In Riga and the Riga region it costs from €10/m² of wall surface. If a wall is very crooked or the plaster is crumbling, skimming alone is not enough and plastering is needed first.
Skimming or plastering
Skim coat evens out small unevenness on a sound base. Plaster is used when the level of the wall has to be changed by more or the base is damaged. For plastering, see wall plastering.
Skimming uneven walls usually starts with the cracks. If cracks keep returning in the same places, the cause may be in the structure rather than the finish; read about this in cracks in walls and ceilings.
Ceiling skimming
Ceiling skimming uses the same row of the price list, from €10/m². If the ceiling is very uneven or wires need to be hidden in it, compare plasterboard ceilings or stretch ceilings.
The skimming work in sequence
- Checking the base Flaking paint and loose plaster are removed and cracks are found.
- Priming The base is primed. For Ceresit CT 17 primer, the manufacturer states that it dries in about 2 hours.
- Cracks and holes The deepest spots are filled separately before the whole surface.
- Skimming The surface is coated in one or more layers until it is level.
- Sanding After drying, the surface is sanded and the dust is cleaned off.
- Primer before paint Surfaces skimmed with dry mixes must be primed before painting, writes the paint manufacturer Tikkurila.
How long the skim coat takes to dry is stated by the mix manufacturer; see the article how long screed, skim coat and tile adhesive take to dry.
Ceresit CT 17 technical data sheet; Tikkurila Euro Smart 2 product data sheet (23.07.2020). Checked 11.11.2026.
What to decide before your request
- what will go on top: paint, wallpaper or decorative plaster;
- whether all walls are skimmed or only the damaged areas;
- whether the ceilings are skimmed too;
- whether wiring or sockets in the walls are being replaced first;
- whether you will choose the materials yourself.
In the form, write the address, the rooms and the approximate wall area, and describe where the walls have cracks and unevenness; you can send photos in side lighting to the specialist when they contact you.
Skimming the whole apartment
If you are skimming and painting all the rooms, compare the total with a cosmetic renovation, which is priced by the area of the apartment. For example, a 2-room apartment of 50 m², cosmetic renovation: 50 × €100 = from €5,000 (labour), and it also covers the walls, ceilings and floor covering.
Sanding after skimming produces fine dust. If you live in the apartment during the renovation, see renovation while living in the apartment, and in your request write which rooms will stay occupied.
How much wall skimming costs
Wall or ceiling skimming: from €10/m². Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate.
Example: a room of 15 m² with 40 m² of walls. Skimming 40 × €10 = €400 and painting 40 × €4 = €160, total from €560. If only one wall of 3 m × 2.6 m = 7.8 m² has to be skimmed, the work is from €78.
The price is affected by the condition of the walls and ceilings, the number of coats, the number of openings and corners, and what will go on top. An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment.
What the skimming price includes
What this work includes
- wall or ceiling skimming, priced per m² of surface;
- ceiling skimming, using the same row of the price list.
What is calculated separately
- painting (from €4/m²) or hanging wallpaper (from €5/m²);
- plastering, if the wall is very uneven (from €8/m²);
- skim mix, primer and other materials;
- removing old paint or wallpaper.
Sources
- Ceresit CT 17 primer dries in about 2 hours checked 11 November 2026
- Tikkurila Euro Smart 2: 2 coats, the second after 2 h, surface ≥ +5 °C, humidity ≤ 80%, priming, hardness in about a month checked 11 November 2026
