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Applying a Plaster Coated Ceiling

Bob meets Tavino, the plastering contractor who is working on the ceiling. He is using a traditional patching method join an area where two ceilings meet. He fills in the gap with a basecoat of plaster instead of using drywall. The mix he uses for patching is thick enough that it stays in place on the ceiling. After putting down the basecoat he changes to a twelve-inch blade for a final pass to smooth out the plaster. After letting it set for an hour or two he comes back to add the first of two finish coats. He uses a topping joint compound made of non-cracking vinyl. He lays it on thinly and smoothes it out with a large trowel. He explains that the stair-stepped ceiling was made by affixing two extra sheets of drywall to the ceiling. More information