There have been very few things that Ryan has been adamant about when building this house – plaster was one of those things. While it’s common for new homes to go with drywall, we decided to install plaster board (also known as blue board) and finish the walls with plaster.
The biggest reason Ryan chose plaster is the durability of the finish. It’s a very strong finish on a wall.
So, instead of mudding/taping/sanding seams and corners (as with drywall finishing), Ryan began working on applying plaster with a trowel on the walls and ceilings. By doing this, he had to touch every inch of walls. But he also avoided multiple coats and sanding. (We chose a plaster called Uni-Kal, which is designed to be completed in one coat. There are a lot of options when it comes to plaster, but having a single coat product was important for us.)
The process is a lot like concrete – Ryan mixes the plaster and applies it to the wall in sections with a trowel. When it is applied, the consistency is like soft serve ice cream. It begins to harden to the consistency of cheese before drying rock hard. During the time between cheese and rock, he has to do the final working to smooth the walls with a felt brush and trowel.
It’s not a quick process. (But drywall isn’t fast either.) And don’t even get me started about the heights.
But little by little, the rooms started to take shape. Ryan has been working his arms off and his plaster work has gotten better and better. It’s a nice smooth finish.
The good news? He’s almost done with plaster. And it looks great!
My little dude has also got to try out plastering. He’s pretty proud of his skills.
And he’s a large fan of the scaffolding and painters tape.
So, progress continues.
Next up? Priming and painting all the walls and then moving on to flooring, trim and doors.
great to see you taking on something yourselves, even though it may be a little scary, such a great space too!
Whoa! And I thought I was ambitious! That takes some serious dedication!
Wow! So my only experience with plaster is on renovatoin shows on HGTv where of course they are always ripping out crumbling plaster in old houses. So it’s super durable of course, because it’s been in those house for decades. How does it hold up to nail holes and stuff like that? What about paint! Very interesting post!
color me impressed. i think henry could start his own business and really pull his weight around there.
So much progress! can’t wait to see the paint!
Wow–that looks like such a huge job! But almost time for paint–yay!!!
Lovely! Are you going to hang picture rails, I they look lovely and are so helpful when it comes to decorating!
That’s a great idea! Hadn’t thought of that, but it’s a great solution.
Oh goodness! And just like that you’re ready to paint! (It probably doesn’t feel like it has been a short process to you!) It looks great. Kudos to Ryan, and his assistant. ;0)