Skim Coating, Venetian Plaster & Microcement in the San Francisco Bay Area
You don't have to remodel a room to make it look newer and more refined. Often smooth walls are enough. A smooth surface changes how light falls and how paint, furniture, and the whole room look.
In Bay Area homes, from San Francisco to San Jose, this is especially noticeable. Large windows and strong daylight reveal old texture, patches, and traces of past repairs that are almost invisible in the evening.
QualiBuild prepares and finishes walls: texture removal, skim coating (smooth walls), Venetian plaster, and microcement. As a standalone project or as part of a kitchen or bathroom remodel. We are based in Sunnyvale and are a licensed, bonded, and insured California General Contractor (CSLB Lic. #1142411).
We are a family-owned company. You deal directly with the owners, Mikhail and Anna-Mariia, and Mikhail is on site at every key stage. We agree on the scope of work up front, so there are no surprises in the invoice.
Texture Removal
Orange peel, knockdown, and other old texture can make a house look dated, even when everything else has been updated. We prepare these walls for a smooth finish. Removing the texture completely is not always necessary: if the existing surface is sound, it can be prepared and leveled over. We decide after inspecting the wall.
Walls with orange peel, knockdown, and other texture
Wallpaper removal, wall preparation, and new wallpaper installation
Leveling old transitions and patches
Preparation for paint or a decorative finish
Smooth Walls (Skim Coating)
Skim coating levels the entire wall with thin coats of joint compound, followed by sanding and primer. The result is a flat, consistent surface with no visible old texture, transitions, or patches, including in side light from a window. The room stays the same, but it looks cleaner and more finished. Primer is part of our skim-coating work, so we hand over the walls ready for paint. This is also why skim coating makes sense while a kitchen or bathroom is already open for remodeling.
Skim coating of walls and ceilings, together or separately
Leveling waves, seams, transitions, and old patches
Preparation for dark paint and semi-gloss, which show everything
Smooth walls as part of a kitchen or bathroom remodel
Venetian Plaster
Venetian plaster is for projects where the wall itself should become part of the interior. The material is applied by hand in layers, creating depth and subtle movement of color that ordinary paint cannot reproduce. The finish can be matte, satin, or polished, depending on the material and technique. A single well-placed feature wall can make a room feel finished without adding more decoration.
Accent walls, living rooms, and bedrooms
Fireplaces and architectural features
Matte, satin, and polished finishes
Lime-based finishes, limewash, and marmorino
We agree on the color and character of the finish before the main work begins. There are tradeoffs: Venetian plaster requires more careful surface preparation than paint, and a future spot repair is harder to blend invisibly. We explain that before you choose the material.
Microcement
Microcement is a thin, seamless decorative coating with a mineral appearance. It can create a calm architectural concrete look or a softer surface with more movement and texture. Without grout lines, the finish reads as one continuous surface and looks quieter. It is a good option for modern interiors where you want a distinctive material without visual noise.
Walls and accent surfaces
Showers and wet areas, as a complete compatible system
Concrete-look finishes
Choice of shade, texture, and protective top coat
In a shower, microcement is not just a decorative top layer. We build the complete system: a moisture-resistant backer, waterproofing, microcement, and a protective top coat, per the manufacturer's requirements and California rules for wet areas. We do not apply microcement over existing tile: the old tile is removed and the substrate is prepared for the new system.
How It Works
Tell us about the project. Send photos or a short video of the walls along with rough dimensions. From a video with dimensions we give you a real price.
Site visit. Usually within 1-2 days. We look at the surface in daylight and check the substrate, ceiling height, existing finish, and difficult areas.
Estimate. You receive a clear scope of work with the main items spelled out. Materials are usually billed separately, so you control the finish level and the material budget. If the actual scope matches the video and dimensions you provided, the agreed price holds.
The work. We isolate and protect the work area, sand with a HEPA vacuum, and clean up every day. If we uncover a hidden problem, we do not cover it with a new finish: we show it to you, send photos when helpful, and agree on the solution first. Any change to the original scope goes through a written Change Order.
Walkthrough. We review the finished walls with you: the overall surface, corners, transitions, and the areas that are most visible in natural and side light.
Why Homeowners Choose QualiBuild
The owner is on site at every key stage, not just taking the order
Hidden problems are shown and agreed on in writing, not covered with finish
One contractor for the walls and the full remodel when the work is part of a kitchen or bathroom
Licensed, bonded, and insured in California (CSLB Lic. #1142411)
Primer is included with skim coating, so the walls are handed over ready for paint
FAQ
What is skim coating?
A thin leveling coat applied over the entire wall rather than only over seams and repairs. It is used to create smooth walls, cover existing texture, and prepare the surface for paint.
Can textured walls be made smooth without replacing the drywall?
In many cases, yes. If the existing substrate is sound, the wall can be prepared and leveled without replacing the drywall. We make that decision after inspecting the surface.
What is a Level 5 finish?
Level 5 is the highest defined level of finish for gypsum panel surfaces: a skim coat over the entire surface after the joints have been finished. For existing walls, we usually use the more practical terms full skim coat or smooth-wall finish. If your designer or architect specifically calls for Level 5, tell us before the work starts so we can price and perform the work to that specification.
Can you skim coat over a painted wall?
Yes, if the paint is sound. Gloss and semi-gloss are scuffed and primed first so the compound bonds. Loose or peeling paint is removed first.
Can I paint directly over a skim coat?
No, primer first. Fresh joint compound absorbs paint differently from the surrounding surface, and the finish will look uneven without it. Primer is included in our skim-coating scope, and we hand over the walls ready for finish paint. Painting can be added as a separate line in the estimate.
What are the downsides of smooth walls?
Smooth walls are less forgiving than textured walls: future dents and poor repairs are easier to see, especially in strong side light. That is why we skim the full surface, not just where it shows, and recommend matte or eggshell paint in rooms with large windows.
Do you remove popcorn ceilings?
No, we do not remove popcorn ceilings. Our work covers standard wall and ceiling textures, skim coating, smooth walls, and decorative finishes.
My house is older. What about lead paint and asbestos?
Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint, so work that disturbs painted surfaces is handled under the EPA lead-safe rules (RRP). Older sprayed or troweled texture may also contain asbestos and may need to be evaluated before it is disturbed. QualiBuild does not do asbestos testing or abatement. When testing or specialized asbestos work is required, qualified professionals handle it before our wall-finishing work continues. We do not simply sand or cover a suspect material and move on.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the area, the condition of the walls, ceiling height, and the type of finish. We give an exact price after a site visit or from a detailed video with dimensions. If the actual scope matches the information provided, the agreed price holds.
How long does it take, and how much dust will there be?
The timeline depends on the size of the project and the condition of the existing surfaces. We give you the schedule after evaluating the work. We isolate the work area, sand with a HEPA vacuum, and clean up daily. Drywall sanding is never completely dust-free, so the goal is to keep the dust contained within the work area.
What is the difference between Venetian plaster and microcement?
Venetian plaster is usually chosen for depth, movement of color, and a more decorative character. Microcement creates a quieter, more monolithic concrete-like surface. The better option depends on how you want the finished room to look and where the material will be used.
Can Venetian plaster go on regular drywall?
Yes, many Venetian plaster systems are made for properly prepared drywall. Preparation and primer requirements vary by manufacturer, so we select the finish system before the main work begins.
Can microcement be used in a shower or over old tile?
In a shower, yes, with a system approved for wet areas and installed as a complete assembly: a moisture-resistant backer, waterproofing, microcement, and a protective top coat, per the manufacturer's requirements and California rules for wet areas. We do not apply microcement over existing tile: the old tile is removed and the substrate is prepared for the new waterproofing and finish system.
Where We Work
We work across the San Francisco Bay Area, from San Francisco down the Peninsula to San Jose, and in Milpitas, Fremont, and Newark across the bay. We are based in Sunnyvale and serve: San Francisco, Daly City, Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Foster City, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Woodside, Portola Valley, Atherton, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, San Jose, Milpitas, Fremont, Newark, Campbell, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, and Los Gatos.
