Plaster walls are thicker than standard drywall walls, meaning they can provide a home with better insulation and temperature control. This thickness can also allow homeowners to improve the soundproofing or fire-resistant finish of a house's interior wall construction.
When choosing a wall finish for your building, it's important to consider the pros and cons of each option. Plaster offers better quality, fireproofing and soundproofing, while drywall generally costs less and allows for better insulation.
Lath and plaster methods have mostly been replaced with modern drywall or plasterboard, which is faster and less expensive to install. Drywall possesses poor sound dampening qualities and can be easily damaged by moisture.
Advantages. Some considerations favor plaster veneer over mud-and-tape drywall. Moisture resistance: Once cured, plaster is an effective water barrier. By contrast, unprotected drywall and joint compound absorb water, causing sagging, bloating, or complete structural failure.
Plaster became popular because it is a durable, fire-resistant finish that muffles sound. Plaster is an important part of your house or building's historic character.
Without as much labor available to plaster walls, more and more builders had to use drywall because it required fewer man-hours to install. In addition to a lack of labor, money was also tight during this difficult time in American history. As a result, the cost savings of drywall became more and more attractive.
Unfortunately, there wasn't a regulated or realistic way to ensure that all older buildings using plaster walls were asbestos-free. Asbestos was commonly added to plaster until the late 1980s, as it was seen as an inexpensive way to add to the plaster's insulation and fire-retardant properties.
In the mid-20th century, drywall construction became prevalent in North America as a time- and labor-saving alternative to lath and plaster.
Plaster doesn't come with an expiration date. You might hear “15-20 years” thrown around as a lifespan, but that's a very broad estimate. In reality, how long your plaster lasts will depend on a number of factors: The original quality of the plastering job – A poorly done job won't last as long as expert work.
Increase the Home's Durability
One swing of a hammer that is just a little too hard, and the drywall can easily get a new hole. Plaster dries to a very hard finish that is difficult to damage. This makes the home more durable and reduces how much maintenance homeowners must do – which always increases the value.
Drywall is softer and thinner than plaster walls, and nails can be hammered into drywall without usually causing damage. Plaster is more brittle and can crack or chip, so you will always want to pre-drill a hole in the plaster before adding any hardware, such as a nail, screw, or anchor.
Generally, a plasterboard wall will hold a TV securely and safely, but this is only as long as you use the right mounting. You should consider using an anchor or mounting plate for best results.
Plaster is brittle and more likely than drywall to crack when a home settles. It's more difficult to cut into plaster walls when you need to make plumbing or electrical upgrades or repairs.
Even if you know how to use a stud finder and are doing it correctly, the devices may not be as effective for plaster walls. Because plaster walls are thicker, harder and more brittle than drywall, finding a stud can be a bigger challenge.
As mentioned earlier, avoid using nails on plaster wall because they will likely cause the drywall to crack. Instead, use a screw, because they won't break the plaster wall. Screws will also hold a lot better because they will fasten into the lath behind the drywall.
Lath and plaster was a skilled craft and a time-consuming technique and the advent of cheaper, mass produced, pre-manufactured plasterboard meant lath and plaster largely fell out of favour by the 1930s and 1940s. Plasterboard was simply faster and less expensive to install.
Modern plaster refers to contemporary plastering techniques and materials used to create smooth, durable, and visually appealing wall finishes. It includes various types of plasters, such as clay plaster, slaked lime plaster, Venetian plaster, and other eco-friendly alternatives.
For one thing, plaster is by nature a more durable finish than drywall, even high-level drywall finishes. In addition, plaster outperforms drywall in a number of key areas, including insulation, soundproofing, and fireproofing. One additional point in plaster's favor is that by nature, mold can't grow in plaster.
As time passes, plaster is continually curing harder and harder making it more fragile than drywall. In areas with high traffic, cracks are common in walls and especially ceilings, which can be shattered by age and gravity.
Asbestos-containing plaster was produced by United States, National Gypsum Gold Bond, Georgia-Pacific, and other manufacturing corporations primarily between 1920-1976. Asbestos can be found not only in drywall sheets but also it's joint compound.
Drywall installers tend to be predominantly realistic individuals, which means that they often enjoy working outdoors or applying themselves to a hands-on project. They also tend to be conventional, meaning that they are usually detail-oriented and organized, and like working in a structured environment.
Lack of Adaptability to Climate Changes
Brick is a very rigid material and therefore doesn't have very much flex or give to it. All climates experience changes in temperature, but some regions have much more intense swings in temperatures or seasonal changes.
Countries like Germany, Japan, and the United States are renowned for having some of the best builders in the world, thanks to their exceptional craftsmanship, innovative techniques, and strong emphasis on quality and safety.