We are restoring an old 1885 house and several of the rooms have had the plaster and lath removed. We would like these rooms to look again like they have plaster walls but do not want to put up lath and replaster. I have been told that if you mount drywall backwards (i.e. rough side out), tape, mud, sand the joints you can apply a thin coat of XXX and when it dries, it will look like plaster.

Well, I didn't catch what "XXX" was (could it have been drywall mud?), but has anyone here heard of using this method or a similar one to make drywall look like plaster? Thanks!

I would not recommend drywall joint compound to fill in for XXX. It may look like plaster but it is so soft you can scratch it with your finger nail. YYou could try regular plaster or 20 minute joint compound in a bag. This powered compound drys rock hard in 20 minutes, also make a 45.

What we've done in a hospital is use 5/8 green board and a finish coat of plaster.

On a side note Plaster is NOT sand-able and a professional needs to finish coat it. Not A DIY project.

I checked back with the individual and it regualar plaster he was talking about. Thanks.

Well, it's a year later and we're ready to do the walls. For testing I picked up a bag of ProForm 18 Lb. Bag Quick-Set Lite Setting Joint Compound - 45 Minute and tried a small batch on scrap drywall (about 1/8" deep). After drying for 2 days I can still scratch it good with my thumbnail. Am I using the wrong type/brand of powdered jount compound? Thanks!

Oops - posted comment above by mistake.

ballengerb1 - Well, it's a year later and we're ready to do the walls. For testing I picked up a bag of ProForm 18 Lb. Bag Quick-Set Lite Setting Joint Compound - 45 Minute and tried a small batch on scrap drywall (about 1/8" deep). After drying for 2 days I can still scratch it good with my thumbnail. Am I using the wrong type/brand of powdered jount compound? Thanks!

Green and white bag or blue and white? I'd shy away from anything that says light ot lite, you want it to be hard. Lite and light compound has fillers and air bubbles.

Blue and white bag and it says Quick Set Lite. Guess I need to look for a brand that does not include the words "Lite" and probably one that doesn't say "quick and easy sanding". Thanks!

ballengerb1 - Researching more and it looks like "Sheetrock Durabond 90 Setting Type Joint Compound". The product description at the maker USG says "provides a hard, plaster-like surface...".

My product of choice. I'd make sure you follow the mixing instructions to the letter, 1 1/2 hours later you should have a rock hard wall surface, allow plenty of time for troweling.

ballengerb1 - Thank you for your help!