Veneer plaster systems:

True veneer plaster system is applied on a gypsum plaster base, not on gypsum board.  Plaster base is available for fire-rated assemblies and also foil-faced (seldom used in our area).  Veneer plaster can also be applied over CBU (cement backer board) for added impact resistance.

Two basic types of veneer plaster are available; a one-coat and two-coat system applied at 1/16" to 3/32" per coat.

Veneer plaster systems consist of a 4- by 8-foot gypsum plastering base with a special, absorptive paper face covered with a thin troweled special purpose gypsum plaster.

In a 2-coat system, the top coat can be tinted and troweled hard, followed by a coat of wax in some cases.  This method is sometimes referred to as “Venetian Plaster” and the results can be surprising.  A very good example of this technique is found in the galleries at the Getty Center for the Arts.

The gypsum plaster base is erected in the same manner for both systems.  For residential and commercial buildings, either type of veneer plaster system produces a wall more crack resistant than conventional lath and plaster.

Remember that with very few exceptions such as gypsum soffit board and gypsum sheathing, all other gypsum-based products, including veneer plaster system, are intended for interior use and for “dry” areas only regardless of some manufacturers’ claim that their products can be used in areas such as shower stalls.

Similar systems, but based on conventional gypsum board with a colored skim coat (similar to a Level 5 Finish) are available.  Although visually similar, the resulting assembly is softer (true veneer plaster can achieve a compressive strength of 3,000 psi) than veneer plaster and less abrasion resistant.

For those not familiar with finishing levels on gypsum board, we will provide a description of these finishes in a future article.

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