Facilities Check List
Practical, step-by-step guides for the busy FM
October 2000
Choosing the Right Finish For Gypsum Board
Gypsum wallboard is available in many types to meet a variety of building needs. Gypsum board products are made of noncombustible cores finished with paper to provide a surface for painting or for factory-laminated prefinished vinyl surfaces.
The finish of gypsum board walls and ceilings for final decoration depends on a number of factors. Two primary considerations are the location of the surface and the degree of decoration required. Warehouses, storage rooms, surfaces to receive tile, surfaces to receive vinyl wall covering, and surfaces to receive flat or gloss paint require different levels of gypsum board finish. Another important factor is the angle of natural and artificial light as it strikes the finished gypsum board
There are six levels of gypsum board finish:
- Level O: No taping or finishing is required. This level is used mostly in temporary construction.
- Level 1: All joints and interior angles have drywall tape embedded in one coat of joint compound. Level 1 is often used in plenums or attic areas where the wall or ceiling is concealed or in service corridors and other nonpublic areas. Some degree of sound and smoke control is obtained. Check local building codes for minimum finish requirements.
- Level 2: The treatment is the same as for Level 1, plus one coat of joint compound over the drywall joint tape and over the fastening screws or nails. Level 2 is generally used where water-resistant backing board is used as a substrate for ceramic tile.
- Level 3: The treatment is the same as for Levels 1 and 2, except that two coats of joint compound are used over joints, corners, and fasteners. The surface should be coated with a primer/sealer prior to application of final finish. Use where a heavy or medium spray texture or where heavy grade wall coverings are to be applied.
- Level 4: The treatment is the same as above, but three coats of joint compound are used over all corners, joints, and fastener heads. A primer/sealer is suggested. Level 4 is recommended where a light spray texture, vinyl wall coverings, or flat paints are to be used. Enamel or high-gloss paints or unbacked vinyl wall coverings are not recommended at this level.
- Level 5: In addition to the above, a thin skin coat of joint compound is applied to the entire surface. A primer/sealer must be used. This level is recommended where gloss, semi-gloss, or nontextured flat paints are used or where severe lighting conditions occur.
Note: Strong side lighting from windows or surface-mounted light fixtures may reveal even minor surface imperfections. Light striking the surface obliquely, at a very slight angle, greatly exaggerates surface irregularities. If such critical lighting cannot be avoided, the effects can be minimized by skim coating the gypsum board surfaces, decorating the surface with medium to heavy textures, or using draperies and blinds to soften shadows. In general, gloss, semi-gloss, and enamel finishes highlight surface defects; textures hide minor imperfections.
This installment of FM Check List is adapted from BOMI Institute’s Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Building Systems, Part I, course, (www.bomi-edu.org/19011.html), a required course in BOMI Institute’s Real Property Administration (RPA) and Facilities Management Administrator (FMA) programs.
