Which coat is applied after joint taping to create a smooth surface before finish coats?

• A. Skim Coat
• B. Primer
• C. Sealer
• D. Texturing

Answer: (A)

The coat used after joint taping to create a smooth surface is the skim coat. A skim coat is a thin layer of joint compound spread over the taped joints, screws, and seams to fill ridges and imperfections and feather the edges so the wall reads as a flat, uniform surface. Once it dries, you sand it to a smooth finish and then apply primer before the final paint coats. Primer is applied after smoothing to seal the surface and improve paint adhesion, not to smooth joints itself. Sealer and texturing serve different purposes—sealer controls porosity or seals stains, while texturing adds a deliberate texture rather than a smooth surface.