What are the Benefits of Plastering?
what type of plaster to use on walls: Plastering has many benefits for ceilings and walls. To provide the necessary strength and support, both external and interior plastering are essential. Plaster is used to protect bricks and stones, and adds durability to walls and ceilings.
Plastering helps to level the walls and can also be used to add beauty and value to the wall. Plastered walls can also make your home less polluted because they attract and produce less dust.
There are many plastering materials, but the most common are cement (or gypsum). Analyzing the pros and cons of each material will help you decide which one is best for your home.
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Cement Plaster
Mixing cement, sand and water creates cement plaster. Usually, the cement-sand ratio is 1:4. The plaster thickness will vary depending on the surface that is being plastered. It could range from 12 to 20 milliliters. Plaster can also contain plasticizers to protect walls against parasites.
Pros:
Cement plaster can be used for both external and internal plastering.
Because it is water-resistant, cement plaster is the best choice for plastering exterior walls. It will also protect against environmental pollutants and climate changes.
Cement plaster is also durable, making it an ideal choice for interior plastering. Concrete cement strengthens walls, particularly hollow-concrete blocks.
Cement plaster is also ideal for electrical wiring and fittings. It will not crack and provides a solid base for drilling and holding it all together.
Cons:
After cement plastering, the surface can look rough and uneven. To achieve a smooth finish, you will need to apply POP. To give the plastered walls a smooth finish, it is common to apply POP.
Water curing is required for cement-plastered ceilings and walls. This takes about one week. The surface may crack quickly if it is not properly cured.
Surfaces can shrink over time, causing hairline cracks.
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Gypsum Plaster
It comes in ready-made plaster form and can be mixed with water. It is powdered in form and colour. For ceiling plastering, it can be as thick as 11 millimeters, while for walls, it is only about 8 millimeters. To make different plaster types, Gypsum plaster can also be heated at certain temperatures.
Pros:
- Gypsum plaster is not like cement plaster. It does not need to be punning or any other special process to smoothen the surface. It saves time and money.
- Gypsum plaster can be made in ready-to-use form. Cement plaster must be prepared by hand. It is therefore much simpler and more convenient to prepare it.
- Gypsum plaster doesn't shrink or expand with time.
- Gypsum plaster is made from gypsum rocks and then dried to get the powder form. Gypsum plaster is recyclable and can be reused multiple times.
You can begin your painting within 72 hours.
- Gypsum-plastered walls have a great thermal conductivity, which means that they can keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter.
Your walls and ceilings are protected for a long period by the high resistance to mould and fire.
Cons:
Gypsum plastering has one major drawback: it can only be used for interior plastering.
It is not water-resistant so it is not suitable for damp areas like bathrooms, basements or balconies.
When gypsum plaster is being applied, it is important to take care. Gypsum plaster is relatively soft and can easily break or crack when drilling into walls for wiring, wall hangings, and electricals.
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Which one is better?
Each has its pros and cons. However, cement plaster is the best exterior plastering option. Gypsum plaster is preferred for interior plastering because it is quicker to dry and easier to level.
Gypsum plaster has many other benefits. Gypsum plaster is more cost-effective than cement plaster because it doesn't require water curing. Water may not be readily available or be very costly depending on the location of construction.
Gypsum plaster also drys faster so you don't have to wait for it to dry before you can start painting or other work. Gypsum plaster walls are easy to smoothen and cost less than other wall finishes.
Additionally, developers often prefer gypsum as part of interior plastering because it is cheaper.
You must prepare cement plaster with the correct amount of sand, cement and water. If you have too much, it will make plaster texture impossible. You only need to mix gypsum plaster with enough water.
Gypsum plaster can also be recycled and reused, making it a green product.
Walls plastered with cement can sometimes crack or shrink after a few months. However, gypsum plaster is more resilient and lasts for longer periods. However, it doesn't make it stronger or more durable than cement.
If compared, gypsum plaster appears to be more favourable. cement plaster wins out in the long-term when it comes to durability.