentHistoric Plaster Restoration
1928 craftsman, original lime plaster, key-coat failure
Hancock Park, CA — Historic landmark property
~800 sq ft walls + barrel-vault ceiling
22 Days
Job Duration
800 sq ft
Area Restored
Lime Putty NHL 3.5
System
The Problem
The key coat — the original plaster's mechanical bond to the wood lath — had failed across nearly half the main living area. Sections were hanging by friction alone; a door slam would have brought them down. The barrel-vault ceiling in the entry hall was particularly fragile. The owners, working with a historic preservation consultant, required a lime-based repair system compatible with the original 1928 substrate. Modern gypsum compounds were not an option.
The Process
Consolidation survey
We sounded every square foot with a wooden mallet — the hollow knock tells you what's hanging and what's solid. We mapped the failure zones before touching a single tool to the wall.
Stabilize in place where possible
For sections still partially keyed, we injected Plaster-Weld adhesive through drilled ports and backfilled with hot lime putty. Less invasive, preserves original material.
Match the original mix
We sourced NHL 3.5 natural hydraulic lime and matched the original aggregate by pulling a sample and having it analyzed. The repair plaster has the same working time, the same flex modulus, the same look.
Three-coat lime system
Scratch, float, and finish — all lime putty with hair fiber reinforcement in the scratch coat per the original specification. Minimum 28-day cure before any paint.
The Result
The preservation consultant signed off on the repair as historically appropriate. The barrel vault is fully stable. Under raking light, the repaired sections are indistinguishable from the original 1928 plaster — same slight undulation, same texture, same sheen.
"We interviewed six contractors. Skim was the only one who knew what NHL 3.5 was without looking it up. The restoration is exceptional — the historic preservation board approved it without a single revision request."
Margaret & Paul Okonkwo
Historic Property Owners, Hancock Park
Similar damage? We assess, quote, and schedule within 48 hours.
Get Your Free Wall AssessmentCredentials & Coverage
The paperwork is as clean as the walls.
Every credential below is verifiable. License numbers are public record. Call the CSLB at any time to confirm active standing.
California License
C-33 #847291
Plastering Contractor · Active Since 2006
General Liability
$2M Coverage
Farmers Insurance · Policy #GL-2024-8847
Surety Bond
$15,000 Bond
State-required · Renewed Annually
BBB Accredited
A+ Rating
Better Business Bureau · Since 2011
Workers Comp
Full Coverage
State Compensation Insurance Fund
OSHA Certified
10-Hour Card
Lead-Safe Certified Renovator
Current Service Region — Greater Los Angeles
SKIM
CERT.
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Get Your Free Wall AssessmentBonded · Insured · Guaranteed Flat · Lic. C-33 #847291