subject: Plaster Walls and Ceilings: From Antiquity to the Present in Baton Rouge, La [print this page] Plaster Walls and Ceilings: From Antiquity to the Present in Baton Rouge, La
Although many centuries have come and gone since the heyday of plaster when it adorned the walls and ceilings of castles, chateaus, cathedrals, monuments and even the more humbler dwellings of the proletariat; not only has plaster made an indelible imprint throughout the ages but it still has a noble and regal reputation that makes its presence felt even in a more highly sophisticated technological world that we now live in.
Today in more modern times plaster has been all but replaced by drywall (sheetrock) as the most favorable wall and ceiling covering/finish in the residential sector due in large part to its (drywall) affordability, usefulness, and the time it takes to install and finish it.
However, given the facts stated above one outstanding feature about plaster that drywall cannot match even remotely is the beauty and elegance of plaster walls, ceilings and ornamental trim. Plaster walls/ceilings and ornamental trim have a stateliness that no other wall/ceiling finish or decorative trim can come close to duplicating. That's why for centuries architects, builders, and interior designers didn't even bother to search seriously for any kind of potentially suitable alternative to replace plaster because it was so durable; so endearing; so charming; so beautiful, and it was capable of withstanding abuse...and I mean a lot of it too.
But one of the main features of plaster that was most desirable was the fact that it could be decorated in so many ways. Masterpieces have been done on plaster walls and ceilings in cathedrals (Michealangelo's Sistine Chapel painting) as well as palaces and in many homes of the rich and famous around the world throughout the millenniums.
In fact, plaster has a distinguish history that can be traced back by historians as well as archaeologist up to 9,000 thousand years ago and some of those plaster artifacts are still with us today! It's unbelievable that such a building finish can maintain its basic properties and still remain intact for so long. Througout the milleniums various civilizations have created world famous monuments that are still visible today using plaster.
In conclusion, even in today's modern world there are still many, many homeowners as well as commercial property owners who refuse not to use plaster as their interior wall and ceiling finish; to them plaster is in a class of its own without any close competition to mention. Many high end homes built here in the United States as well as throughout the world are adorned with beautiful and richly refined walls and ceilings that are the epitome of charm and elegance.
There is still a very special kind of people who will always appreciate plaster and its gracious and noble history as well as its timeless and unparalleled beauty. Installing and repairing plaster can be viewed as expensive and troublesome by different segments of the population, but for others it is viewed as a breathtaking finish that is too admirable and too rich in all its stateliness to be replaced with something as mundane and unassuming as "plain old drywall".
