Plaster vs Drywall: Differences Between the Wall Materials

Plaster vs Drywall: Differences Between the Wall Materials
7 min read

There are a lot of people who know exactly what kind of countertops they want and which light fixtures they like best. But most people have trouble picking out the material they want for the walls inside their homes. It's easy to forget about the walls inside a house, but they are just as important, if not more so, than the granite tables and marble floors. Walls inside a home are essential because they separate rooms and give you privacy. On top of that, walls keep heat in and noises out. Reliable Plaster Installation Services in Duxbury MA can enhance your home's aesthetics and functionality. The many DIY drywall movies on YouTube show that drywall has quickly become popular. Some people might say that plaster is better, though. Some homes made before World War II have plaster walls, which is a good choice. Newer houses, on the other hand, tend to have drywall walls.

WHAT DOES PLASTER DO? 

Mix cement, sand, water, and rocks to make a mix. It's put on walls to protect them or make them look nicer. You can then cover the thin metal strips with this paste in layers and left to dry after each application. 

Ultimately, gypsum and water became famous all over Europe, and this plaster was standard in the Middle Ages. However, by the 1940s, drywall had become more common, and plaster slowly lost its market share. Plaster Installation services in Plymouth can bring the classic beauty of plaster to your modern home. 

In the past, thin strips of wood nailed to the framing screws crosswise. Further, their use was to cover them and apply plaster. Wood lath is the name for these thin strips of wood. The first coat of plaster fills in the spaces between the wood strips. Two or three more coats of plaster are added to make the finish smooth. 

Metal wire has taken the place of wood lath in modern buildings. The steps, on the other hand, stay the same. Putting up plaster is similar to putting up cement on outside walls. 

So, what is plaster?

BENEFITS OF PLASTER

Soundproof: Plaster blocks out noise better than drywall because it is dense. A National Gypsum study found that a wall of almost 1 inch of lath and plaster has an STC rating of 52, while a wall of 1/2 inch drywall on 2x4 wood studs only has an STC rating of 34. STC is a way to rate how well a material blocks noise.

Energy-efficient: Plaster walls are more energy-efficient because they keep temperatures and insulate better because they are thicker.

Thick plaster is more sturdy than thin sheetrock because it lasts longer. Because of this, clay is an excellent choice for long-term building. Plaster has higher tensile strength than sheetrock and helps make buildings more stable. 

Finish that looks classy: Plaster can give you a finish that looks classy because it can be rough, shiny, or smooth. The roughness is typical of old houses, and drywall can't make it look the same.

Flexible: It works great in places that are hard to wallpaper, like on curved walls. Best Plaster Installation services in Duxbury MA excel in custom plasterwork for unique spaces.

Mold-resistant: Mold can't grow in plaster.

PROS AND CONS OF PLASTER

Plaster is more expensive to put down and keep up. Taking a lot of time: putting plaster on takes longer. The application process is complex because plaster needs extra work and skill. Also, plaster is more likely to crack than drywall after it settles because it is more fragile. Fixing things is hard because plaster is more complex to cut into, which makes it hard to restore or improve.

WHY IS DRYWALL USED?

Drywall is also known as gypsum board, sheetrock, wallboard, or cement board. Drywall comes in two types: panels and joint paste. Gypsum, which is calcium sulfate dihydrate, is what drywall walls are mostly made of.

In the middle of the 20th century, drywall panels became famous as an easier-to-get and cheaper option to plaster. They are still popular today. In cold places, they are common because the spaces behind the screens can hold insulation. However, Reliable Plaster Installation services in Duxbury MA offer durable and aesthetically pleasing alternatives. 

You can cut drywall pieces to any size to make room for switches, windows, and doors. Then, tape and drywall cement that is easy to work with are used to cover any uncovered parts. You can paint the drywall to make it look better after the wall cement dries.

Usually, the insulation is behind standard drywall walls in newer homes. Some types of drywall may add extra ingredients to make them work better and meet specific building rules. One example is the green board; it uses it to be more resistant to water and mold than gypsum drywall. Some choices don't let noise in.

So, what is drywall? 

WHY DRYWALL IS GOOD

It works great for keeping heat in. There is room between the plates for fiberglass insulation to hide it. Putting it up costs less than plaster. Putting up drywall takes less time.

It's easier to install drywall, which makes it a better choice for do-it-yourself jobs. Yet, for a timeless and refined finish, Plaster Installation services in Plymouth are unmatched in quality and craftsmanship. It's simple to fix holes in drywall or fix damage to walls. Plaster is more rigid to hang things on because it is harder to hang stuff on shelves and walls. 

There are different shapes and sizes to pick from. There are good things about drywall. Sometimes, it can be hard to move and store drywall because it is so fragile. The drywall needs to be kept somewhere dry.  Drywall panels are heavy, and you might need special tools to move and lift them. The frame doesn't get much or any support from the drywall.  Mold and fire can not get through it as well as plaster can. 

Interior walls are essential to any building, but people often forget about them. Plaster and drywall are the primary building materials used to cover walls. Each product has pros and cons the final choice comes down to how it looks and how much it costs. Best Plaster Installation services in Duxbury MA can guide you through these options for the best results. 

Conclusion

Drywall is less expensive and easy to install, but plaster looks and feels better. Because it is denser, plaster also gives you more support than sheetrock. On the other hand, drywall saves more energy and can be fixed inside the wall. Consider several things before choosing between drywall and plaster for your inner walls.

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