How to Apply Veneer Plaster to Drywall

Drywall, consisting of flat sheets of gypsum, is the modern alternative to old-fashioned plaster for covering interior walls. Drywall is much easier to work with than plaster and results in smoother walls -- sometimes too smooth. If you have a drywall wall and you miss the natural, classic look of a plaster surface, or if the drywall seams are wavy and uneven, a thin layer of plaster over the surface can give it a new look. This veneer of plaster is applied by a method called skim-coating.

Tarps
Stepladder
10-inch-wide drywall knife
Standard plaster
Drywall sander

Instructions

- 1
  Take the furniture out of the room and lay tarps over the whole floor.
- 2
  Remove all loose paint or other material from the wall by scraping it with your 10-inch drywall knife. If there are cracks in the wall, fill them with plaster and spread it smooth with your knife.
- 3
  Spread plaster in a thin coat (about 1/8-inch thick) over one upper corner of the wall with the drywall knife, covering as much area as you can comfortably from one position.
- 4
  Scrape the plaster flatly over the surface with the front edge of the knife, holding it at a steep angle to get a paper-thin layer of it over the surface. The plaster should fill any dips or depressions on the drywall while being almost transparent over the flat parts.
- 5
  Let the plaster dry for four to six hours.
- 6
  Apply a second layer of plaster if necessary to get to the natural look you want. Let the second coat dry for four to six hours.
- 7
  Gently sand the wall with your drywall sander, getting it smooth and flat. The wall is now ready for repainting.

How to Check a Concrete Wall for Dampness

How to Frame Walls With Rafters on Top

Walls