You have just begun your search or have been looking for a while to find your next starter or dream place to call home.  There is so much to consider when purchasing: location, school district, prices, budgets, analyzing the costs of your mortgage, interest rates, taxes, what repairs and upgrades need to be considered, and so much more.  It can become overwhelming when making the most expensive purchase of your life.

I have found that some buyers do not know much about how a home is constructed, or what materials are used, comparing the quality of older homes vs.  newly constructed ones.  I happen to live in a home with all plaster walls that was built in 1949 making it 75 years old.  Some might jump to the conclusion that it’s way past its time and would not consider purchasing such a home, while others would think the opposite to be true and would thoroughly enjoy an older abode.

There are obvious differences, pros, and cons when comparing older homes to newly constructed homes. The first thing most will notice when they walk into a new home is the open space layout, vaulted ceilings, larger kitchens, and all the bells and whistles of a new home.  Most know that the interiors of all new homes are put together with sheetrock.  This component was created in 1916 as a faster way to assemble a home to save time and perform this more efficiently and, most importantly, to save money.

The components of plaster walls are lathing furring strips and/or wire mesh. It was and is much more labor-intensive, expensive, and time-consuming to construct.  However, the quality of the finished product and its functionality are far ahead of sheetrock construction. The transition over the years away from plaster walls to sheetrock walls became the standard process when building.  It was and still is all about saving time and creating efficiencies leading to earning more money.

Regardless of the quality of the product and the result, construction is a very challenging and time-sensitive industry.  Today, if you wanted plaster walls, you would have to import a craftsperson from Italy or somewhere else where you might locate an artisan, with the qualifications, knowledge, and talent to perform such a service.  It surely would be an extremely costly undertaking and only for those with very deep pockets who desired that level of quality and workmanship for their walls.

Some buyers might look at sheetrock as very favorable and easy to maintain, while others would truly appreciate an older home containing plaster walls. I can surely say with many years of experience, when anyone uses the bathroom with plaster walls on the second floor, you hear absolutely nothing.

However, with sheetrock-style walls, the sound is not as muffled, and sometimes over the years as most homes settle, sheetrock can crack and split. There are times when repairing sheetrock can be more expensive than a few cracks on plaster walls. I have noticed issues on sheetrock ceilings of new homes one to three years later.  The quality of the builder and how the home is constructed can also contribute to issues with sheetrock.  Most importantly, wood used in construction today is not seasoned as it was in the early 1900s and tends to dry and shrink over the years, adding to additional maintenance.

Last week, I received an agreement between a buyer and seller for a home purchase in Great Neck.  The home was built in 1926, with outstanding plaster walls in exceptional pristine condition.  Very expensive to fabricate by today’s cost of labor and materials.  The purchasers were enamored with the quality of the home, the incredible plaster walls, the inherent solid no-compromise construction, and the unique architectural style and layout of the interior and exterior.  Even the hardwood floors with intricate patterns in the dining room and cherry inlay would also be very costly to install in a new home today.  The inspection was completed and passed with flying colors.

Every once in a while when there is a crack here and there, one must open up the cracks and use spackle or drywall joint compound.  However, if there is major damage, then plaster is the only material to be used to do a quality repair.  There are plenty of tutorial videos on YouTube to be able to guide and educate you on how to go about fixing and repairing your plaster walls.

In my professional opinion, an older home, if proactively maintained, can be a better built home and hold its value for years more than some of the newly built homes today.  Some might disagree with me, and I respect everyone’s opinions.  However, from my 42-plus years in real estate and visits to thousands of homes, I have learned over the years the pros and cons of various types of construction and materials used.

The majority of homes that I have purchased and lived in have generally had mostly plaster walls with very few issues.  Sometimes there was a combination with sheetrock.  But hands down, plaster walls are my favorite and in the long run, those older homes from the 1900s, if handled with TLC, will be around long after some of the new homes that are constructed today.

We see many knockdowns today of older homes that weren’t maintained properly and others that are still in pristine condition.  Repairing and upgrading an older home is something that you need to have a passion for as well as some thick skin and patience.  However, the result can be a pure gem of a residence that combines the eclectic old-world classic look inside and out in combination with all the modern creature comforts and technologies that are available today.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. For a free 15-minute consultation, value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: [email protected] or via https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com