the raking out of cracks & holes and filling to form a flat smooth surface. This process cannot make an imperfect surface perfect, but will leave the surface sound.

is where the surface is rubbed by use of an abrasive paper. By rubbing down you not only remove small imperfections on the surface, but you provide a 'key' for the new paint or stain. This process should also be repeated between coats.  

is an abrasive paper used during the rubbing down process on specified work.  It can be used either wet or dry.  When the paper is used wet, the risk of 'scratches' is reduced as the water acts as a lubricant. 

is where a lining paper is hung horizontally on imperfect walls to improve the surface prior to the application of the final wall covering.  

is necessary on new plaster or old powdery surfaces.  This gives the wall-covering paste a surface to move on during initial positioning, and stops the paste from soaking into the plaster too quickly. 

All bare wood and metal requires a coat of primer before painting.  Primer grips the surface where an undercoat would not, so gives a longer lasting finish. 

Mist Coat

is a thinned down coat of emulsion applied to bare plaster, giving a surface for the un-thinned emulsion to key to.