October 18, 2021

Plastering—One Coat or Two?

I take you to our Southie project where plastering is underway. And I’ll explain why and when we choose to use a single-coat plaster system or go with a two-coat application. Let’s dive right in.

WHEN A SINGLE-COAT JUST WON’T CUT IT

On this particular wall, we had originally planned to do a single-coat of plaster. However, the skylight above is going to allow a ton of sunlight to pour down onto this wall—and natural light is a revealer of any imperfections. This wall had some discrepancies we’ve had to work with and we proactively applied mesh tape over all the screw heads to reduce any chance of screws popping through the finish. As with every project we do, the goal is to achieve an ultra-flat wall with not a hint of waviness.

So, after evaluating the situation, it was determined that the best option would be to apply a second coat of gypsum plaster. This will be followed by a finish coat. And we haven’t forgotten about the ceilings—they’ll get this special treatment as well.

LOOKING UP AT THE CEILING

In another room, the ceiling is getting the two-coat application. Always start with the ceiling—anything that drops down won’t ruin a finished wall. Drips happen no matter how careful you are. The ceiling gets a base coat and is checked to make sure it is completely flat. The following day it will get a second coat.

And since we’re on the subject of plaster…

One question I get asked a lot (and I mean a lot) is why we opt to go with plaster over drywall. The answer is simple: It’s just what we do. We’ve always done it and will continue to do so. We love the end product. And for most walls, we will go with a one-coat approach. But, for feature walls or ceilings, we spend the extra time and money on a second coat to ensure we get the dead flat walls we want to see. It’s just another aspect of the intentional design and construction methods we use to deliver the highest-quality work for our clients.

It’s time to discover what NS Builders can intentionally craft for you! Contact us today to get started on your custom dream home. Together, we can make it happen.

—Nick Schiffer

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