Plastering & skim coating in Hamilton. The finish starts here.

Level 5 plasterers & GIB stoppers for paint-ready walls.

Tomar Contracting provides plastering, GIB® stopping and Level 5 skim coating across Hamilton and the wider Waikato, from new plasterboard to renovation repairs and full-surface skim coats. In a Level 5 specification, the Level 4 stopping work is combined with tighter substrate requirements and an air-drying compound across the entire surface. This reduces differences in texture and porosity before painting; it doesn’t guarantee that every variation will disappear under critical light. We can carry the work through to interior painting or include it in a wider residential painting scope.

Choose the preparation your walls actually need

Small dents and isolated repairs may need local stopping. Wallpaper removal, widespread patching or rough surfaces may justify a full skim. Loose linings, moisture damage or moving cracks need assessment and repair before a decorative finish.

Our wall preparation guide helps distinguish a normal repaint from more extensive plaster work. We can quote the preparation and interior painting together.

GIB® stopping done properly

A Level 5 finish still depends on sound GIB® stopping. Our plasterers tape and stop joints, corners and fasteners with the specified compounds, allow the required drying time, feather the coats and sand the surface before the full-surface treatment.

Paint can’t correct misaligned board, loose material or unfinished jointing. We assess the substrate first and explain repairs or access issues before they are hidden under primer and finish coats.

What makes a true Level 5 finish?

Level 5 is a specified plasterboard finish. It builds on Level 4 joint and fastener treatment, with tighter substrate requirements and a full-surface finishing treatment to reduce differences in texture and porosity. A skim coat cannot straighten poor framing or guarantee invisibility of every irregularity under critical light.

See GIB’s Level 4 and Level 5 guidance and our Level 5 homeowner guide. Existing lath-and-plaster repair is not automatically a compliant Level 5 plasterboard system.

Choosing between Level 4 and Level 5

Level 4 is the standard specification for many painted interiors. Level 5 may be specified for higher-sheen paint, critical or raking light, or an architectural or commercial finish requirement. We review the substrate, lighting, paint sheen and budget, then put the proposed finish in writing.

Wallpaper removal and older ceilings

After wallpaper comes off, we check paste residue, paper damage, adhesion and moisture before selecting a sealer and repair method. Sound walls may need local repairs; a full skim is not compulsory.

Older textured ceilings may contain asbestos. Suspected material needs assessment before sanding, scraping or removal. Tell us the approximate age and any testing already completed when you request a quote. Read WorkSafe’s asbestos guidance for homeowners.

Plastering & painting under one roof

We provide plastering and painting, so the same team can coordinate the substrate assessment, drying time, sealer and finish coats. That gives you one written scope and one contact from the initial repairs through to final inspection.

Agree the intended lighting, paint sheen and finish level early. The programme allows each compound coat to dry before sanding, cleaning, sealing and inspection. Price depends on actual wall and ceiling area, condition, access and the specified finish.

Use the skim-coating calculator for a planning allowance on sound, already-stopped surfaces. New board installation, full stopping, major repairs and a formal Level 5 upgrade need a measured quote.