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Plastering Basics : Plastering is the finishing work of mudding and taping after a drywall installation. A plastering contractor is known as a drywall finisher, a taper or a mudman. Getting a good float crew is vitally important if you want your walls to smooth and free of marks and ridges.

According to the Gypsum Association (GA), there are five Levels of Gypsum Board Finish. Level 4 is considered "Standard" household walls.

Plastering contractors first prefill all joints and screws. The second step is a tape coat. Tradesmen apply a paper tape to the joints, all inside corners and outside corner beads. Then another layer of joint compound is applied to all fastener heads and joints. The final coat is a finish coat, which is a thin layer of topping compound. The sanding is done after that and the walls are then ready to be primed.

Compounds for drywall joints come in pre-mixed and powdered varieties. The different textures available in powdered joint compounds are:

* Taping Compound is course and strong. It is used for the first coat - the tape coat.
* Topping Compound is fine and thin. It is used for the finish coats, for fill and for texturing.
* All Purpose Joint Compound has a texture and strength that is partway between the other two drywall compounds. These first three are drying type compounds.
* Setting Type Joint Compounds are chemically setting powder compounds. They are strong and are used for same day joint finishing. Not recommended for the do-it-yourselfer because it sets up quickly.