Plaster vs. Drywall: Differences Between the Wall Materials

Plaster is a building material that builders have used since ancient Egyptians to cover walls and ceilings. Ancient builders used clay plaster and lime plaster for protecting exterior walls of their monuments and temples. Later, workers used Portland cement plaster to cover the walls of late-nineteenth-century homes.

Modern plaster is available in two basic types of plaster: plasterboard and wet plaster. Wet plaster, also known as plaster of Paris, begins as a powder that contains clay, sand, cement, lime, or gypsum. You can add water to this plaster powder and mix it until you achieve a slurry or thick paste consistency that you can apply to walls with a trowel. You might confuse plaster with stucco since these materials contain the same ingredients; however, plaster results in a smooth surface when you daub it on walls to cover imperfections on a finish coat, whereas stucco is an ornamental plaster that creates a rustic aesthetic.

Drywall—also known as sheetrock, cement board, wall board, or gypsum board—is available in two forms: drywall panels or joint compound. Manufacturers produce drywall panels of gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) that feature sheets of paper coverings on both sides. This maintains the board’s form so installers can secure it to the wall with drywall screws or other fasteners.

New home construction projects typically use standard drywall panels to cover wall studs and fiberglass insulation. Some manufacturers produce different types of drywall with additives to improve functionality or meet specific building codes. For instance, greenboard is a more mold-resistant and water-resistant drywall option than gypsum plaster blueboard. The latter is constructed with layers of paper in different thicknesses to mimic the texture of plaster. You can even purchase soundproof drywall options for basements or offices.

Consider the differences between plaster and drywall before you select a construction material for your next DIY home improvement project.

1. 1. Drywall installation is cheaper than plaster installation. Although material costs are similar between drywall and plaster, drywall installation requires much less skill and time. After World War II, builders replaced plasterwork with drywall to meet higher housing demands and lower their labor costs. Workers can now cover an entire wall without the time-consuming, labor-intensive lath and plaster process that older home construction required.
2. 2. Plaster has better energy efficiency than drywall. Plaster walls are thicker than standard drywall walls, meaning they can provide a home with better insulation and temperature control. This thickness can also allow homeowners to improve the soundproofing or fire-resistant finish of a house’s interior wall construction.
3. 3. High-end plaster walls are harder and more durable than drywall. You can use a thumbtack to learn which material is covering the walls in an old house because a tack will penetrate drywall much easier than it will plaster. Since plaster has more tensile strength and a more durable finish, an architect or engineer may plan to use plaster to improve the stability and safety of a structure. You can also veneer plaster or skim additional coats of plaster to damaged walls before you repaint them.

Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the MasterClass Annual Membership and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Corey Damen Jenkins and Kelly Wearstler. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home.