Skim coating is NOT the same as veneer plaster.

The US Gypsum, handbook is online and has examples of each finish level.

Drywall guys are NOT the same as veneer plaster installers.

The veneer is actual plaster, not drywall mud.

If you want plaster veneer, then you have to specify that up front as completely different base products are used and there is a large amount of additional labor. Which all translates into higher costs. Much higher costs.

And it's not obtainable at any cost in some areas of the country as the practice seems to be only readily available from knowledgeable applicators in the New England area. You will really search to find a craftsman to do this if you are out of that general area.

Lav, I did just today read an old house article about blueboard and we'll be using that if need be.

So... okay then, is drywall skim coated better looking than flat ol' drywall painted? OR isn't it worth it? This guy does not do real plaster veneer and I'm not sure my house needs real plaster veneer... just a little nicer finish than flat drywall I guess.

and I am off to look up the US Gypsum site online right now, thanks very much for that idea.

I am by no means an expert so take that into consideration - Family Handyman magazine has an article on "skimcoating" walls using joint compound. Their method gives you a smooth result.

Stand firm on your texture decision as it can be difficult to change down the road. Usually you do not want different textures in different rooms (smooth coats for baths and kitchens the exception).

Here is a link that might be useful: family handyman article

Flat wall= plain drywall job or veneer plaster, not skim coated with mud.
Textured wall= skim coated with mud and "worked" by some method to create the texture.

I personally hate textured walls and ceilings as they are dirt catchers and very difficult to match if you ever have to patch or repair.

We just did plaster veneer in our new build.

We knew that we wanted perfectly smooth walls and so were trying to find someone to do a Level 4 or 5 sheetrock job. To our surprise we had an almost impossible time finding anybody at any price. None of the local subs wanted to do that level of work.... just wanted to get in and out and off to the next job. Our house is about 4,400 sq feet and none of the sheetrockers wanted to do a high quality smooth finish at the higher level of skim coat.

Again to our surprise it turns out that our little rural area (central VA) has several people who do plaster veneer.... And to our complete shock it turned out it was cheaper than the prices we were getting on level 4 sheetrock. We guess because there is a little competition.
We're still waiting for it to cure before priming but it's "baby butt" smooth and so we're happy! The sanding post veneer was minimal so there wasn't a crazy amount of dust in the house. They said that after priming they'd be back to do any necessary touch up work that might be needed. BTW it was fascinating to watch them do the work.... very different from drywall mudding.

If you want drywall, do drywall. If you want texture, use the new paperless drywall or blueboard and texture. If you want plaster, do blueboard and skim plaster. You don't get "plaster" from skimcoating mud on drywall. All you get is a bad drywall job with wet paper and the potential for mold.

Deedles- The episode I saw was the little Cape Cod home, where the owner's (uncle?) came in and did the plaster. Bob Vila asked about sandpaper...and the guy says, "SANDPAPER, BOB...we don't use sandpaper, Bob" It was too funny :)

Well, if I had to pick I'd pick plaster veneer. Yellow pages? Well looky here, someone does plaster veneer with prices comparable to drywall. I called him and he says no one does a smooth plaster veneer anymore, it's all 'skip troweling' or some kind of texture. "Plaster is all about texture and hardly anyone does smooth but you could keep trying". Says he hasn't done smooth in years and doesn't feel like he's up to trying. Older gentleman. Says I'd be better off with a drywaller doing a smooth finish if I want smooth. Hmmmp.

This was a two coat (basecoat + veneer)over blueboard that we did on a project to save the owner some money. We only did horsehair lime plaster over split wood lath in one room; almost a museum installation.
The veneer plaster is worked until it shines!

We did veneer plaster for a couple of reasons. In our regional area, no one does it. We had to go to a specialty supplier and order it in. We found someone who trained in Maine to install it and the only reason it was a bit more expensive than drywall is because our original framing was uneven and we ordered 5/8" thick sheets.

I had a pretty strong aversion to drywall after the adventures with mold. Veener plaster is freakin' gorgeous, perfectly smooth and we would do it again in a heartbeat. The feel of it perfectly matches the rest of the house - which is all 1920's plaster.

Here, people call the supposedly water resistant drywall "blueboard", so I was surprised by what it looked like (gray, gray and more gray) and that it was made up of two slightly different layers and that it is much harder and denser than drywall. It works pretty well as a sound deadener too!

@casey Wow, that is really nice!

Casey: are you anywhere near to Wisconsin? That's exactly the look that I love.

bmore: so just to be clear... you used blueboard with the veneer plaster over it?

"Flat wall= plain drywall job or veneer plaster, not skim coated with mud. "

Higher level drywall finishes are achieved by skim coating the entire wall (think level 5) ad thwy are plenty flat if done correctly.

Conventional drywall with only mud on corners and joints always leaves a slight hump at every seam.
you can spread it out, but washing light down the wall will show it.
Skim coating the entire wall flattens it out.

It is NOT the same as veneer plaster 9and yes, that requires blue board) but that was not the OP's question.

I'm going to ask around a bit and see if word of mouth might turn someone up in my area. Would really like the plaster but I guess I'd go for skim coat if plaster isn't possible around here.

Can I ask one more question? Is blueboard better than plain drywall if one is trying to minimize mold? We tend to have a damp basement and have torn out lots of moldy wood and such during this remodel. Can blueboard be skim coated or only plaster veneered?

Thanks

Bluebeard is designed for veneer plaster application.

There is no reason to bother if you are going to skim coat.

It is no more moisture resistant in use than plain drywall.

Green board might be a better option, but fixing drainage and then running a dehumidifier are even better.

I manage to keep a basement full of wood and metal working tools (a lot of bare cast iron rust free without a lot of effort.

A dehumidifier that dumps into a floor drain beats having to empty a container.

Okay, thanks. Yeah, the dehumidifier is running and will be a fact of life since we're 40 feet from a river and the basement floor is about 5" above river level. We use greenboard in the shower/wet areas, right? I think that's what we were told.

I do appreciate the help, thank you.

NO greenboard in showers!!! It's designed for damp locations like your basement or a bath, NOT wet locations like a shower or tub surround. If used in a shower, it will be a wet moldy mess behind your walls in no time. You need a vapor barrier with cement board on top, or a topically applied membrane on top of the cement board.

Thank goodness I'm not in charge of this or I'd screw it up for sure. DH says I misspoke and we aren't using that. Sorry... too many boards on my brain, I guess.

Thanks for all this info, bumping so others can see. Deedles what did you decide to do for your walls. I love the veneer idea.