Quick Answer
Not always.
Not always. There are four recognised levels of plasterboard finish under BS 8212:
- Level 0 - Unfinished (no jointing)
- Level 1 - Joints tape-and-bedded only (typical behind tiles)
- Level 2 - Joints filled, no finish on board face
- Level 3 - Tapered-edge boards tape-and-jointed, ready for textured paint
- Level 4 - Taped-and-jointed or skimmed, ready for flat emulsion
- Level 5 - Premium full skim, defect-free surface for gloss or critical lighting
Most Maidstone residential work lands at Level 4 — either tape-and-jointed with a quality jointing compound, or skimmed with a 2-3mm plaster skim. Commercial fit-outs in Maidstone riverside and the office parks around Maidstone town centre often use a full skim for the cleanest visual under office LED lighting.
Skim adds £7 - £11 per m² in Maidstone but eliminates any visible board joint telegraphing through paint.
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Send a brief, your plans or just a few photos. We will turn around a fixed-price quote within 48 hours, anywhere across ME14–ME20, TN12 and TN27 postcodes.