Choose the finish before work starts, with the final paint and room lighting in mind.
A short guide to Levels 0–5
This planning summary is checked against the complete GA-214-2026 reference. Confirm the edition specified for your project, the intended decoration and the actual product system. Manufacturer recommendations prevail where they differ; this short guide does not replace the project specification or application instructions.
Source: Gypsum Association
| Level | What the distinction means |
|---|---|
| 0 | No joint finishing. The final decorative treatment may not yet be selected. |
| 1 | Tape embedded at joints and interior angles; generally concealed areas. |
| 2 | Embedded tape is wiped to leave a thin compound film; fasteners and accessories receive one covering coat. A finish designation alone does not establish a board's suitability for a wet area. |
| 3 | Additional joint treatment for specified medium/heavy texture or suitable commercial wallcovering. Unsuitable for smooth paint and light or non-continuous textures. |
| 4 | Further joint and fastener treatment, with flat joints and inside angles treated differently. Conditional flat-paint or light-texture use; non-flat paint and dark/deep colours point to the Level 5 discussion. |
| 5 | Level 4 treatment plus a skim coat across the entire surface, for demanding decoration and lighting. It reduces surface contrast and joint photographing but does not eliminate them. |
Source: Gypsum Association
The Level 4 / Level 5 decision
Variations between board paper and treated joints can become more apparent under reflective paint or light travelling across a wall. A whole-surface skim coat helps provide a more uniform surface, but properly completed work can still show minor variation in critical light. Address windows, wall-washing fixtures, paint sheen and dark colours during design, before choosing the finish.
Source: Gypsum Association; CertainTeed
- Show the contractor where large windows and wall-washing lights will be.
- Share the planned paint colour and sheen, even if they are provisional.
- Identify long, uninterrupted walls and ceilings that matter visually.
- Ask which surfaces the proposed finish covers, rather than applying a vague upgrade to the whole project.
Use a sample to agree the appearance
For specified Levels 3–5, agree a jobsite mock-up that includes the intended final decoration. Review it under natural and artificial light representative of the occupied room. Record the surface it represents, the coating and who accepts the appearance before the wider work proceeds.
Source: Gypsum Association
A finish designation alone does not settle every appearance question. Put the decorating scope, sample acceptance and responsibility for environmental conditions in the contract. The final paint, temperature and humidity controls need an agreed owner; they cannot be inferred from the finish number.
Source: Gypsum Association
Finishing and painting are separate scope decisions
| Ask about | What to write down |
|---|---|
| Joint finishing | The agreed level and exactly which surfaces it applies to. |
| Whole-surface work | Whether a skim coat is included and the boundaries of that work. |
| Primer & paint | The responsible trade, compatible products and handover condition. Primer does not replace a Level 5 skim coat. |
| Review & touch-ups | When decorated surfaces are reviewed, the agreed lighting, and how later damage, repairs and repainting are handled. |
A later touch-up can remain visible because the texture, coating absorption or light differs; it does not automatically establish a defect in the original finishing. Agree how the repair and any wider repainting will be assessed. Decorative finish selection also does not establish compliance with the specified fire, smoke or sound assembly or replace required construction inspections.
Source: Gypsum Association
Define the appearance of reinstated surfaces
Burnaby provides separate alteration and restoration guidance. In a restoration brief, first identify the agreed reinstatement boundary; then specify how repaired surfaces should meet the retained room. A finish-level discussion should resolve that visible transition rather than silently changing the approved restoration scope or promising that old and new coatings will look identical.
Source: City of Burnaby
- Mark retained texture, corners and other natural stopping points.
- Agree whether an appearance sample covers the repaired area or the whole adjoining wall.
- Keep primer, repainting and later touch-ups as named items in the estimate.
A few practical questions.
Does every room need Level 5?
No. The decorative finish, light, surface and project requirements guide that choice. Discuss the room as it will actually be used and decorated; a higher number should answer a specific appearance requirement.
Is Level 5 the same as a perfectly flat wall?
No. A finishing designation describes treatment of the surface. It is not a promise that the underlying framing or completed surface is mathematically flat. Discuss the expected appearance and any underlying irregularities separately.
Sources & editorial context
- GA-214-2026 · Levels of Finish for Gypsum Panel Products (complete reference)Gypsum Association · Checked October 24, 2026
- Details Matter: Specifying the Right Finish for the Right WallsCertainTeed · Checked October 24, 2026
- Home Improvement Permits · alterations and restorationsCity of Burnaby · Checked October 24, 2026
Technical references support the points linked above. The checklists and planning questions are editorial guidance, not a specification or an account of a contractor’s completed work.