Which tool is typically used for the final finish of plaster?

• A. Finishing trowel
• B. Pointing trowel
• C. Wood float
• D. Joint knife

Answer: (A)

The finishing trowel is used for the final smooth finish on plaster. Its thin, flexible steel blade and rounded edge let you skim the surface with light pressure, feathering out trowel marks and burnishing the plaster to a uniform, flat appearance. This tool is designed for the last pass after the base coats have set, giving the surface its final sheen and evenness.

A wood float is typically used earlier to bring up and compact the mix and to level the surface, which can leave a coarser texture. A pointing trowel is narrow and meant for pointing masonry joints, not finishing plaster. A joint knife is for smoothing joints in drywall or plasterboard compound, not for finishing plaster on a wall.