Recently I removed most of the stipple artex from the Kitchen ceiling,
I then got a plasterer to come in and skim it to make it smooth.

He done this when I was not in, I came back and once it dried it wasn't
as smooth as expected, got him back and he redone it, it was getting
dark when he done it previously.

The second time when I presume most of the hard work was already done,
he painting on some PVA stuff then skimmed over that a few times, I
asked him if I need to put sealer on before I paint it as I can recall
being told to do this by another plasterer who did work for me a while
back, he said you dont need it and just put on 2 coats of emulsion, can
anyone clarify this?

Would it not be better with the sealer, surely wont do any harm?

I have half a tin left in the shed from when I bought it before.

So use the sealer then two coats of Matt Emulsion or just the Emulsion.

Thanks

In message , Gogs 
 writes

>
>The second time when I presume most of the hard work was already done,
>he painting on some PVA stuff then skimmed over that a few times, I
>asked him if I need to put sealer on before I paint it as I can recall
>being told to do this by another plasterer who did work for me a while
>back, he said you dont need it and just put on 2 coats of emulsion, can
>anyone clarify this?
>
>Would it not be better with the sealer, surely wont do any harm?
>
>I have half a tin left in the shed from when I bought it before.
>
>So use the sealer then two coats of Matt Emulsion or just the Emulsion.
>

Doesn't really matter which.

If you have the sealer and want to use it then use that. But it isn't 
really necessary, but just emulsion is fine, it's what I always use.

But you do need to dilute the first coat a fair bit otherwise because of 
the suction of the plaster it won't adhere properly. I probably dilute 
about 20%, but it is a bit suck it and see. If  I find the plaster is 
drying the paint out a bit too quick and I can't spread it then I dilute 
it a bit more.
-- 
Chris French