Older homes are plastered with lime and gypsum compounds.
Plaster is often a gypsum or lime compound mixed with water to create a paste. Ceilings are plastered to create visual relief and texture to a room and a variety of products are used to create a smooth or textured look. Masking poor craftsmanship and working as a noise barrier are just a few of its benefits. Understand what plasters are available to choose the correct finish for your ceiling.
Acoustical Texture
Beginning in the 1950s and running through the late 1970s, many ceilings were sprayed with acoustical spray known as a popcorn finish. This finish is lightly textured with peaks and often referred to as a cottage cheese ceiling due to its similar appearance. The material was sprayed onto ceilings to hide imperfections in drywall and to reduce noise levels. These ceilings decreased in favor when asbestos was no longer allowed to be used in the home in 1977. However, today, asbestos is not found in the compound and the texture is still seen in many new construction buildings.
Lime and Gypsum
Before the common use of drywall and sheetrock in homes, plaster walls and ceilings were from lime and gypsum material. For additional grit, animal hair and hay were occasionally mixed into the plasters. The use of gypsum and lime plasters were popular until the 1950s. Found in most historic homes, plaster is extremely durable and fire resistant. Still, structural overload, improper curing and moisture may cause problems in historical plaster.
Knockdown and Relief Texture
Orange peel, Spanish knockdown and stucco are found in many homes. Created from joint compound, the plasters are often sprayed on with a hopper. Besides ceilings, these textures are also applied to walls. The relief of the texture is generally low and smooth without sharp peeks and bumps seen in popcorn texture. They can be painted a variety of colors and are often glazed with paint to look dated. Orange peel has the lowest texture relief, while others have a thicker texture.
Faux Finish
Different faux finish techniques use plasters for artistic design on ceilings. Venetian plaster, metallic plasters containing mica particles and other materials create unique finishes. Nearly all faux finished ceilings require many layers. Some plasters are applied in several layers with the end result being a completely smooth finish. Benefits of faux finishes include a completely unique finish custom created by an artist for your home. However, the cost of a faux finish is much greater than drywall texture.
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