There is a paradigm shift in the preferences of building contractors and construction companies from using cement plasters towards gypsum plaster due to the following reasons .
1. Ease of application- It is very easy to apply gypsum plaster to a surface with bricks , blocks , etc. as they do not require a separate finishing .
2. Produces a smooth surface- Gypsum plasters produce a smooth surfac
e with levelled corners unlike other plasters like sand cement that result in cracks . 3. Do not require putty- Walls plastered with Gypsum are paint - ready as they are smooth and do not require putty or whitewashing .
4. No curing required- Unlike cement plasters that require water curing for 21 days to settle down , gypsum plasters do not require water curing and so saves 75 % of construction time .
5. Faster setting time- Gypsum plasters sets in 25 30 minutes and the gypsum plastered walls are paint - ready in 4 days when compared to cement plasters that require 15 days to settle . Gypsum plasters attain their inherent strength in 78 hours .
6. Environmental - friendly Unlike cement manufacturing that is a major source of carbon emissions , gypsum is a readily available , green and organic material .
7. Fire resistance- Gypsum plasters are resistant to fire as by chemical composition gypsum contains nearly 21 % of crystallized water . It remains inert below a temperature of 1200 ° C .
8. Reduced consumption of resources- Gypsum plastering consumes lower amounts of water , electricity , fuel , and manpower than sand cement plasters and other plasters in the market .
9. Excellent acoustic properties- Gypsum plasters provide sound insulation and prevent seepage of noise from outside . So gypsum plasters are apt for crowded places like hospitals , hotels , and workplaces .
10. Lightweight construction material- Gypsum has a low density and higher compressive strength . This lowers 35 % of plastering weight and thus increases the strength of high - rise buildings .
11. Natural disinfectant and insect repellent- Gypsum acts as a natural disinfectant and protects the surfaces against bacteria , fungi , pests and insects .
12. Low thermal conductivity- Gypsum plasters possess lower thermal conductivity and so saves electricity costs . It also increases workplace productivity .
13. Decorative applications- As gypsum plasters can be molded into different shapes and forms , they can be used for decorative purposes .
14. Reduces 20 % of construction costs- Because gypsum plastering saves time and resources like water , electricity , fuel , etc. , it saves up to 35 per sq . ft when compared to sand cement plastering
