My wife and I are VERY excited to have purchased our first house. The house was built in 1962, and for the most part has smooth w/ light sand, painted plaster walls, along with a few gyp. board walls w/ spackled texturing. The degree of texture changes throughout the house, and I believe all the paint to be newer latex.
We really want the walls to be of a consistent, and very smooth surface throughout. I believe what would be referred to as a level 4-5 dry wall finish. Our question is whether we can apply skim coats of a topping joint compound directly over the paint and texture on both the gyp. and plaster wall surfaces, and whether or not this poses bonding problems. We are more than willing to put in the work to make the walls flat, and realize just how much effort this might be. I would be thankful for any advice given.
In addition, if we ever became daring enough to try to veneer plaster a wall (after much practice) can you apply a two skim coat plaster veneer directly over a painted and textured wall as is? I have read that the standard application is onto blue board, but have heard little conversation about applications over existing walls. In addition, I know that skilled craftsman are just that, “skilled,” and therefore ask if veneer plastering is something a homeowner can work up to accomplishing, or if it really is something left exclusively to the pros? If so, any plaster recommendations for this application, such as lime based as opposed to portland cement based? Does it come pre-mixed, and where can I buy it? Can you integrate color in the plaster mix? Thank you any help you might offer.
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I hope that you will be able to get some advice from the pros as I am just a carpenter/gc with a little taping and plastering experience. I know that it is possible to use joint compound to smooth the walls and that you will not have adhesion problems. We have done this in isolated rooms in a couple of different houses. Our tapers alternated mud strips laid on with a wide curved trowel extending from floor to ceiling. The second coat filled in the strips between the first coat. They continued this until the walls were smooth. It certainly was not a level 5 finish but a tremendous improvement in both cases.
If this is like any other construction project that I have ever worked on, the only way to get a really top notch job is to get rid of the bad and start out with a fresh slate. If time and money is an issue, you may have to settle for less than the best. I know I have been quite happy to have the time and money instead.
Veneer plaster is for veneering only. It is not used to fill in voids or repair cracks. It goes on 1/16" - 3/32" thick. If you want a plaster finish on a wall which is curently textured you must first smooth it. Basically the surface to accept the veneer plaster must be perfect. Plaster is not intended to be used as a "fix" material.
Before you apply any "smoothing" material you must first prime the surface with oil based/ alkyd primer
Search BT for recent threads regarding compound and plaster. There is another thread going on right now about a similar issue.
F.
Thanks guys for your advice. This is my first time using the forum, and I think it's a tremendous rescource!