I have a level 5 finish in one of my bathrooms. The walls were skim coated after wallpaper was removed because the wallpaper was applied to unfinished drywall and tore it up upon removal.
Sure thing. Occasionally someone will do that under special circumstances. But to have job specs for level 5 finish is almost always gonna be commercial work and metal studs. Like 999 times out of a thousand.
And a skim coat with a sanding party
is how a level 5 finish is achieved.
Back in 2007 I worked 4 months on a regional council building, painting. I ran an airless rug to spray ductwork and sprinkler pipes, and a lot if rolling, too.
At the end of our part, we had some accent walls that were sprayed with a delicate application called "Scuff Master" (why that name on delicate paint
)
Anyway, those accent walls were the only walls spec'd to level 5 finish.
I've seen other times that certain office or corridor walls are spec'd to level 5 when they are perpendicular to windows.