The History Of Plastering

Gypsumtools The Drylining Superstore Presents The History of Plastering. When you take a look at the history of plastering, you might be surprised to find that this useful method has been around for centuries. We're not talking only as far back as the the Greek and Romans either. Even pre historic man was using a primitive form of plaster to protect his home from the elements all the way back towards a time when the human race began. Prehistoric Man has been creating plasterwork and using it in building construction for centuries, with the earliest plasters made from mud, which was plastered over a simple framework of reeds and sticks to make suitable dwellings. As time moved on, the earliest plasters as we know it, which were made for purpose, were actually lime based and used to cover walls and floors in the interior of homes. Egyptian More than 4,000 years ago, the Egyptian Pharaohs were order- GYPS ing lime and gypsum plaster to coat the walls of tombs, pyramids and palaces, which allowed the finished surface to be marvellously decorated in the magnificent hieroglyphics that are still visible in our modern age. Believe it or not, some of the plaster surfaces of the pyramids still exist today and remain as tough and durable as the time they were first created. Greek You might be surprised to learn that the word plaster actually originates from the ancient Greek language, meaning to daub on'. At least 500 years before the birth of Christ, the Ancient Greeks were using a plaster of fine white lime stucco to cover both the inside and outsides of temples, offering an excellent base for " the decorative paintings which adorned the walls. Roman The Romans introduced lime based plasters and renders to Britain. Throughout the Roman Empire they employed modelled stucco with mixtures of lime and sand and would build up layers with it before finer applications of gypsum, lime, sand and marble dust were made. This could then be finished to mar- vellous effect both internally and externally on many of the striking examples of Roman architecture, some of which are still evident today. Middle Ages The middle ages were a period of time in which plastering really took off, as not only was it recognised for its invaluable qualities in protection against fire, but plaster decoration was used even more widely throughout Europe. Gypsum plaster was also used both internally and externally mixed with hair as added reinforcement. In the 16th century the highly deco- rative scagliola was invented by stuccoists in Bavaria. 19th Century As time moved on, there became a re- newed interest in new and innovative ways to create external plasters. This was the era for the development of more effective artificial cements. While natu- ral cements were frequently used in stucco mixes during the 1820s, this soon changed with the huge popularity of Portland cement which improved the composition to make it more strong and durable. As a result stucco was no longer only a veneer, but it became more of an integral part of a building's structure. Today Plasterers used lime and sand all the way up to the 19th century, having no alternative but to wait around two weeks for it to set – after all, if gypsum plaster was available, it was ridiculously expen- sive. However, in this day and age, with the development of modern processing methods, this is no longer necessary. Plasterers are now able to finish'their jobs within hours rather than weeks because of the faster setting times. Gypsum plaster gradually replaced lime as the binding agent for sand. This isn't where the story ends though. Even in our modern age we are still consistently seeing new developments and solutions cropping up that serve to make a plasterer's job even more effective than it was before. As a result, it's always important to keep up to date with the latest innovations in plastering tools and equipment as time moves on. While the basics of plastering tools have remained essentially unchanged over the centu- ries, modifications and developments in those tools have been made to get the best possible use out of them there is. At Gypsumtools we scour the globe to find the very best in plastering tools and equipment, to offer them to our customers at the best possible prices. For further information, take a look through our extensive range of products online or give us a call for more information. Gypsumtools The Drylining Superstore