What Is Horsehair Plaster And What Is It Used For?

Horsehair plaster, also known as lath and plaster, is typically found in period homes but is not commonly used today. However, you can still find a lot of homes with horsehair plaster. But what is it, and why is it called that?

Period properties will always be incredibly popular in the UK, but when it comes to sensitively refurbish a home, you might want to recreate the same features with traditional materials, of which horsehair plaster is one. We have a closer look at what it is.

Generally, although there are some variations, horsehair plaster is a mixture of lime, sand, plaster, and horsehair. The horsehair that was used was from the mane and the tail of the horse. Horse hairs are long, strong, and when they’re mixed with plaster, they offer a lot of structural strength.

You may even find the hair from other animals that have been used such as ox, donkey, and even goat hairs, which some may have used plant fibres. However, horsehair was the builder’s choice, as it offered flexibility, and would conform to whatever shape was needed. For the less-than-perfect contours of the walls of period homes, this makes it ideal.

Good reasons to restore your horsehair plastered walls

While modern methods and materials may be more efficient, there are many advantages to horsehair plaster, particularly for period properties.

The appearance of horsehair walls is very difficult to be copied with modern materials, and the historical value of horsehair plaster walls means the value of these homes would undoubtedly increase.

The density of horsehair plaster walls also means they’re much more soundproof than plasterboard, and, additionally, the plaster is much more fire-resistant than plasterboard, making it a much safer choice.

Horsehair plaster walls are also much more insulated than plasterboard. This will keep both the heat and the cool inside your home better. In return, you might even save on your monthly electricity bills.

If you’re looking for horse hair plaster experts for your period home, talk to us today.