The old style was usually applied over lath, but that method is exceedingly rare these days. Modern plaster, on the other hand, is typically applied over a special type of wall board referred to as blue board. Cozy living room, with plaster walls from American Clay. Even when they are, the finish durability is still underwhelming when compared to cement-like plaster. A high-end level 5 drywall finish includes a final skim coat similar to a plaster job, but most drywall jobs aren’t done at that level. Drywall compound and tape are applied to the seams between boards, and the compound is also coated over the fasteners to cover up the heads. Drywall consists of gypsum sheets (sheetrock) screwed or nailed to the studs. It’s everywhere, and so is the dust from installing, sanding and finishing it. These days you have two general options when it comes to finishing walls: the first is standard drywall, which we’re all pretty familiar with. Before you dive into hanging drywall in a vintage or high-end home, consider the alternative of plaster.

Sure, drywall guys will tell you they can match any texture, but drywall is still very different from plaster. My “particularities” led me to choose plaster instead of drywall when we had to replace several walls in our 1930’s vintage home. I prefer to be described as “particular”, or “having high standards” – that just sounds less likely to get me locked up in a padded room. Some might describe me as obsessive or possibly deranged, but they’re just haters. Plaster vs Drywall, which is best? As many of you know by now, I’m a stickler for historic accuracy when it comes to remodeling.

Drywall vs plaster