Get matched with top drywall pros in Ogilvie, MN

The age of your home can clue you in to whether you have plaster or drywall ceilings. Homes built after the ‘70s are more likely to have drywall ceilings and walls, while older homes have plaster. You can also do the pushpin test: A pushpin will go into drywall, whereas it’s much harder to push one into a plaster wall. If you’re still unsure, ask a drywall professional to let you know which type of ceilings and walls you have.

It’s not a good idea to plaster over broken plaster (unless by broken you’re referring to cracked, in which case that’s perfectly fine). However, broken plaster can be a sign of a larger underlying issue like foundation damage or severe damage to the lath holding up the plaster, so it’s worth investigating before you simply plaster on top of the damage.

The two most common drywall thicknesses for ceilings are 1/2-inch and 5/8-inch. For most standard residential applications, 1/2-inch drywall is sufficient and widely used. It provides adequate support and is lighter and easier to handle during installation compared to thicker sheets. However, 5/8-inch drywall is often used for specific cases where additional benefits are needed. It is heavier but provides superior sound dampening and fire resistance. You should consider using 5/8-inch drywall for ceilings in commercial buildings, between a garage and a living space, or above a finished basement to meet building codes or for enhanced soundproofing.

It is possible to apply plaster on the interior or exterior of your home, but we don’t recommend it. Plaster is easy to apply in theory, but in reality, it can be a challenging material to work with, and it’s difficult to get the finished product to look clean, even, and smooth. Many DIYers end up calling in a professional afterward to touch up the area or even redo it entirely because of mistakes they made in the process. Hiring a plaster pro will cost more, but it’s usually the best option to achieve high-quality results.