Types of plaster

Plaster is an important and versatile material for wall finishing. In addition to giving the walls strength and durability, it also produces a smooth surface for painting or applying wallpaper. However, it can be difficult to choose the best plaster for your project because there are so many varieties available.

Every variety of plaster has distinct qualities and is appropriate for particular uses. Knowing the differences between the various types of plaster will help you make an informed choice, whether you’re trying to improve the appearance of your interior walls or need a durable solution for exterior surfaces.

This article will examine the most popular varieties of plaster used in building and remodeling, emphasizing their salient characteristics and optimal applications.

What is plaster

Plaster is a material that is used to create a level surface for finish coatings, shield buildings from outside forces, and improve the sound and thermal insulation of walls.

One use for the plaster layer is as an ornamental final coat.

The accuracy with which the type, composition, and application technology are selected determines the dependability and longevity of the structures and finishing.

How to choose a plaster

The plaster options available in the construction market are primarily determined by the needs for ornamental decoration, the intended use, and the operational circumstances of the damaged property.

The owner’s financial situation and the design of the home or apartment are crucial factors.

It is important to consider whether wallpaper, paint, tile, or plaster itself will be used as a finish coating when finishing the alignment.

Gypsum and lime mixes can be used to make plaster for interior wall and ceiling decoration in heated rooms with typical operating conditions.

It is preferable to use cement, acrylic, or polymer compositions to finish wet or cold spaces.

Expensive and opulent Venetian plaster works well in large apartments and country homes’ halls and rooms.

Decorative plaster

Plasters with decorative qualities are used to decorate buildings both inside and outside. They apply a finishing coating that eliminates the need for additional finishing in addition to leveling the walls.

Colored

The purpose of colored decorative coatings is to adorn facades both inside and out. based on acrylic resins and enhanced with different dyes and quartz sand. provided as prefabricated solutions packaged in plastic. They are made as compositions that can be used to apply textured and smooth coatings.

Stone

A veneer that simulates stone. This finish is applied to building corners, columns, basements, and foundations. To allow for the formation of a pattern before the mixture solidifies, the solution needs to stay plastic for a specific amount of time.

Venetian

An exquisite and costly finish that looks and feels just like real marble. used to decorate rooms’ interiors in opulent Baroque, noble classical, or exquisite antique styles. The base of the mixture is acrylic resins, to which dyes, marble or granite flour, lime, and acrylic resins are added. Applying five to twelve layers of compositions in various shades is how it’s done. The application of multiple layers of either natural or synthetic wax is the last step in the Venetian process. This type of coating can be used to finish toilets, kitchens, and bathrooms because it doesn’t mind getting wet.

Sgraffito

A special kind of finishing that lets you embellish the surface with different ornaments and patterns in pronounced relief. The process of manufacturing technology entails applying multiple coating layers, each with a distinct color. To create patterns, four to six layers are typically applied. Following the final layer’s application, a structural pattern is cut out of the surface, and each component is cleaned to the desired hue.

Terrazite

Although they work well for interior repairs as well, terrazite coatings are primarily meant to finish a building’s exterior walls. Cement, lime, and a variety of fillers, such as chips and flour from marble or granite, quartz sand, and mica, are used to make the plaster mixture. After applying the solution in multiple layers and letting it dry, relief graters, toothed scrapers, wire brushes, bush hammers, or sandblasting machines are used to grind and scrape the material. Following processing, a distinctive shine and a rough, bumpy structure are produced. A surface resembling crushed stone or rock can be achieved by processing it with a chisel and scarpel.

Types depending on the base

Types of plaster currently in use:

1. Cement. Made of cement and sand. Used for internal and external work. A permissible layer of cement plaster without reinforcement is 20 millimeters. If it is necessary to apply a thicker layer, reinforcement with polymer or metal reinforcing meshes is necessary. Cement plaster surpasses other types of plaster in its technical properties. It is more durable and long-lasting. Suitable for use in damp and unheated rooms.
2. Gypsum. Used only in dry rooms with normal operating conditions. Gypsum plaster composition forms an even smooth surface and does not require additional puttying. The main features of gypsum plaster are its high technical characteristics: it is not subject to shrinkage and cracking and can be applied in layers of up to 50 millimeters, without reinforcement.
3. Silicone. Polymer plaster, designed for finishing interior walls and exterior facades. The plaster composition is made of silicone resins with various mineral fillers. This is a finishing finish that does not require additional coating. Its appearance depends on the filler material.
4. Acrylic. Made on the basis of synthetic resins in a wide range of colors, allowing you to implement any design solution for interior decoration and finishing of building facades. Creates a coating resistant to mechanical stress, ultraviolet radiation and moisture. Durable coating, the service life of which can be up to 25 years.

There are various varieties of plaster, each with a specific purpose, surface, and finish in mind. Depending on the requirements of your project, you can use either modern gypsum plaster for a smooth, fast-drying finish or traditional lime plaster for a breathable wall. Knowing the fundamentals of each type will help you choose the option that will look the best and last the longest.

Types of compositions by purpose

Plaster compositions are categorized by purpose as follows:

• leveling;
• finishing.

Cement, lime, or gypsum are the main ingredients in leveling plasters.

The primary components are chosen with the operational conditions of the facility in mind. Gypsum and lime-based solutions are the most flexible and produce the smoothest and highest-quality base when plastering interior walls in dry heated rooms.

Use of cement-based solutions is required for outdoor work and damp, cold rooms.

Benefits of compound leveling:

• vapor permeability allows the walls to breathe, creating a comfortable microclimate in the room;
• elimination of defects and unevenness of structures;
• using reinforcing meshes, it is possible to apply layers up to 50 millimeters thick;
• low cost of components of plaster solutions makes wall leveling affordable.

Different polymer or mineral decorative mixtures are used for finishing. They are typically made ready to use and consist of a paste that has been mixed with different decorative ingredients. You can realize any design idea for the creative wall design with the use of decorative compounds.

It is possible to imitate real stones, marble, granite, metal, and silk.

Wallpaper and wall painting are no longer the only options for decorative finishing; thanks to the environmental friendliness of the materials used to create solutions as well as the range of colors and textures available, they are now competitive.

Decorative finishing plaster benefits include:

• Strength, reliability and durability;
• ability to eliminate minor defects and irregularities;
• resistance to mechanical and atmospheric influences;
• can be used for interior and exterior finishing of structures made of brick, concrete, foam concrete.

Selecting the best plaster for your project depends on a number of factors, including durability, aesthetics, and environmental factors. From the moisture resistance of lime plaster to the smooth finish of gypsum plaster, each type has special advantages.

The type of plaster you choose can have a big impact on the durability and quality of your walls. You’ll make the best decision if you take into account elements like the surrounding area, the desired texture, and your budget.

Ultimately, the correct plaster not only makes your walls look better, but it also offers vital protection that keeps them looking good for years to come.

Video on the topic

Types of decorative plaster

How to choose decorative plaster? Review

5 trends in wall decoration. Decorative plaster. Professional advice.