ABSTRACT
Introduction The art of plastering is centuries old, although modern materials and techniques bear little resemblance to those used in, say, medieval times. Plaster, or daub, as it was known, was used both internally (right-hand picture) and externally (middle picture) to weatherproof and fireproof crude reed or straw structures and the infill panels of early timber frame buildings. It was made from a variety of materials including mud, lime, straw and animal dung.
However, the majority of buildings during the last two or three hundred years are constructed from masonry and the purpose of applying plaster to the inside face is to cover the irregularities in brick or stone walls and to provide a suitable surface for decoration. Modern plasters can also be used to improve the thermal insulation of a building, to improve fire resistance and to mitigate the effects of condensation. In some cases, specific types of plaster can also be used to help prevent damp penetration.
