What Is Insulating Plaster?

Description

• Like the traditional sand variety, insulating plaster is made from Portland cement. However, it is reinforced with natural fibers or perlite. This enables it to reduce the amount of heat lost through the ceiling, floors and walls, and wherever else the plaster is applied. As with traditional plasters, it can be tinted to add built-in color or used to repair broken surfaces. It is most effective when used as the primary treatment for all surfaces in a room, providing energy savings through all surfaces. It can be applied on top of existing surfaces such as walls made out of traditional plaster or brick.

Advantages

• Because insulating plaster is less dense, it weighs up to 60 percent less than traditional sand plaster. It can provide up to four times more resistance to heat loss, which lowers both furnace and air-conditioning costs. It is naturally non-combustible and non-toxic, and can provide several hours of fire protection depending on its thickness and content. It is impervious to rot and decay, and can tolerate freeze –thaw cycles. It also reduces noise transmitted between partitions. It comes in 3 or 4-cubic-feet bags and is applied like traditional plasters, so it can be used instantly by experienced plasterers.

Limitations

• The normal limitations of traditional plaster versus drywall apply to insulating plaster. For example, plaster is generally is more expensive than drywall, increasing costs by as much as a quarter. It can also form cracks that do not appear with drywall. As for the disadvantages of the insulating plaster itself, although insulating plaster can go over almost any surface, it is not recommended for panels or floors with radiant heating. The plaster’s insulating properties prevent heat from entering the room.

Aerogels

• Empa Building Technologies Laboratory developed the latest addition to building plaster technology: an insulating plaster made of aerogels, which are 90 to 98 percent air. It boasts insulating values that are two to three times better than conventional plaster. It is also “simultaneously water repellant and permeable to water vapor.” The surface is both breathable and yet does not get wet. Otherwise, the material looks and behaves like traditional plasters, making it useful even for older structures with vintage plasters. The technology is expected to go through field trials in 2012 and should be commercially available by 2013.