Easy Installationįaswall walls can be finished directly with stucco or plaster on both sides. Used on the interior, plaster is more forgiving for a DIY application than stucco. There are some specific skills for a good installation. Plaster is also resistant to knocks and dents. DurabilityĪ properly mixed and applied plaster is stronger and more durable than drywall. Applying plaster on interior walls also doesn’t create any harmful dust. If pigments are used, they are often natural. Coloring plaster and stucco is usually done by adding pigments. Unlike most paints, plaster does not contain VOCs or other toxic materials. Whether the plaster is used on the interior or exterior, it has many advantages over modern drywall and other wall finishes. They both have great advantages in maintaining vapor permeability. Stucco and plaster can be applied to many types of block and natural wall materials, including Faswall, cement blocks, straw, adobe, mud, and more. The difference is it is formulated specifically to be used externally on homes and other structures. Limestrong also offers a list of plaster and stucco professionals and trains professionals and DIYers who want to invest in learning quality technique.Īs you might guess, natural lime stucco is the same as natural lime plaster. We recommend Limestrong artisan plaster for finish color coats, with their large selection of pigmented colors. NHL is an ideal base for stucco and plaster for breathable walls made out of Faswall. Secil is one of the top European cement brands, and offers great workability.

Shelterworks (Faswall’s parent company is bringing the top quality Natural Hydraulic Lime or NHL (Secil brand) to the United States from Portugal. Faswall can Source top quality Secil NHL for Natural Lime Plaster This makes it more accessible to homeowners. Another advantage of natural lime plaster is that plaster application is much more forgiving than stucco application. Lime provides the hardness of cement, but is easier to repair, is more carbon friendly, and is more vapor permeable. Natural lime plaster tends to be more workable than cement plasters, are relatively hard surfaces, and have advantages. It is also cooked in a kiln at higher temperatures than lime. Portland cement is made from limestone, as well, with clay and other mineral additives. Historically, the use of natural lime fell out of favor when portland cement became popular in the 1800s. Natural lime plaster is made from finely ground limestone, a sedimentary rock, that is fired in a kiln. The ingredients in both stucco and plaster are pretty much the same - lime, clay or cement, water, and sand (with many possible additives). Stucco is a rougher texture and plaster is a smoother texture. Generally speaking, most people refer to stucco as a coating for the outside of a building and plaster as a coating for interior walls, although plaster can be used either inside and out. Stucco vs Plaster, what’s the difference? This installation was done by Faswall’s best lime plaster installer and trainer, James Henderson of Henderson Clayworks. Plaster and stucco were used on both interior and exterior surfaces in this home in Kingston, Washington. The skill and labor required for good application is what often makes these finishes more expensive than other finishes. It goes on with care in two to three layers, and is labor intensive. If there is one disadvantage to stucco or plaster, it’s that doing it well can be difficult and is best done by skilled professionals (especially exterior stucco and interior finish coats). Both are fire-resistant and absorb sounds, leading to a more quiet home.

They easily take pigments, making them available in a range of colors. Breathable walls help protect your home’s air quality. Perhaps one of the best advantages of plaster and stucco is that they are the best at absorbing and releasing vapor and moisture. Adding lime to a modern mix can increase its workability. Traditional recipes and increasing numbers of modern systems use lime and /or clay instead of cement. The basic composition of both stucco and plaster is water, sand and binder (typically lime, clay and/or cement). The ingredients in these finishes are found in nature, and they have been used as a building finisher for thousands of years. But the advantages of a plaster and/or stucco for walls instead of paint go far beyond appearances. Many people love plasters and stucco as sustainable building finishes because they look nice. Beyond Beauty: Plaster and Stucco are Natural Winners for Sustainable Walls:

Stucco walls interior