Imperial veneer finish is a high-strength veneer plaster that is intended to be applied in a single coat over Imperial gypsum base, as a high-strength finish over veneer, or over traditional high-strength sanded basecoats. It is designed to be applied by hand in thicknesses ranging from 1.5mm to 0.75mm. It creates a finished surface that is tough, 3,000 Psi compressive strength, and abrasion-resistant. Imperial® brand veneer basecoat may be applied to either Durock® brand cement board or Fiberock® brand abuse-resistant panels treated with USGTM plaster bonder as a finish in one-coat work, as a finish over Imperial® brand veneer basecoat in two-coat work, or as a finish over Diamond® brand veneer basecoat.

Finishes with a smooth trowel or a texture are advised. In a two-coat veneer system, Imperial veneer finish over Imperial or Diamond veneer basecoats should be chosen when extremely high surface hardness and abrasion resistance are sought. Smooth-coat finishing, however readily textured, is accomplished by making sure that the initial application is carried out with a minimum amount of lap marks and voids. This is because the hardness of this product makes it challenging to remove flaws and cat faces during final troweling. In order to achieve the highest level of surface hardness with traditional plaster assemblies, the finish can also be applied on job-sanded Structo-Base® brand gypsum plaster.