One of the more possibly distinctive characteristics as an option for a new Offaly home is the presence of beautiful decorative elements on its walls and ceiling such as decorative coving as an addition to an already perfectly plastered finish. Plaster is a preferred material of traditional homeowners because it easily complements various historical home styles aside from its proven durability.It is also an excellent support for any type of paint finish. In an attempt to save on installation cost and time, however, drywall has become a popular alternative for constructing interior walls and ceilings.
Despite the fact that drywall construction is more economical, many homeowners are still deeply amazed at the beauty and reliability of plastered walls. Wall plastering brings out the exquisiteness of interior spaces and the elegance of your outdoor home appearance. Read on to find out useful information about using plaster vs drywall.
Advantages of Plaster
There are many remarkable benefits you can reap from choosing wall plastering over drywall. Plastered is more effective for insulating walls and making your room soundproof to external noises. Plastered wall is also an excellent partition wall as it effectively decreases formation of molds or mildews and fire hazard.
Since the application of wall plastering is mostly hand-made, you can expect high quality workmanship from plaster experts, though you’re expected to pay higher. If you already have an existing plastered wall, all you need to do is to retain the base material and rectify any apparent holes and cracks. You don’t need to bring down the entire wall only to replace it.
Plasterwork is suitable for people who value the historical aspect and ornamental detailing of interior spaces. Compared to drywall, plastered wall can provide a unique atmosphere to interior spaces that you won’t find in other modern-day building materials. Even real estate experts consider plasterwork as a valuable consideration in increasing the resale value of your property.
How to care for Plaster
You don’t need to be an expert to take care of your existing plastered wall. If you have natural DIY skills, you can paint your existing plastered walls to cover old paint and minor defects. You can also hire a professional painter to take care of the painting job and to repair nail holes and cracks. Removing old paint and grime requires only a wire brush or any sanding material.
However, it is advisable to have your plastered wall repaired by plaster specialists if wall defects like removal of the crown molding or cracked baseboard are already extensive. It’s also advisable not to replace any existing wall with drywall because your spaces will appear too cramped. Drywall shouldn’t cover your old plastered wall because the appearance of your interior spaces will look inconsistent, particularly the adjacent details on the window casing, door frame and crown moldings.
If you’re not going to change the interior design theme, it’s best not to do gut renovation, a process in which you tear down the entire plastered wall from the crown molding down to the stud. Gut renovation also involves the removal of plaster, lathe, plasterboard and other finishes. If you do this, you’ll lose the balance and cohesion of your interior details especially if you replace your existing walls with drywall installation.
Furthermore, you don’t need complete plastered wall removal if you’re going to do electrical or plumbing upgrades. Your contractor may need to cut through the walls for the installation of utility lines and cover them with plaster or drywall material. Only consider gut renovation if your house is experiencing the following:
· Extensive water damage
· Cracked crown molding and ceiling
· Compromised structural integrity
· Tile replacement in kitchen and bathroom
· Relocation of existing walls
· Height increase of floor levels
· Complete change in architectural theme or interior design
How to Skim Coat Plaster
Skim coating is used to set the plaster on the wall, allowing your walls to have a smooth finish. The price of plastering work differs considerably, but you can compare its starting price to a regular painting job. The applied skim coating will leave a fine and level finish on your wall which will make it easy for the paint and wallpaper materials to adhere more effectively.
To repair holes and minor cracks, plaster specialists apply drywall before covering it with skim coated plaster. Drywall shouldn’t be seen on the exposed side because you can notice the difference between the two wall finishes. If the cracks are somewhat deep, the plaster specialist can use an underlying substrate such as lathe before applying the scratch coat then followed by several layers of thin skim coats of plaster.
A plaster specialist will begin the skim coating process by applying a bonding material and will follow it with fiberglass mesh to prevent the plaster from cracking. Once the base surface is set, your plasterer will apply three or four thin layers of skim coats.
Sagging plaster is also a common problem in old Offaly homes. This occurs when a large section of plaster separates from the underlying lathe, which can cause an accident or collapse if not proactively handled. The plaster specialist employs a pinning technique in which the removed plaster is attached to the ceiling joist using pins. Once attached, your plasterer will cover it again with several layers of thin skim coats.
Experiencing damage plaster details at the crown moldings, cornices and baseboards is absolutely inevitable. But a plaster specialist can restore its original appearance using freehand techniques and molding profiles. This plastering job is more expensive because it requires advanced skills to reproduce the exact molding details.
When to Hire a Plaster Expert?
If you need skim coating and repairs to the decorative elements of your plastered wall, you shouldn’t hesitate to call professional help. Reliable experts in plaster installation and repair in Offaly is rare to find because the majority of contractors are more focused on providing drywall installation services. Consider getting plastering services if your walls already have many defects or if there are sections of plaster that are almost separated from the substrate material.
Paddy Kelly Plastering is able to produce high quality plastered surfaces that are ready to accept colorful paints and wallpapers. Their professionals may ensure quality workmanship and timely project delivery using thick rosin paper and modular scaffolding. For further inquiries, you may contact 087-166-7959 or visit the website to get a free quote.
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