The Sunday Business Post

The use of plaster inside our houses is something that many people take for granted -- bare walls of brick, stone or concrete would be very cold or even damp in this climate without the insulating layer of plaster. The smooth painted texture of ceilings and walls created by plastering is expected in houses and is found in most architecture. The use of plaster in decoration is almost more obvious, as the material lends itself to be modelled and cast into an unlimited variety of forms and patterns. Plaster, like sand, lime and cement, is not an expensive material and at its simplest level is not difficult to use. The work, however, is arduous, messy and time consuming.