Plaster vs. drywall debate after my kitchen reno last week in Seattle

I spent about 8 days skim coating my old kitchen walls with plaster, and it looked smooth as glass when I was done. But my neighbor, who did his place with new drywall in 3 days, says I wasted time and effort. He argues modern drywall is more forgiving and cheaper, while I think plaster gives a better finish. Which side do you lean on for a reno like this, and has anyone else dealt with both?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliotr3922d ago

Oh man, I gotta push back a little on the "3 days" claim. Your neighbor might have hung the boards fast, but finishing drywall properly - taping, mudding, sanding, repeat - usually takes me closer to a week if I want it to look good without giant seams showing. Plaster definitely takes longer upfront, no argument there. But in my experience, that smooth, hard finish holds up way better in a kitchen where you're dealing with moisture and heat near the stove. Drywall mud can crack or bubble over time in those spots. So yeah, you probably put in more hours, but you might not be patching things up in a couple years either.

shanel1321d ago

Reminds me of the time my buddy tried painting over plaster that wasn't fully dry.