How Does Plaster Differ From Drywall?
Plaster
Over 4,000 years ago, ancient Egyptian builders were using plasterwork in the construction of their buildings. Their process was very similar to the lath and plaster work of modern times. Plaster is a building material that can be used to cover the surfaces of walls and ceilings. Plaster can be made from lime or from calcined gypsum, which is made into a powder by dry heat. It is mixed like mud and covered over strips of wood or in the Egyptian times, reeds. Plaster walls can help retard fire. During the thirteenth century in England, buildings were required to have plaster walls, as additional fire protection. Prior to World War II, most homes in the United States had plastered walls. Lath and plaster is no longer commonly used for the interior of buildings in the United States. Stucco, a form of plaster, is used to coat the exteriors of walls and buildings and is commonly used in the Southwest. Stucco is often spread over a wire mesh.
Drywall
Wallboard was invented in 1916. Wallboard is gypsum that is squeezed between two panels of paper. Instead of the traditional plaster walls, wallboard was nailed into place and the seams were covered with plaster. The idea didn't catch on until after World War II. Today it is also called drywall and it is a common building material, widely used for ceilings and walls. Drywall is also called gypsum board, plasterboard, Gibraltar board, rock lath or Sheetrock. Like the original wallboard, it is nailed into place, and then the seams are taped. Plaster is thinly coated over the wallboard, and textures can be added.
Lath and Plaster vs Drywall
After World War II drywall became more popular than lath and plaster for several reasons. Drywall went up faster, it required less plaster and it dried much quicker. Plaster ceilings also had a tendency to crack. Plaster's advantage over drywall was the ability to spread it over sculptured surfaces.
Related posts
The walls in a bathroom must resist moisture.The walls in a bathroom are constantly bombarded by heat and moisture. These produce prime conditions for the growth of mold and mildew. Choosing the r...
How Does Drywall Production Occur?What is Drywall?Drywall is a common material used for construction that consists of gypsum rock layered between two sheets of paper. The gypsum rock creates a stu...
Drywall mud and wall plaster are similar materials.The U.S. Gypsum Company introduced drywall in the early 1900s, but its use didn't become widespread until the postwar housing boom in the 1950s....
Drywall comes in large sheets of paper-covered gypsum.The majority of homes built in the past 50 years have interior walls made with drywall, a product that is relatively inexpensive and easy to i...
Contractors apply plaster to drywall to give it a distinct look. Different types of plaster are used to create different looks. The type of plaster you use on your drywall depends primarily on the...
