Plaster Walls Are Not So Old Fashioned

Either renovating, building an addition, or constructing a new building or home, there has always been a debate when it comes to walls about which provides more benefits, plaster or drywall. Plaster is often referred to as “the old style,” while drywall is hailed as “the modern economical choice.”

Plaster Walls

An older method of constructing plaster walls involved a process called “lath and plaster,” using moist plaster to cover wooden strips and dry. This usually took about thirty days. More modern versions of this method now involve the addition of metal mesh, increasing design versatility. Plaster material is fire resistant, which makes it instrumental in reducing structural damage while emergency procedures are being executed.

Drywall is a more inexpensive and accessible way to complete interior walls and ceilings. It is also more modern than plaster. Drywall sheets are less expensive, easier to install, and take much less time. They are made from gypsum plaster surrounded by paper liner. While drywall sheets are less durable than plaster walls, they are easier to work with and repair, and are also fire resistant. Longevity is still playing out, since they have not been in use for as long as plaster.

Plaster has other universal uses that have not yet been challenged. Architectural design implements the use of plaster for detailing work to simulate patterns or natural surfaces, as with faux finishing or Venetian Plaster. Limestone or acrylic additives are used for more artistic renderings. Perhaps the most well known use for plaster is a support system for broken bones as a cast. However, a fiberglass variety is slowly taking over this function.