Traditional three-coat plaster walls were engineered with a laminated system that gave them compressive strength closer to soft concrete than modern drywall. Plaster's dense mass reduces sound ...

The three-coat plaster system used in postwar homes was a multi-week process that produced walls nearly an inch thick — far denser than any standard drywall panel. Mid-century plastering was a ...

There are two kinds of cracks in old lath and plaster walls. Both can be repaired, but one is a much more serious problem. By Ronda Kaysen Q: Our Gramercy co-op was built in 1929. The thick plaster ...

Anyone have any experience with replacing old plaster walls with “blue board”? If so, can you please share feedback/comparisons(pros/cons etc.). Is it a DIY project? Where can I buy blue board? Thanks ...

Dear James: We are planning a substantial room addition to our dream home. We are not on a tight budget, and we want everything done right. Should we use plaster walls or standard drywall walls? — ...

Editor’s note: Welcome to the 62nd installment of Brownstone Boys Reno, a reader renovation diary about renovating a brownstone in Bed Stuy. See the first one here. They also blog at ...

Dear James: I have an old house with plaster walls and many cracks that need to be repaired. How can I fix these so they stay fixed and are invisible? — Julianne T. Dear Julianne: Many older houses ...

Dear James: I am planning a new room addition and have concerns about using drywall. I have heard some horror stories about having plaster walls, but will plaster really result in that much better ...