Drywall Versus Plaster in Your Home

There are a number of things that you should be examining when choosing what material you would like to do the walls of your home with.  Of course, there is panelling, which can range from cheap to very expensive, but it doesn't always suit many styles of homes and the durability can vary depending on the type of material used.  But, most houses have walls that have been done in either plaster or drywall, but what really is the difference?

Drywall

It is a lot easier to use than plaster, but it has its drawbacks as well. According to dallas drywall contractors, it is easier to paint or put wallpaper over.  Drywall is the cheaper of the two options and results in a blank canvas to decorate however you wish.

Plaster

Plaster is a material that is older and has traditionally been used as a covering material to brick or block walls.  It is used when someone wants more ornate decorations or texture on their walls.  Plaster takes a lot of skills to work with and is more difficult to deal with than drywall.  Plaster can be a tad on the expensive side, but the end results are beautiful.

What's the best material for your home?

You might be currently trying to decide which material you are going to use for your house.  Maybe you are trying to keep up with the times and update your home. Maybe you are trying to go for an older look.  Either way you should be well informed about what you are buying.

There are a lot of aspects that you need to think about when choosing the material for your wall.  Ease of cleaning, modernism, cost, durability, style and difficulty. Are you looking for a job you can complete yourself?  Are you looking to pay someone else to beautify your house for you? All of this can factor into what wall material you would like to choose.

Difficulty
Plaster is a difficult material to work with.  It must have a material called lath. This material is what the plaster sticks to in order to make the wall.  There are different kinds of lath you can use, but the different kinds will affect how well your wall is done.

When using plaster, you must remember that there is a lot that goes into the project.  You might require several coats of plaster. These coats must bear their own weight without cracking and be smooth enough to decorate.

Drywall isn’t easy to put up, but it is a lot less difficult to put in place than plaster.  Drywall is a board that you must cut to fit a certain area. Once it is cut to size you use a drill to drill in drywall screws.  The hardest part of drywalling is making sure that the drywall is placed on the wall studs and the seams are covered and smooth.

Style
Something else you have to look at when thinking about wall material is the style.  Most newer houses have drywall as their wall material. This is because it is nowhere near as difficult as plaster and does not take as long.  The only thing with drywall is that it is a flat surface that is undecorated and can look boring.

Plaster is old and if you want that authentic older look to you house then by all means, pick plaster.  It can be sculpted into different designs and made to look extravagant. Plaster can be placed on a wall to look less flat and more textured.

Durability
Drywall and plaster both have different durability levels.  If drywall is not being abused it can last for long periods of time.  There are a few things that will absolutely destroy drywall, like water and heavy objects hitting it hard, but typically it can last for several years.

Plaster has its number of issues.   Not being applied properly and moisture can cause plaster to deteriorate. Plaster can show cracks more easily when the walls or foundations of your house move slightly. However, major movements of the house's foundation will even cause cracks in drywalling.

Cost
The costs of drywall and plaster will depend on your region and the skills available. It also varies depending on the substrate material. Plaster costs increase with the number of coats required, with a very smooth finish plaster typically requiring two coats. Textured plaster is often more expensive to use. 

Modernism
When comparing drywall and plaster there is one last thing you should put into consideration, which is more modern?  Drywall is more modern, and way more common these days. Plaster is something that is found in older homes, normally built before 1965.

If someone is choosing to put plaster walls into their home, it is normally because their walls are already plastered and in need of being repaired.  Most houses, even though seemingly blank and unfeeling, use drywall as their wall materials. 

Cleaning
Plaster is sometimes textured and difficult to clean.  Drywall can be much easier to clean since it is flat. The ease of cleanliness also depends on what material you use over top of the plaster or drywall, but the texture definitely makes a difference.

Select the right material for your home

When it comes to making your choice there are a lot of things that you clearly need to think about beyond the look of your home.  There are a lot of questions that need to be answered. You should never just jump into choosing your wall material as you might regret it later.  Careful planning and serious decisions need to be made in order to determine what type of walls you should get. Ease of cleaning, modernism, cost, durability, style, and difficulty are all things that you should be thinking about anytime that you are making a choice to remodel your home in any way, shape or form.

Author Bio: Ashley Coblentz is a content creator and social media marketing specialist currently writing for Omegaindinc.com. She has been involved in social media management since 2007 and started learning about digital marketing/content creation shortly thereafter.

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