Looking at Hairy Walls
Did you know that there may be hair in your walls? That’s right! Many people don’t realize that hair has commonly been used in plaster in order to assist with the binding process.
Why Hair?
Hair – particularly horse’s hair – has long been used in plastering for two main reasons: it’s easy to find and it works in much the same was as the strands you find in fibreglass resin. Remember, plaster has been around for quite some time now, so our ancestors needed to use whatever they could get their hands on in order to do the job right. Long ago, before everyone owned a car, everyone had a horse. Therefore, horse’s hair was quite easy to obtain.
Choosing Your Hair
Today, ox hair is actually used more often than horsehair. In fact, it can be purchased in three different quality levels. Regardless of the type of hair used, the purpose is to help control any small cracks that may develop in the plaster as it dries or when flexing is possible. Therefore, the hair needs to be strong and clean, which means it should be free from dirt and grease. It is also best for the hair to be long, which is one advantage that ox hair has over horsehair. Some craftsmen, however, prefer to use a mixture of horsehair and ox hair in their plastering projects. When taking plastering courses, you can learn more about hair and other materials that can be used as a binding agent for plaster.
So, the next time you clean your walls or hang a picture, think about what is inside the plaster and remember just how hairy your walls really are!