48 | Oregon Home Plaster lends itself to a range of applications beyond walls, including range hoods, staircases and furniture. The company also holds regular events to teach contractors, designers, and homeowners about plaster, but England is still at the frontlines with trowels, hawks, paddles and floats, and training dozens of people in how to create the surfaces that make people feel like they are being held in someone’s hands. “Plaster is in 90% of the builds we do,” England says. “People will call for plaster and discover the rest.” Plaster’s emergence in the Pacific Northwest has everything to do with aesthetics and function. Visually, it lends a subtle luminescence that makes homes feel more handmade — adding a sense of texture, depth and coziness. But it also has numerous benefits that extend beyond how it looks. First there is Oregon’s wet environment. When properly mixed, traditional lime plaster is breathable, allowing moisture to pass through walls and preventing mold and mildew growth. Plaster is also durable — it can last for decades, even centuries, without needing frequent repairs. Since it’s nontoxic (zero VOCs), plaster is an excellent choice for green builders and projects. Plaster is also highly compatible with older homes, where it melds well with older styles and absorbs and slowly releases heat, keeping homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. “Animals lay on it to cool off and they lay on it to get warm,” England says. “It really goes with everything.”
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