Plaster Hardware

The old houses we love and live in are almost all distinguished by the pervasive use of plasterwork. Real plaster has a look, feel, acoustic properties and often rich decorative detail that just can't be copied by its modern cost cutting substitute--paper-faced, gypsum-filled wallboard, or drywall. Houses move and breathe, however, much like humans, and over time can develop cracks in the walls and ceilings. In these areas, the layers of plaster are pulling away from the underlying strips of wood lath which support it. Plaster washers are about the size of a quarter and cost pennies. A drywall screw goes through the washer and is driven into the wood lath behind the plaster. The unique design of the plaster washers anchors the plaster firmly against the lath, stopping cracks and sagging.