Before the 1950s, pressed gypsum (also known as drywall) was rarely used outside of the construction industry. If your house was constructed before 1950 and wasn't extensively renovated, you probably still have lath and plaster walls. Lath, which consists of thin, closely spaced strips of wood, was fastened to the studs, and then plaster was applied in several, thin layers and smoothed over the lath and studs to create finished walls. Lath and plaster were the go-to materials for finishing walls and ceilings until the early 20th century. Why, therefore, was horsehair the best option among all these other kinds of hair and plant fibres when it came to making plaster? For what purposes does horsehair plaster serve, and what is it? Why?Īnimal hair is more sturdy and robust because of the presence of proteins. In place of animal hair, you can use plant fibres like hemp, straw, reed, and jute. Architects have used both goat hair and plant debris as reinforcements in plaster. Both the ox and the donkey were useful in the project. One manner in which this distinction is made clear is by the extra time and attention needed for the lime-based plaster to dry and remain in good condition after installation.Īlternative hair from different animals was sometimes used. Simply put, a chemical reaction causes modern gypsum to harden. When compared to modern Gypsum plaster, lime plaster cures rather than settles thanks to its ability to absorb carbon and carbonates from the air. Horse hairs are an excellent reinforcement material for use with plaster due to their length and strength. Horsehair was actually made out of a mixture of mane and tail hair. In general, horsehair plaster is made from sand, plaster, lime, and horsehair, though there are several variants.Įxactly what you said: horsehair. Before applying it on the lath, plaster is prepared by combining lime, aggregate, water, and animal hair. Making and using horsehair plaster is a straightforward process. Horsehair plaster entails what, exactly? What does the horsehair refer to in the context of the product's name? Horsehair plaster can be baffling to those who aren't familiar with it. Horsehair plaster, on the other hand, is still extensively used and may be seen in many ancient homes.

The use of such techniques has all but disappeared in recent years.ĭry wall started to become widely used as an alternative in the 1950s. Lath and plaster, often known as horsehair plaster, is a type of building material often used in ancient or historical structures. Until the turn of the century and the postwar era, lath and plaster was the most common way of applying plaster to walls and ceilings in homes and businesses.Īlthough horsehair plaster is no longer often used, many people still keep some on hand for nostalgic purposes.

Animal hair plaster