Drawings: A set of architectural plans will help you and the service professional visualize the finished project, eliminate surprises and minimize or eliminate misunderstandings.

Types of finish: Plaster surfaces come in a variety of textures. Here are some common styles:

A smooth finish isn't quite as smooth as glass, but darn close. A smooth finish should be very flat.

The most common simple texture is created by spraying lots of small drops onto a smooth finish. This gives the surface a texture resembling mosquito bites. You can create a variation of this simple texture by taking a trowel and smearing the sprayed bumpy surface until it's almost flat again. This new surface will now resemble the rough feel of concrete. One of the most common and popular complex textures is the Spanish texture. This texture feels like a smooth surface that has fan shapes cut into it.

Corners: When building new walls, consider installing bullnose corners on plaster instead of typical angled corners. Rounded bullnose corners don't cost much more, but they give walls a special, thick, plaster-like look.

Edges: How to treat the edges of your doors and windows is a personal decision based upon your design and decorating notions. If you're remodeling an office or bedroom, you might want to use an applied wood casing to better contrast the wall and window areas instead of a more basic plaster wrap.

Studs: While metal studs make for stronger, straighter frames, wooden studs are still the most popular way to frame. Kiln dried studs have all the moisture removed before they are used so they stay straight. Untreated lumber may warp as it ages.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com