Plaster has been used for a long time, yet smooth, continuous walls are still considered to have the most aesthetically pleasing appearance. We know that about 5,000 years ago, in order to create a connecting compound for the gigantic stones that were used in the construction of the pyramids, the Egyptians would first fire the gypsum, then crush it into a powder, and then combine the powder with water. Gypsum plaster was historically applied in the United States in three separate applications. The first layer was known as the “scratch coat,” and it was spread over wood lath or metal lath at a thickness of 1/4″ to 1/2″ in one pass. After application, the scratch coat was scraped with a scarfier or some form of rake to assist “key in” the subsequent coat. The following day, or within a few days, the second coat, also known as the “brown coat,” was put to the wall, and long straight edges, also known as “darbies,” were used to flatten the wall. This coat was completed with a nicer finish, but it was purposefully left a touch rough so that the final coat could adhere properly. This second pass was similarly done at a thickness that was comparable to the first coat that was applied. The third and final layer, known as the “finish coat,” was applied after the primer. This last layer of plaster was applied considerably more thinly than the previous ones, and it was often troweled to a smooth finish with a firm trowel. In most cases, the final coat was painted, but in the days when paint was commercially accessible, products were either integrally colored or allowed to retain the color of the raw materials they were made from. This appearance is what the majority of people mean when they refer to “Venetian plaster,” “fake plaster,” or “polished plaster.” The majority of people in today’s society will refer to any smooth finished wall that varies in color as “Venetian plaster.” Plaster Venetian is not so much a material as it is a style or method that involves applying many thin layers of plaster one on top of the other to give the impression of depth. The vast majority of plaster used today is put directly over prepared drywall, and it is done so in coatings that are far thinner. The amount of time spent preparing the drywall substrate will have an effect on the thickness of the plaster system. Very thin plaster systems will need the drywall to be finished to a level 4 or 5, or they will require a thicker plaster base coat to cover and smooth out the irregularities in the drywall. Both of these options will require the drywall to be completed to a level 4. Some thicker plaster systems may not need any tape of board joints or inside or outside corners, but they will still need some kind of preparation before the final coat is applied. There are many various types of plaster materials available to pick from today, including clay, gypsum, cement, lime, and acrylic. Acrylic plasters, which can be obtained at almost any big-box shop, online, or at a specialist supply company, have recently become the most popular kind of plaster. It is essential to determine which product is best suited for the specific purpose at hand. Acrylic plaster is simple to apply, can be repaired if damaged, lasts for a very long time, and is often less costly than other types of plaster when it is put. The fact that hand trowel plaster is integrally colored and that the color may be altered to provide depth in the wall or ceiling is the primary reason for its popularity; thus, the availability of color choices should be a top priority when selecting an interior plaster. When compared to clay plaster, gypsum plaster, lime plaster, or cement plaster, the cost to tint inside acrylic plaster to any color conceivable is often far lower. Other types of plaster include: lime plaster, cement plaster, and gypsum plaster. The reason for this is because the product is far less dense, and commonly accessible and affordable colorants are used in its production. It is a more cost-effective option for a plaster system to go with acrylic plaster due to the fact that the majority of acrylic plaster is produced in the United States and it has a better coverage than the majority of other plasters.