Bob explains how the blue board is attached, shows how the cornerbead is attached, and talks about factory edge seams. Bob interviews Carlos Londono, a plastering contractor, who shows how to apply a veneer coat of plaster over blue board.

When choosing wallboard, remember the difference between drywall and blue board. Drywall panels are covered with paper that will take paint directly once they've been taped and the joints and fasteners have been covered with compound. Blue board's more absorbent paper layer is designed to bond with a veneer plaster coating before it is painted.

Bob meets up with Bill Reid of US Gypsum in the barn of the Medford project. Bill differentiates imperial board (blue board) which is skim coated from drywall (gypsum panels) where the joints are taped. In 2000 US Gypsum developed a new core technology that makes the boards stronger and lighter - for easier handling, cutting, and scoring. The screw spacing is 12 inches on center with the screws flush with the paper providing a good, solid adherence to the wall with the screws. The face paper is treated and absorbent to take the veneer plaster and create the bond. These new boards snap cleanly on the ends. The installer puts a back cut on the edge so that the back of the sheet doesn't hit before the front does. The blue board and skimcoat application is typically not a do-it-yourself project. Traditional plaster jobs were very cost prohibitive so, when veneer plasters came along, they became very popular as they give a much more monolithic look than gypsum panels while providing an abuse resistant finish. Upstairs in the studio the homeowner has specified blue board with veneer plaster and downstairs, where he wants the option to tack artwork to the wall, he has specified a traditional drywall and tape application.

Richard Roomey and the crew from Roomey Drywall are hanging blue board in the great room. An alternative to drywall, blue board has a paper facing that is specifically designed to receive a skim coat of plaster. Roomey's crew makes quick work of the job, and Bob learns the pro's techniques for hanging drywall in tricky corners, like the room's cathedral ceiling.

Bob joins Bob Fragakis, a plastering contractor. Bob, along with his helpers Joe and Larry, will be installing blue board and then applying a plaster skim coat over the blue board. Blue board is used as its paper makes a ready surface for plaster adhesion. Fragakis� helpers show how to install the twelve-foot sheets to the ceiling and walls. He then explains the tools and materials used to smooth the plaster, deal with joints and corners, and prevent future cracks.

Bob explains the construction and installation of cabinets and installation of blue board on a long, gradually curving wall. In addition, he shows the tape embedding coat of plaster.

Bob discusses the advatages of using blue board and plaster as compared to drywall and watches as the plaster is applied. Starting with the ceiling, the tape is covered first and then a thin coat is set over the blue board.

House two of the Elmwood project. Bob Ryley and Tim Grether of Owens Corning install insulation and vapor barrier in bathroom. Jim Larson from Georgia Pacific install a special backer board for tile in bath. Plastering onto blue board.

Bob interviews Brian Dauphinee who hangs blue board, installs corner bead, and applies the scratch coat of plaster.

Chris Borovka from US Gypsum joins Bob explain about patching with plaster. The first job entails patching over an existing door opening. They've put some Imperial Gypsum base up to the existing door frame and patched the existing hole with diamond veneer base coat. Next they put pressure sensitive fiber tape, P-Tape, over it and bonded the entire existing surface. The use USG Plaster Bonder Pink as a bonding agent - it rewettens and re-emulsifies - and put the base coat of plaster over that. Where the wall meets the ceiling, they apply pressure-sensitive tape to the existing surface and butt it in while applying the first coat of base coat. The first coat provides a nice even scratch coat. The second coat should be applied while the first coat is still fully wet and serves to take out some the bad dips and dives and the trowel marks from the first coat leaving a nice smooth finish. The next day you they'll put the finish coat over it. Where the insulators drilled holes into the original walls, the plasters put the Plaster Bonder Pink around the inside of the hole and fill it in with the base coat. They've meshed over the top of that for extra security and then bonded over the whole surface. On the blue board, it's a different type of installation. Shreve applies one-coat over the joints to reinforce them and fill in the undulation that's left from the two end tapes from the butt joints. That sets up for about an hour and then it's ready for finish coat.