We do a lot of things inside our homes that create moisture. Statistically speaking, an average household produces about 14 L of moisture a day. Things like taking a shower, cooking food, even just breathing lead to a lot of water getting into the air in the form of water vapours, and hanging around as condensation. 

These water vapours get absorbed by the walls. However, unlike a lime based breathable plaster, gypsum based plasters do not allow an exchange of air with the surroundings. This traps the moisture inside the walls, leading to the walls turning damp – one of the main reasons you can’t apply a gypsum based plaster to walls that are exposed to high levels of moisture, such as the outer surfaces of your house, or in a bathroom.

More: Guide to breathable paint for lime plaster.

The dampening of walls promotes the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that are detrimental to our health. Black mould is one of the most common occurrences in any household with traditional gypsum based plaster. This mould gets into the air and can get inhaled by us, which can lead to several health problems including allergic reactions, or lung disease. Black mould can also trigger asthmatic reactions. With over 30 million people suffering from asthma in Europe alone, black mould poses a serious health threat to households all around the globe, painters and decorators are in one of the highest risk groups of dangers of chemical exposure. Indoor air quality should be high on your priority list.
Therefore, a healthy exchange of air in and out of the walls ensures that this dampening of walls does not occur, thereby ensuring that our plaster does not only protect your walls but also helps in keeping you healthier. Bear in mind as well as breathable plaster, you will need breathable paint, or a lime wash.

Breathable plaster (Such as Breathaplaster) is a highly innovative form of the natural lime based plasters that offers you far better ventilation for your walls compared to the traditional lime based plasters available in the market. However, better moisture transfer is not just the only helpful advantage here. Breathaplaster Lime based plaster is more eco friendly, offers better thermal insulation, and provides far greater comfort than its counterparts. The higher thermal insulation helps in regulating the temperature as well, thus allowing you to use energy more efficiently, and promoting environmental protection and conservation.

The plaster is quick setting, and offers a great finish to any wall; from smooth or a textured wall, or a super-textured wall that is serving as one of the main feature walls in your home, breathable lime plaster can give it a smooth, sophisticated, natural lime finish that looks absolutely stunning. This ultra-breathable plaster does not require any special application and can be administered in the same way as any traditional plaster. 

The plaster is quick setting, and offers a great finish to any wall; from smooth or a textured wall, or a super-textured wall that is serving as one of the main feature walls in your home, breathable lime plaster can give it a smooth, sophisticated, natural lime finish that looks absolutely stunning. This ultra-breathable plaster does not require any special application and can be administered in the same way as any traditional plaster. 

No, gypsum plaster is not breathable due to the materials used in manufacture. If you would like a breathable plaster, I suggest one of these breathable lime plasters, topped with a lime paint.