Drywall is inexpensive, and once finished properly and painted is impossible to tell from the original plaster. You'll never miss the 1/2-inch that the drywall thickness takes off the ceiling height.

Drywall tape and joint compound can bridge the worst of the cracks, and "plaster washers" - wide, thin washers with a screw hole in the middle - can secure loose sections of plaster back to the studs.

Drywall started to replace plaster in the post-WWII building boom. It wasn’t stronger, longer lasting, more soundproof or a better insulator. It was quicker — by a mile. But it needed f… ...

Plaster is still occasionally used for specific purposes, a creative texture, or to fill an area drywall can’t easily cover. Its versatility gives it the opportunity to create unique outcomes.

Then, with a teardrop-shaped scraper or a 5-in-1 painter's tool, dig out the cracked plaster all the way to the wooden lath. Widen the crack as much as possible.

Although plaster walls may cost about 30% more than drywall, they will push up the overall project cost by only a couple percent. This is a bargain for improved appearance and durability.

Plaster is still occasionally used for specific purposes, a creative texture, or to fill an area drywall can’t easily cover. Its versatility gives it the opportunity to create unique outcomes.