The Finish Starts Before the Paint
In the painting trade, there is an old saying: "You can't hide bad plastering with good paint." Most homeowners hire a plasterer, then a painter. If the result is patchy, the painter blames the plasterer. At Tomar Contracting, we take responsibility for the entire wall. By handling the Gib stopping (plastering) and the interior painting, we guarantee a seamless, defect-free finish from the board up.
Fast response. Local teams.
Level 4 vs Level 5 Finish - Which Do You Need in Tauranga?
Paint and lighting reveal everything once the room is finished. The right finish level depends on light direction, paint sheen, and how refined you want the end result. We talk it through early on each project in Tauranga.
Level 4 (standard paint-ready)
- Best for: Most residential interiors, matte or low-sheen paints, and typical lighting.
- What's included: Taped joints, stopped screws/nails, corner beads, full sand; ready for sealer/primer.
- What to expect: Great in normal lighting; strong side-lighting (raking light) can show minor variation.
Best for: Most residential interiors, matte or low-sheen paints, and typical lighting.
Fast response. Local teams.
Level 5 (premium smooth finish)
- Best for: Critical/raking light from large windows, lots of downlights, feature walls, large flat areas, darker colours, and low-sheen finishes.
- What's included: Level 4 PLUS a full-surface skim coat to even out porosity and texture across the entire wall/ceiling.
- What to expect: A more uniform finish that reduces joint read-through and shadowing under strong light.
Skim Coating (Level 5 Finish)
Skim coating is a thin, full-surface coat over the whole wall or ceiling to create a consistent base before sealing/priming and painting. It's the key step behind a Level 5 finish on larger or more demanding areas and is often called wall skimming.
- Recommended when: Patchy repairs, mismatched texture, older walls, after wallpaper removal, or lighting that highlights imperfections.
- What it improves: Uniformity, texture consistency, and reduced visible joins under light.
- What happens next: Proper drying, sanding, then sealer/primer before paint.
Fast response. Local teams.
Quick guide:
Level 4 is often enough for standard repaints in normal lighting.
Choose Level 5 / skim coating for premium smooth walls or critical lighting.
How We Set You Up for a Great Paint Finish
- We assess lighting and paint sheen before we start.
- Floors, joinery, and fittings are protected to keep the job tidy.
- Sanding is controlled and practical, with dust managed as much as possible.
- We do a final check under raking light to pick up any read-through.
- Surfaces are left ready for sealer/primer and paint.
Fine Finish Painting
We treat your home with respect. We use premium low-sheen acrylics that are washable and scuff-resistant.
- Airless Spraying: For doors, frames, and skirting boards, we can airless spray to achieve a factory-smooth finish that no brush can match.
- Damage Repair: We patch holes, repair water damage, and blend texture so well you will never know it was there.
Fast response. Local teams.
We Respect Your Home
Inviting tradespeople into your private space requires trust. We treat your home like our own.
Dust Control: We use dust-free vacuum sanders to keep your air clean.
Furniture Protection: We move heavy items and cover everything in clean plastic sheeting and drop cloths.
Low Odour: We use modern low-VOC paints from Dulux and Resene, so you do not have to move out due to fumes.
Stuck on White?
Choosing between Alabaster, Black White, and Quarter Tea can be overwhelming. Lighting in Tauranga changes everything. A colour that looks warm in Pyes Pa might look grey in Papamoa. We offer professional colour advice to help you select the right tone to match your flooring, furniture, and lighting.
FAQs
If the room has standard lighting and matte/low-sheen paint, a Level 4 finish usually performs well. For strong side light or feature walls, Level 5 is often the better option.
Skim coating is the full-surface step used to achieve a Level 5 finish. Level 5 includes all Level 4 work plus the skim coat for a more uniform base.
It's worth it where lighting is unforgiving or the wall is large and flat. Darker colours and low-sheen paints make variation more visible, so Level 5 helps reduce that.
It reduces the visibility of joins and texture changes, but no finish removes every minor mark under strong light. Paint sheen and lighting still matter.
Yes, skim coating can go over sound old paint and after wallpaper removal once the surface is cleaned, sealed where needed, and properly prepared. It's a common fix for uneven or patchy walls.
Time depends on room size, drying conditions, and prep. Most Tauranga jobs take a few days from stopping through sanding, with extra time for skim coating and drying.
Still have a question? Call 0800 TOMAR C (866 272) or send a message.
Transform Your Living Space.
One call handles the plastering and the painting.
Phone: 0800 TOMAR C (866 272)
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