Why does plaster become harder with age

Builders nailed thin, closely spaced strips of wood lath to wall studs and then smoothed multiple coatings of plaster over the lath to form flat wall surfaces. When drywall panels came on the scene in the s, they soon replaced lath and plaster as a quicker, easier install option. Lath and plaster construction is definitely an old school technique, but when compared to drywall , it has a few surprising benefits.

Drywall vs. Powered lime, sand, and fibers often horsehair were the traditional ingredients used in the creation of lath and plaster walls. A typical lath and plaster wall required a minimum of three coats of plaster, resulting in a dense, rock-hard coating nearly one inch thick.

When combined with the lath framework beneath, the lath and plaster together were about one and one-quarter inch thick. This offered some distinct benefits:. Asked 10 years ago. Active 10 years ago. Viewed 3k times. Am I dealing with plaster If it is plaster is there a good way to mount these curtains in the plaster.

Improve this question. Aarthi 1, 7 7 gold badges 19 19 silver badges 29 29 bronze badges. ChrisF Probably identified your material.

Plasterboard is usually thin, hard and goes up in sheets akin to drywall. Drywall tends to go more powdery as it deteriorates gypsum sandwiched between paper When was your house built? That's usually the easiest way to figure out what your walls are likely made out of. Add a comment.

Active Oldest Votes. If it's concrete you'll need to use regular rawlplugs in the holes. Improve this answer. Another external disruptor to pool chemistry is surrounding landscaping. Debris and other organic matter from trees, grass, leaves, plants, bark, and flower pollen can throw water balance out of whack.

Organic matter can also generate stains. Certain flowers, berries, and tree leaves that blow into the pool and sink to the bottom are frequently to blame for a variety of stains—some which form within a few hours. Some foliage is particularly notorious for staining, like leaves with high tannin levels, such as some nut trees and oak trees. Acorns are another enemy to plaster that creates nasty stains.

Among the most frequent perpetrator of plaster stains: fertilizer that blows into the pool. Many forms of this common household product contain iron , a mineral that can generate dime-size rusty brown spots along the interior. Other stray objects that fall into the pool, like garden tools, or may be at fault, as can objects that get left behind like coins or hairpins. Note for older pools : A non -foreign object can be the villain.

Rust stains sometimes develop from accessories that contain metal, such as handrails or ladders. Typically, staining is limited to the small area where the metal section touches the plaster.

When it comes to hairline or eggshell cracks—thin lines primarily close to the plaster surface—the cause may be shifting soil. Keep in mind, for the most part, these cracks are usually only a cosmetic problem, vs. They do create another problem though; these tiny crevices can serve as an ideal home for algae to take hold. Once it settles in, algae can be difficult to remove using pool chemicals alone. If they remain unchecked, the damage is often harder to tackle.

Before attempting any repairs yourself, consult a professional pool company that specializes in pool remodeling. You can take clear photos of the plaster problem and send them to the contractor.