In the 1950s, most houses in America didn’t have walls made of drywall. The walls of the old houses were usually constructed from a different product known as plaster. Plaster walls are more durable and more durable than their drywall counterpart wall, drywall. Although they’ve been fading into history, there are many older homes still proudly displaying their walls made of plaster. Here’s a brief overview of plaster walls and the best ways to take care of them.
History
Plaster has been used for hundreds of years old and has hardly changed throughout the decades. In the early days of colonial times, plaster was utilized as an exterior wall covering. It was typically combined with other materials, such as horse hair, for additional durability. The mix varied locally based on what was available in specific materials, but the plaster was poured in the form of three coats, which created extraordinarily sturdy and long-lasting walls. The plaster was mixed with sand to create a rougher texture, and the plasterer might employ brushes or other methods to make a unique wall. Typically, the plaster was made up of lime or Gypsum and aggregate (sand) as well as water.
The Process
The initial step to plaster walls is the installation of a horizontal wooden lath. The lath is very thin (1/4″ thickness), and a 1″ wide piece of wood is attached to framing studs before being layered across the whole wall. When the ceiling and walls were coated with lath, the plasterer applied the base or “scratch” layer of plaster approximately three-quarters” thick. The coating could be scored using either a comb or brush to give it a rough texture, allowing the next coat to stick well. Second coat three-quarters” thick and was called”the “brown” coat. The brown coat wasn’t scored since it was rough enough to provide a final one-quarter” finish coat which was layered on top of an excellent base. The job was done by a skilled craftsman and was a mix of art and science. The plaster took 28 days for it to fully cure before it was able to be painted or changed to any extent.
The Change
In the era of massive growth in housing that followed WWII and the subsequent housing boom, plaster went out of fashion because it was expensive and a slow process. The most luxurious homes used plaster for a few years; however, drywall gradually took over, and it became something like art that was lost. In the 1950s, there was the combination of drywall and plaster, referred to as “gyp-rock.” It was a method that saw the new drywall be installed, and the final coat of plaster was put over it. The process was used to hide the cheaper alternative of drywall and create a house that looked more elegant than it actually was.
There is still a need for plaster in the homes of today. It is true that it is a superior material over wallboard. It may cost more, and the time to put up a wall could be longer; however, the plaster will not be removed as long as there are people who desire the appearance and feel of a hand-crafted wall to decorate their homes.