Plaster: DIY or Outsource?

[Noah Barba]

Hey guys, the market that I'm focusing on (metro Detroit, MI), is full of houses that have either fully plaster walls or walls that have a plaster veneer on them. I plan on doing a lot of the cosmetic renovations myself (drywall, cabinets, flooring, etc) as I've been in the trades for a couple of years now. My question is very broad, so it's really a very open ended space for comment on: is plaster a good idea for something I should tackle, or should I outsource it?

I'm pretty detail-oriented and feel like I could do a good job at plastering patches or even skim coating a wall. I've been loading up on videos on youtube and have been learning a fair amount. But alas, I am a newbie, and there are many questions I have like

• - does type of plaster play a big role? (do I have to learn all the different categories?)
• - how similar is plaster to using drywall compound?
• - can you sand or can you only wet trowel
• - could I use drywall compound to patch a plaster wall?

Whatever you guys have to offer me I would love to hear! I want to be able to do this area of renovation myself but know that you can't do everything. Thanks for taking the time to respond if you choose too!

[Colleen F.]

For the difference in sheen you really just need to sand and prime for smaller areas and you shouldn't have a problem. It is when you have a larger patch that you might consider to have plaster on top.  It really is a different look for some plasters.  

Frankly many flippers will tell you when you have a really bad plaster surface to drywall over with 1/4 inch. Keep in mind that in some cases you will be redoing electric and possibly adding insulation so significantly opening up the walls.