Anytime you’re doing some remodeling or renovation on your home, you’re going to be faced with a lot of decisions, from flooring to paint color to fixtures and more. One choice that you may not think of immediately, but that is important to the look and feel of your space, is how you will finish your interior walls. It may seem like hanging sheetrock is your only option, but there are other possibilities you may want to consider:
- You may want to plaster your walls
- You can hang sheetrock and plaster over it
- You can hang sheetrock and give it the look of plaster
- You can do something else entirely, like hang shiplap or lacquer your walls
What is best for your space is a decision only you can make. Read on for some information that will help you decide!
Sheetrock vs Plaster
Sheetrock is the name of the most commonly used drywall in America. The terms “drywall” and “sheetrock” are often used interchangeably, the way we tend to call all tissues “Kleenex.” Drywall is made by pressing gypsum plaster between two thick sheets of paper and cutting it into panels. It’s also sometimes called gypsum board or wallboard.
Finishing your interior rooms with sheetrock is a fairly easy task and can be done as a DIY project. Panels are cut to size and then screwed into the wall studs. Holes for electrical outlets and light switches are easy to cut. After all the boards are hung, the seams are taped and mudded, and all the screws are mudded over to give a smooth finish. Then the drywall is primed and painted.
Plaster is a different way to finish interior walls. The plaster is a paste made of gypsum, sand, and water. Plastered walls are most commonly seen in older houses, but because of the many benefits they offer, they are still used today.
Plaster walls are installed by nailing thin horizontal strips of wood to the wall studs–or more commonly today, using a metal mesh. Then the plaster is applied to the wood or metal and allowed to dry. Generally, three coats are applied, and the result is a thick, strong wall. Plastered walls can be smooth or finished with a rough texture that is sophisticated and timeless.
Pros and Cons of Sheetrock and Plaster
There are benefits and drawbacks to finishing your walls with sheetrock or plaster. The right choice for your home depends on a variety of factors, including what you like better!
Sheetrock Pros
- Sheetrock is great in cold areas because you can add insulation in the space behind the panels.
- It’s cheaper than plaster.
- It is easier and faster to install sheetrock than to install plaster, and it requires less technical expertise.
- Texture can be added to the surface, or it can be left smooth.
- It’s easy to repair drywall or modify it after it’s been hung.
- Hanging shelves and picture frames is easy with sheetrock walls.
- There are several types of sheetrock available to fit a variety of needs, like moisture-resistant panels for bathrooms and basements.
Sheetrock Cons
- The panels need to be stored lying flat in a dry place before they are hung. This can take up a lot of room.
- The panels are heavy, so they can be difficult to install without help.
- Drywall doesn’t provide any structural support to the walls.
- They are less fire- and mold-resistant than plaster.
Plaster Pros
- Because plaster makes the walls very thick, it’s more soundproof and can provide better insulation than sheetrock.
- It’s very hard and durable, so it adds structural stability to the building.
- It can be finished to a smooth or rough surface.
- Because of how it is applied, plaster can be used for curved walls much more easily than sheetrock can.
- It’s very fire- and mold-resistant, especially when a metal mesh is used.
- It’s a timeless finish that will add value to your home.
Plaster Cons
- Plaster walls are harder to install, take longer, and require more skill than sheetrock walls.
- They are more expensive to install as well.
- The plaster is brittle, so it may crack as the house settles.
- It’s hard to modify or repair plaster because it’s hard to cut into it.
Plaster for Sheetrock
Is it possible to have the best of both worlds? Yes, it is! You can plaster over your sheetrock and add some of the benefits of plaster to the ease of sheetrock. After your sheetrock is hung, you will need to apply a plaster bonder to the surface. This will help the plaster adhere to the surface of the wall.
Let it cure completely, which may take a few days. Use a hawk and trowel to apply a base coat of plaster over the wall (it may take a little while to get used to the application process–start in a less visible area). Apply a finish coat after the base coat dries, and smooth it out or add texture with your trowel.
Another option for adding plaster over sheetrock is to use blueboard and veneer plaster. Blueboard is basically the same as sheetrock with one exception: the paper used on the surface is specially made to bond with veneer plaster. Using blueboard and veneer plaster means you get the same effect as plaster over drywall but with an easier application process.
If you plaster over sheetrock or use blueboard and veneer plaster, you get the benefits of thicker, mold- and fire-resistant walls that block sound. The surface accepts paint easily and you never have to worry about nail pops and tape seams showing through. You can add texture and get the old-world look of plaster for a fraction of the cost.
DIY Plaster-Like Walls
Of course, if you’re just going for the look of plaster on your sheetrock, there’s an easy DIY solution for you. You’ll need premixed drywall mud, a small trowel, and three hair combs: small, medium, and large.
- Apply drywall mud to a small area of the wall. It dries quickly, so it’s best to work in small sections. Put it on fairly thickly and don’t worry about making it perfectly smooth.
- Using the largest comb, rake through the drywall mud from top to bottom. Don’t make the lines perfectly straight.
- Switch to the medium-sized comb and do it again. Let the lines overlap and cross somewhat.
- Repeat with the smallest comb.
- Then use your trowel again and very lightly run it over the lines. You want some of the lines to show through and other parts to be flattened, to make a textured, plaster-like surface.
- Allow mud to completely dry, and then paint the wall. Use a satin finish paint for the best look.
Alternately, if you’re very good with a trowel or drywall knife, you can skip the combs and just apply the mud in a random way, making some parts thicker than others. Come at the wall from different directions to achieve a good texture. Use a thin coat as it’s easy to add more texture as you go.
Summary
There are good reasons to use sheetrock for your interior walls and good reasons to use plaster! Which type of wall finish is best for you depends on your taste and priorities. If you want the ease of sheetrock with the look of plaster, you can apply plaster over drywall to get the look you want, and there are a variety of methods to do this. In the end, with a little thought and some elbow grease, your interior walls can look great and fit into the overall design of your home, just as you want them to.
