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Hawk-n-Trowel - Hawk & Trowel - Index

10 ◆ www.Hawk-n-Trowel.com ◆ Spring 2008
◆ The Plaster Zone
Drywall, plaster or both?
By Robin Raymer, Th e Plaster Man
I’ve had some exciting things happen
in the 25 years I’ve been plastering.
But I believe getting in on the launch
of this magazine has to be up there near
the top.
Th ere are two things that I really
enjoy doing: sharing knowledge about
plastering and writing. And so this
column is a great opportunity to bring
both things together.
I also hope you’ll view it as a “twoway
street” — where your questions and
comments are always welcome. In this
trade, no one knows all the answers.
But if we combine our knowledge
and share it freely, a great deal can be
accomplished and everyone benefi ts.
Over the years, I’ve received many
letters and e-mails from contractors and
others who wanted information about
plastering. Once in a while, someone
will write and make a comment that
brings up an important issue. Th is
was the case recently with an e-mail
I received, and as soon as I read it I
thought that it would be a good way to
start this column. So here is the letter
and my comments on it. Let me know
what you think.
Plaster Man,
I am a drywall guy from Rhode
Island. I’ve been doing drywall and
plastering work for 20 years. My family
does plastering, taping and also hanging
the board. Most of the homes in this area
are plastered with a veneer-coat plastering
system. From what I understand, most
states do not use this method of covering
the entire ceiling and walls with plaster
— they use drywall fi nishing instead. Is
this correct?
I choose to do drywall fi nishing. I really
don’t like plaster, as I’ve seen too many bad
plaster jobs. I think drywall is a much better
way to fi nish ceilings and walls, but that’s
just my opinion. What is your opinion as to
the benefi ts of plastering? To me, it’s more
expensive, for both the labor and materials.
A lot of people I have talked to from other
parts of the country haven’t even heard of
plastering being done. I don’t mean any
disrespect to you as a plasterer, but I think
it’s a waste of time and materials, and I
only do it if the customer really wants it
done. Th anks!
Rick from Rhode Island
I thank Rick for writing, and I
think he said a mouthful! Each point he
brought up could be a column in itself,
so I’ll just comment briefl y for now on
a few of them. (Hopefully I will hear
from you on what you think about these
points too.) So here are my thoughts on
what he wrote:
The state of plaster
Yes, drywall fi nishing is the most
popular fi nishing system used today.
And yet there are many areas of the
country in which veneer-coat plastering
is still going strong. What’s more, from
what I’ve been hearing, the demand
to learn this type of plastering is
increasing. I am contacted on a regular
basis by painters, tapers and hangers
who are interested in adding these skills
to what they already do, and I believe
this need will continue to grow.