ᐅ Skim Coating to Level 2 / Two Coats of Paint – Is That Sufficient?

We received the following offer for our single-family home – is this quality sufficient, or should we pay extra for Q3? Or is it acceptable if Q2 is painted twice?

"All interior wall surfaces of the brick masonry will receive a skim coat of lime gypsum plaster. The walls in wet rooms will be finished with a lime-cement plaster. Corner protection strips will be installed on external edges and reveals. Movement joints will have movement profiles. Interior plaster surface quality Q2. The ceilings in the living areas will be fully and securely filled. Wall and ceiling surfaces will receive a two-coat opaque dispersion paint finish in white."

I would personally prefer to invest in silicate paint rather than in extra smoothing. But everyone has their own priorities. The additional cost for a different type of paint can usually be discussed directly with the contractor.

I find the trend toward baby-smooth walls completely incomprehensible...

Oetzberger schrieb:

I would personally prefer to invest in silicate paint rather than additional smoothing. But everyone has their own priorities. The extra cost for different paint can usually be discussed directly with the contractor.

I completely don’t understand the trend toward perfectly smooth, baby’s bottom walls...

I agree. I even like a slightly textured finish from the plaster. If the plaster is done well in Q2, painting is easy.

We are also getting Q2 from the general contractor.

Our painter said that with a bit of touch-up work, you can paint directly over it.

He still offered Q3 as an option. The additional cost is just under 3,000 net for 600m² (6,460 sq ft) of wall and ceiling surface.

Afterwards, paint with silicate paint.

Oh cool, thanks a lot for your helpful answers! So I’m completely relieved regarding Q2. I also think the walls don’t need to be perfectly smooth.

I still need to read up on silicate paint – I’m not familiar with it at all... so you’re all saying silicate paint is better?

As far as I understand, it depends on the plaster.

Lime-cement plaster is vapor-permeable and forms a bond with silicate paint – a process called “silicification.” Silicate paint is naturally fungicidal due to its high pH level.

Dispersion paint is the “standard” paint, like the one I know from hardware stores. It does not chemically bond with the plaster but simply covers it. Fungicides are added as needed.

There are also hybrid options.