Replies

1. 
   davidmeiland | Jan 30, 2006 08:24am | #1

   I used to have a plaster subm and figured veneer plaster over blueboard at about 50% more than level 4 drywall.

2. 
   BobKovacs | Jan 30, 2006 02:52pm | #2

   Hard to say whether the $18k is "right" or not, without an accurate takeoff of board to be finished.  But, as a rule of thumb, that 2800 SF house probably has somewhere around 9,000 and 12,000 SF of material to finish, so the plasterwork quote works out to around $1.50-$2.00/SF.  I'm no expert on the going rate for veneer plaster (it's not done here in NJ), but that sounds high based on what I do know about it.  If that price included furnishing and hanging the blueboard as well, I'd say go for it.

   You did mention that it's "not very common in your area", so that may be driving the price up as well.  Some info on where you're located would be helpful.

   On the other side of the coin, using those same SF approximations, the $7,500 for drywall sounds pretty light.

   Bob

   
   

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   Edited 1/30/2006 6:53 am ET by BobKovacs

3. 
   stinger | Jan 30, 2006 03:07pm | #3

   There are pockets of the country where a blueboard and plaster veneer job will cost the same as a gyprock and mud job.  I think Rhode Island is one.

   But in the rest of the USA, I think you will find that a 50 to 100 percent premium must be paid.

   I have been saying this for weeks now during a big complex trimout . . . I hate sheetrock and mud!

   I hate the mess, the dust, the big mountains at the butt joints, the flared out and flared in corners, yadda, yadda, yadda.  I keep thinking that none of this would be necessary, all this rock bashing, all this scribe fitting, if we had done a veneer plaster job.

   What I like best is that the crew comes in when the board's up, lays down a cover of resin paper over all the floors, puts on the stilts, mixes up some plaster, gets out the tape and hawks and trowels, and whips out the whole job in about three days, max.  When they go, the paper comes up, and they are out the door.  No muss, no fuss, and you are ready to roll.

1. 
   mediarich | Jan 31, 2006 06:43am | #4

   I'm in Northwest Indiana. It's a strong union area, but I haven't found too many plaster subs. I'll probably opt for the veneer regardless, but I'd hate to get stung by a much-higher-than-market price. I lived in a 19th century condominium that had been rehabbedin the 1980s - 1/2 original plaster, 1/2 (bad) drywall. I convinced myself that if I had the opportunity to build a new home, I'd go with plaster.I'd hate to say that "money is no object" - but...through this homebuilding process I'm beginning to wonder if ALL homes cost exactly the same regardless of level of quality: you can pay up front (for better quality) or pay over the life of the home in remdial maintenance.

1. 
   stinger | Jan 31, 2006 02:06pm | #5

   I built a house in NE Indiana, and considered veneer plaster.  Found a guy out of the St. Joe, MI area that was good.  Didn't use him, though.

   I remember getting some advice on who was who in the biz from the local rep for USG.  They know who is buying blueboard and plaster.