Replies

1. 
   fingers | Jan 20, 2010 05:34pm | #1

   You could try plain joint compound with some brown paint mixed in. Test it on a small area to see if it would give the look you wanted.

1. 
   DanH | Jan 20, 2010 06:13pm | #2

   Probably the recipe for old "brown coat" plaster would work pretty well.

   The OP should be wary of making the surface too dark -- what seems "light" in a small sample gets oppressively dark once you do five walls with it.

1. 
   sunsen | Jan 20, 2010 06:31pm | #4

   I'll have a look into "brown
   I'll have a look into "brown coat plaster". Thanks.

   I'm aware of the color issue you mentioned.

2. 
   sunsen | Jan 20, 2010 06:29pm | #3

   Thanks for the reply.
   I'm
   Thanks for the reply.

   I'm guessing joint compound isn't quite the right material, for several reasons. I'm thinking something a lot more durable, like plaster. I believe there are different options there though and I was wondering if anyone had experience in the area and knows what's best, easiest to use, that sort of thing.

1. 
   DanH | Jan 20, 2010 06:42pm | #5

   My first thought, after reading your query, was thinset. It has excellent adhesion to most masonry surfaces, is very durable, and pretty easy to work with on a vertical surface (not sure about overhead). It would of course be too dark, and would have to be painted lighter, plus it's pretty expensive for doing an entire room.

1. 
   sunsen | Jan 20, 2010 06:53pm | #6

   I just looked up the definition of "brown coat" plaster. It's serves the same function as the brown coat in stucco. I'm thinking with a concrete surface and proper bonding adhesive I don't need a brown coat, just a finish coat of something. Like finish plaster.

   I remember my plasterers using Venetian plaster on an interior of a house I built some years back. We had to put up blue board for them and the finish coat was about 1/8" thick. I think I'll look that stuff up.

   Anybody out there have experience with Venetian plaster?