great discussion opportunity here... I hope the very best, that many people join and take advantage of it.

I am getting plans together right now to build an italian style home - here it is with a few modifications:

http://www.orderhomeplans.com/main.asp?hspos=SSNET&action=plandirect&hsgv=1&sessionid={195C152F-0E3D-47E1-AB51-8968B56AE480}&searchtype=advanced&view=main&planid=21195

Instead of veneer stone, I may totally stucco the outside.... and as for the interior, I am debating between sheetrock and lath and plaster.

What say the pros --- which way should I go??

What an awesome home!!!
The plasters we use can go right over sheetrock. Or over plaster. If you choose sheetrock and after you apply the plasters, they will not look or feel like SR. If you choose the plaster walls these can be applied over also. Sheetrock will not last as long as plaster walls. Either way you choose the walls will out last us all.
If only you lived in Atlanta... My wife and I would love to work in that home....
Anyway my vote is for plaster walls.
Welcome to Plaster Talk
Doyle

I agree with Doyle, this is a awesome home.
Lath & Plaster will last longer than just sheet rock, and to me it gives a different feel to the home. Even though I am now a Italian Plaster, I used to be in the Drywall Trade, And still do Artistic Design with Drywall Art for Clients as needed, so as a Professional, in todays world I think Plaster walls. For the durability. Also accented with various Italian plasters would help in creating the feel for the home. Some of the plaster trades are using a Blue sheet rock board designed for plaster applications vs lath, prior to plastering. And as doyle stated, the plasters we use will go over a normal sheet rock job, with the look and feel of real stone & plasters.
I vote plaster walls on the inside.
Outside, I am partial to a Real Stone look, but have scene many homes here in Southern Utah with a good Stucco job thats very appealing and that would set off a Italian style home as well.
And It would be a fun home to work in of course.
Be creative and have fun, and enjoy the journey of building your home.

Stephen

thanks ever so much for your input... and yes, how I wish ya'all could come out and help me out !! my intent is, by the time I get to that stage, I will know everything I need to know to get the look that is just right. and I too am leaning towards plastering vs. sheet rock.

I will be checking out this site regularly to learn all I can...

thanks again

jnr

i agree, nice home! on your interior, you have several things to consider regarding walls and ceilings. if you go with a conventional plaster,either over blue board or lath, you will most likely need to change all framing specs. to 12 inch on center. this is needed to support the weight of most plasters and can triple the cost of your lumber package, not to mention labor. in addition my experience is that you will need to learn to live with hairline fractures throughout. it is the nature of the beast. due to the thickness required by conventional plasters, you will also need to count on extending all door and window jams to accomidate. this is not cheap either, especially if you are looking at stain grade trim. sheetrock is tried and true and with our venetian plasters applied over sheetrock, you can achieve the look and feel you are looking for without the forementioned cost increases. venetians may be more expensive on the surface, but when you add up the whole project, there is a savings over most interior plasters. for the exterior, we have numerous plasters that can be applied over conventional substrates such as portland stucco. this can give you an old world look without breaking the bank. i personally like a combination of stone and plaster. in addition, the stone you pick can serve as the model for the plaster colors you choose as they are colored here in the U.S. if you look at the photo of our deco-band in the gallery, you can see we did just that. good luck, homebuilding is a blast. feel free to contact bill@borselliplaster.com if you would like to view and touch some of our plasters in Ca. we have a rep. and a showroom in Rancho Sante Fe. we are based in Az. but love to work in Ca.

Wood lath went out of existence in 1938 and metal lath in residential construction in the mid 1960s.Contemporary Kal-cote veneer type plaster is applied over gypsum board which costs essentially the same as drywall. The only reason anyone experiences cracking is due to settling and movement. This will also crack drywall and is not typical in modern residential construction.

Just cannot wait one more week to ask my burning ??'s on exterior application of the plaster's so here goes.

How much plaster is being used on whole exteriors ?? New construction or renovation's?? I see almost all the pic's are of interior work.

On a new construction block home how would it be spec'ed. Our stucco ppl do a scratch coat, brown coat then a sand float finish or lace/ knockdown type top coat. Would the Ventian type plaster go onto bare block? or have the stucco ppl bring it to the brown coat finish? or finish it to sand float finish??

I hope my ??'s did not get too confused.. I know what I mean to ask just not sure if it sounds right on the keyboard>> Bottom line is this ?? Is the plaster being used on whole exteriors? How much is it being used? Why isn't being used more?

Ty for some input I am sure my burning ??'s will be answered soon enough in Atlanta just could not help but to ask here as well..

Mark

Mark The answer to part of youe question is that lots of plaster is being used on exteriors in the U.S.Safra is soon coming out with a Mamrmorino for the U.S. market. I cant answer your technical questions because I dont know what part of the country you live in. Climate affects your answers. Ken