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

2 Comments

mary_martin229h ago

Used to think people were crazy for keeping old plaster. Thought it was just outdated stuff that cracks and crumbles. But after helping my aunt sell her 1954 house with original plaster, I totally changed my mind. That stuff was solid as a rock. No nail pops ever. No corner cracks. The contractors who did the inspection even commented on how much better it holds up than modern drywall. Meanwhile my 1998 house has a new crack every time the wind blows. You are right that we traded durability for speed and cost.

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davis.adam7h ago

@mary_martin22 same thing happened with my grandma's 1950 house. Rock solid still.