Does plasterboard have to be plastered once installed?

[Post and beam]

One of our prospective plasterboard contractors said that it does not need plastering as the finish will be great as it is. Presumably after the edges have been feathered in. Hi said a light skim is all thats needed.

Another prospect today has said that a full plaster coat is required.

 

Anyone care to provide  real world info please?

[Marvin]

You can do either and I have done both but skimming with Thistle Multi Finish Plaster will give you a better end result in my opinion.

 

 

 

 

[Kelvin]

Plastering is less common in Scotland where Ames Taping (tape and fill the joins) is fairly standard on new builds. So you can do either. Plastering takes  skill to do well. We chose to plaster and the finish isn’t terrific. You can’t see it in most lights but is obvious when the low sun shines on one of walls in the hallway and guest bedroom. It was bad enough that I changed the lighting scheme in the house away from wall lights as it would have literally shone a light in the slightly poor finish. That said, I now pay attention to plastering in other folks houses and the finish isn’t great anywhere. We visited friends at Christmas who owned the house next door to our previous house built by the same builder. The finish of the plaster and paint was shocking. 

[ProDave]

Taping and filling also needs skill in the PB installers.  Taping is less forgiving of poor boarding, in particular you need sufficient screws into solid studs to ensure joints cannot move.

 

As above quite hard finding a decent plasterer in the Highlands and not many do it, but that is what we chose.