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understanding plaster
Understanding Plaster
Understanding your homes wall coverings
is essential if you plan to be an active member of your
homes remodeling, repairs, and decoration. You will need
to know what your interior wall surface is made of in order
to make safe and effective decisions regarding paint, wall
treatments, and even when building an addition.
Plaster happens to be the most common form
of interior wall surface. Generally, plaster is a mixture
of lime or gypsum with sand and water. Once applied, it
hardens into a smooth solid and is used to cover walls and
ceilings. It is popular for its flexibility and knack for
lessening noise. Plaster is commonly used to finish interior
wall work, generally over brick, stone or frame construction.
Plasters durability can be compared with
concrete. Both are made from a mixture of dry compounds.
A chemical reaction occurs when water is added to this mixture.
The ingredients begin a crystallization process that eventually
causes the plaster to become solid. The result is a dense,
hard surface.
It is important to watch out for plastered
walls forming stress-cracks. Harmless cracks will return
with regularity no matter how often you repair them. Definitely
keep an eye open for loose or crumbly cracks, holes, and
bulges because these may mean you have a leak. If you have
a leak, fix it before doing any work on the walls. Plaster
repair can be a do-it-yourself project or handled by a professional
plasterer. Even older homes with more decorative plastering
can be repaired with the proper skills and tools.
In the past, plaster was applied to thin
wood strips called lath boards. Additional elements were
often added to the plaster to make it stronger. In more
recent times, veneer plaster systems have been introduced.
Veneer plaster systems are similar to drywall, such as being
applied over special gypsum core boards and stimulating
a similar appearance to plaster. However, is it typically
faster to install, more durable, and exceedingly stronger.
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