Plaster vs. Drywall: What Arlington Heights Homeowners Need to Know

A huge number of homes across Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, and Rolling Meadows were built in the 1950s-70s — and many of them still have their original plaster walls. If you've ever wondered why a repair "wasn't quite as simple" as expected, plaster is often the reason.

How Can You Tell Which One You Have?

A few quick checks:

• Knock on the wall. Drywall sounds hollow and somewhat papery. Plaster sounds dense and solid.
• Check the thickness. Look at an outlet or switch plate — plaster walls are often noticeably thicker (close to an inch) compared to standard 1/2" drywall.
• Look at the age. If your home was built before 1960, it's very likely plaster. Homes from the 70s onward are almost always drywall.

Why It Matters for Repairs

Plaster is a completely different material than drywall — traditionally a base coat over wood lath strips, with a smooth finish coat on top. A drywall patch kit or basic spackle won't bond properly or match the texture. Plaster repairs require different compound, different technique, and more patience to blend invisibly.

Why It Matters for Mounting Things

Plaster is harder than drywall, which sounds like a good thing — but it also means:

• Standard drywall anchors often don't grip well in plaster and can crack the surface around the hole.
• Drilling pilot holes is more important to avoid spiderweb cracking.
• Studs are still spaced the same way underneath, but locating them takes more care (see our stud-finding article).

This is exactly why a TV mount or floating shelf installation on plaster takes a bit longer and uses different hardware than the same job on drywall.

Renovating? A Few Things to Expect

If you're planning an accent wall, new trim, or any wall modification in a plaster-walled room:

• Cutting into plaster creates more dust and debris than drywall.
• Patching cut edges afterward takes a texture-matching step that drywall projects don't need.
• Plaster can be in surprisingly good condition for its age — it's actually a very durable material when it hasn't been damaged by water or settling.

The Bottom Line

Plaster isn't a problem — it just needs to be treated differently than drywall. Knowing which one you have before starting a project (or hiring someone) helps set the right expectations for time, technique, and cost.