Key points
- Plaster holds water longer than drywall and dries more slowly.
- Sound plaster can often be dried and kept; loose or sagging plaster cannot.
- Older homes may contain lead paint or asbestos — testing comes before demolition.
- Wood lath behind the plaster needs to dry too.
Dry or replace?
- Keep: plaster that is still firmly attached and drying on schedule
- Remove: plaster that is soft, bulging, delaminated or contaminated by sewage
Safety first
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, and older plaster and texture can contain asbestos — see asbestos and lead in older Utah homes. Vault is an EPA RRP certified firm (#NAT-F187294-1) for work that disturbs lead paint.
Drying
Plaster walls take longer to dry, so daily moisture readings matter more — see structural drying. Vault documents the damage, records daily moisture readings, scopes in Xactimate, and bills State Farm, USAA, Allstate, Farmers, and Bear River Mutual directly.
Wet plaster walls?
Call (385) 250-2825 — answered live 24/7 by the Vault crew.
Water damage services · Drywall: repair or replace · Hidden water damage