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Basics of Clay Plaster as a Wall Covering
Clay plaster is the Swiss Army Knife of wall coverings; it can do just about everything, but it takes some practice before you understand how to really make it work. Sort of a hybrid between paint and plaster walls — the kind you find in pre-WWII construction in this country — clay plaster is a healthy, versatile, beautiful option for your walls, offering a pretty unique finished product, if you've got some time and extra creative energy to burn.
Pros of Clay Plaster
It offers a unique opportunity to add both color and texture to your walls, and it works on any wall — it can go on any substrate, from adobe to brick to paint to wallpaper (though some require some different installation techniques). Plus, you can use clay plaster create almost any look you like, from walls with subtle texture to pronounced dimension — you can even stencil with it. Because it's made with materials many folks can find in their backyard (or at least near it), you can make it yourself. It's also very durable as a wallcovering, often lasting as long as the structure when properly installed.
Cons of Clay Plaster
Clay plaster is probably the most difficult wallcovering to install — it requires much more practice than paint or wallpaper — and usually requires three coats to finish up. Because installation is best left to a professional, it's often more expensive than painting; if you persevere and learn to do it yourself, it's pretty difficult work — you have to mix bags (it usually comes in 50 pound bags) of dry plaster, which is sort of akin to mixing cement by hand; making your own is possible, but requires a few things you may not be able to find at the local hardware store. Because it's so durable, and is more difficult to install, you'd do well to be sure that's what you want your walls to look like for a long time — it isn't as easy to completely change the look of your walls as it is with paint or wallpaper. And, while there are lots of colors available, there aren't as many options as most paint manufacturers can offer.
How Green is Clay Plaster?
Clay plaster is pretty darn green. Roughly akin to using rammed earth for construction or flooring, it's essentially a combination of clays dug from the ground, post-industrial aggregates — from quarries, often — and pigments, giving it very low embodied energy. Because the materials are pretty exclusively derived from the ground, clay plasters have zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs), so they don't off-gas; the finished product is porous, effectively helping your walls "breathe" and not accumulate moisture and mold. Clay plaster is also very durable; once installed, it often lasts the life of the structure, and can be retouched or "refreshed" more easily than repainting or re-wallpapering.
Where Do I Get It?
You can make it yourself, if you have ready access to sand, clay, wheat paste and a little cow manure. If not, a company called American Clay Plaster makes a nice variety of products that offer lots of options for different colors, textures, and applications (and it'll earn you some LEED points, if you're keeping score). They currently have retailers in 47 states (including Hawaii), plus three Canadian provinces and a handful of countries around the world.
Where Do I Use It?
Clay plaster is a good option for just about any wall, and it isn't just for finished wallcoverings — it can also be used to finish drywall seams, too.
What Does It Cost?
Cost really varies, depending on how you choose to do it. If you buy premixed clay and have it professionally installed, it'll be more expensive than if you mix your own and install it yourself. American Clay currently sells 5 pounds of their product for $25, as well as 5 pounds of their base coat — a primer, essentially, that some substrates require — for $10. Generally, you can cover three or four square feet per pound of correctly mixed clay plaster.
Can I Install it Myself?
You can install clay plaster wallcoverings yourself, but it's best to get some practice or consult with somebody that really knows what they're doing first. It's not as easy as rolling on paint or wallpaper adhesive — think of it as trying to paint with a shovel, which is what you'll end up doing at some point. American Clay offers hands-on workshops to teach the art of application, and practice will make perfect. If you don't have extra time and energy to learn how to properly install it, it's probably best left to a professional.
More on Clay Plaster
American Clay: Eco-Friendly Wall Plasters
How to Plaster Walls: Natural Clay Plaster Finishes
An Easier Way to Plaster: Plaster Your Walls with American Clay Finishes
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