Plaster Walls Are Worth Saving

Lath and plaster walls grace many traditional homes. If your house predates 1940, it will probably have plaster walls, sometimes called ‘horsehair plaster’. Tail hair from horses was mixed with the plaster to give it strength. Thick, substantial, and great at soundproofing, plaster walls have a lot of lime so mold cannot grow in them. That’s all good news and makes plaster walls worth saving.

A repair of the horsehair and crumbled plaster should be done carefully to preserve the historical value of the home. When you are dealing with cracks, avoid using drywall mud or spackle paste, instead use a setting compound to give a more lasting restoration in your project. Fill the setting compound in the cracks. Use a pointed tool along the crack so that the compound is spread evenly and thoroughly to strengthen the spot.

Once plaster walls are properly patched and primed, they can easily take any color or finish. Satin and eggshell finishes are immensely popular, and lighter, neutral shades of cream and white are ideal if resale value is a concern.

There is one kind of paint you shouldn’t use: an all-in-one paint and primer. The label is misleading, as these paints do not actually have a primer in them. Instead, they are blended to create a thicker, more durable coat.

While durable paint is not a bad thing, these products won’t help with the two largest problems that primer solves on old plaster: making paint stick to the wall better and blocking decades of potential stains from bleeding through to the fresh paint.

If you have plaster walls that need some care call Cobb Brothers Company at 508-655-7910. We’ll provide you with a free estimate to repair and paint your walls to get them looking good as new.