The plaster finish was smooth, but the surface was not even, varying by 1/2" or so when checked with a 5' straight-edge. In addition, the tile trim-strips they put in along the edge of the steps were not straight. Brian said that all these variations meet Skinner's standards. When they washed the concrete deck after plastering, they left plaster-spray everywhere, even on the legs of the patio furniture. They claimed it wasn't their fault, so I had to acid-wash everything myself to clean it up. They also left a lot of caulk-strings on the tile, which they did clean up when I complained. I suggested that they cancel the final invoice as compensation (about a 7% discount), but they did not. Dealing with Skinner has been the most negative experience I've ever had with a contractor.
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