Plaster is a gypsum based product that looks wonderful in your home or office. Although it is slightly softer than stucco, it will still hold up for more years than you can count. Instead of metal lath, if we are doing patch work we will use a finer mesh to act as a backbone for the plaster. Like stucco, sometimes the mud just needs something to cling to. Of course you can buy plaster premade from various stores and brands but it’s like Grandma’s cookies: store bought cookies ain’t got nothing on Grandma’s homemade pieces of heaven! A good fresh mixed mud will last much longer and is easier to work with than the canned stuff that will dry out and crack in a year or two.