c/diy-and-home

Heard a neighbor say her 1950s house still has the original plaster walls and it got me thinking

I was at a block party last Saturday and this lady named Carol mentioned her house has all the original horsehair plaster from when it was built in 1952. She said it's still in great shape with barely any cracks. I've got drywall in my 1990s house and it feels like every nail pop or corner crack is a constant battle. Over the years I've patched the same ceiling corner three times and it still shows. Plaster just seems tougher somehow, like it can take a beating and hold up better. Makes me wonder if maybe we traded long term durability for cheaper and faster building methods. Has anyone here owned an old plaster house and a modern drywall one? Which one gave you less headaches over time?

2 comments

kelly_craig•1d ago

Cut my hand bad trying to open a stuck window last month

Was at my grandma's old house in St. Louis trying to get the kitchen window unstuck after years of paint sealing it shut. Used a putty knife wrong and slipped, needed 4 stitches at urgent care. Anyone got tips for breaking old painted windows loose without ending up in the ER?

c/diy-and-home

Heard a neighbor say her 1950s house still has the original plaster walls and it got me thinking

Cut my hand bad trying to open a stuck window last month

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