Joint compound over blue board

Hi,

I hoping to finish my walls in veneer plaster over blue board. And I need to hang the blue board shortly because I have cellulose insulation that is falling out. However, I fear that I may not be able to find a plasterer to my liking, as the three that gave me estimates so far have been a waste of time. (The estimates have ranged from $2600 to $7100 and I am aiming for around $1500. That's more than what a friend of mine in Boston paid for a very similar project. I'm in Philly.)

So my question is this: If I don't find a plasterer can I finish the walls as if it were regular drywall?

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

 

Welcome to the forums Sam!

As far as I know you can finish blue board the same as drywall. I've never priced any blue board but would assume it costs more than regular drywall, so to me it would make more sense to use regular drywall if you are certain you won't be able to hire a plaster guy. I don't know if plaster can be applied over joint compound at a later date.

Labor prices can vary greatly in different regions. Your friend may live in an area where there are numerous plasterers and stiff competition which often drives prices down. Generall you don't want to hire the cheapest contractor - usually his work won't be near as good as the higher priced contractors.