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I am in the middle of a (DIY) brownstone renovation, and have some specific questions about making the sheetrock work with the walls we saved. To be honest about where I am coming from… as an artist, every time I get a new studio it involves hanging and taping sheetrock… so I am no stranger to the white board. But I have never had to make sheetrock look *good* before. I am going to hire a taper, and want to clearly communicate what I want.

Specific questions:

1. I am assuming that in order to get a nice creamy flatness on the sheetrock, you have to skimcoat the whole thing with thinned joint compound. The first couple of guys I’ve talked to have told me that this is a waste of money, that I just want taping done. Who is right?

2. Some of my original plaster walls have a very nasty stucco all over them. Is the best way to get rid of this a new skimcoat of plaster?

3. I have heard that some people double up drywall to get more of that thick lath-and-plaster feel. Is this true?

4. Any other tips for maximizing sheetrock for the value-oriented but certainly not chintzy remodeler?