Is Plaster or Drywall Better for New Room?

The biggest advantage of plaster is its superior hardness and strength. Drywall walls nick much more easily than plaster walls do.

New plastering systems, such as plaster veneers, make plaster walls a little more affordable. Andrei_R/Shutterstock

Dear James: My parents’ older house had plaster walls, but most builders now use drywall. I’m making a room addition. Which interior wall material is best to use?—Melanie N.

Dear Melanie: From the standpoint of function and appearance, plaster is clearly the better interior wall surface material. Lucky for you, real plaster walls are making a strong, and even better looking, comeback in recent years.