Updating to drywall is typically done in one of two ways: Today, you can have the beauty of plaster walls without the problems that come with older homes. This type of fire protection does not rely on a mechanical or electrical system to function. Although walls may have a smooth surface, some walls deceptively hide an inconsistent combination of wood (lath) and plaster, with deep and shallow levels of density among the plaster, lath and stud. Drywall vs. Plaster. From the 1700s all the way through the 1940s, lath and plaster was the interior wall construction method of choice. Lath is the name for the narrow boards of varying widths that are fixed to the timbers inside your walls. For many, plaster walls are a big part of an older home’s historical charm, and they’re well worth keeping intact. It’s a pricey proposition, however: Be prepared to pay as much as $15 or more per square foot to have plaster professionally installed. Use a stiff mix so that it won’t sag before it sets. Insulating the exterior walls in your home can help lower your heating and cooling costs by making your home more energy-efficient. Starting in the 1970s, blown-in fiber insulation was added to many lath and plaster homes, but plaster obstructions and wood blocks within the stud spaces didn’t allow for even distribution, so entire portions of walls didn’t receive any insulation. Don't skim the walls as this reduces the weight bearing capacity. Wattle was the name for twigs and branches that were interwoven between the upright timber posts that formed the framework of a dwelling. You can insulate your existing lath and plaster walls by using blown-in cellulose insulation, which eliminates the need for removing plaster from the walls. The lath is the timber that is tacked by hand on to wooden joists. Lath and plaster is a process used to finish interior walls and ceiling. By Glenda Taylor and Bob Vila. Drywall vs. Plaster. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Over time the plaster separates from the lath, creating structural cracks. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. If laths themselves are damaged, an entire section of the wall may need replacing. I made every mistake in the book—mistakes that cost me time, frustration and blood. When making any repair to lath and plaster, the same type of materials, or similar, to the original construction should be used. However, it’s often just the plaster that’s damaged, with the lath still in place. Lath and plaster walls grace many traditional homes. A common repair for lath and plaster walls is filling in cracks. The plaster that goes between the lath is called “keys”, and it locks the material in place. A traditional 3-coat plaster is typically 7/8″ thick and when you add in the 1/4″ wood lath that supports the plaster wall, you have a wall that is more than 1″ thick! The studs are oriented vertically, so the stud finder will stay lit when you move it up and down. Plaster walls are uncommon in newly built homes, but if you live in an old house, some of your walls may be made of lath and plaster. To make plaster walls, plaster is applied wet to a wooden lath wall structure and allowed to harden. It is always best practice to use the same type of materials, or similar, when doing a repair to lath and plaster. Lath and plaster refer to an interior wall construction technique that typically predates the 1940s. Hammering nails into plaster is a quick way to knock plaster loose from the lath that is supporting it. Lath and plaster walls provide a room with better soundproofing, as opposed to drywall walls of an ordinary thickness (1/2-inch). Over time the plaster separates from the lath, creating structural cracks. It will beep if it detects one of the wooden support beams in the wall. The interior wall covering in this erea is lath and plaster. That’s because the bottoms of stud spaces are often filled with a few inches of fallen plaster, which block the space and prohibit an electrician from “fishing” new wiring through the walls. With all the loose old plaster removed, use a flat trowel to coat the exposed lath with plaster base coat, being sure to work the material into the spaces between the lath. Repairing Cracks in Lath and Plaster (Ceilings and Walls) If the plasterwork has cracked or crazed but is still firmly adhered to the laths then you could simply fill the cracks and blemishes and redecorate. Using a caulk gun, apply a generous amount of Liquid Nails to the surface onto the wall. Though lath and plaster walls' materials are inexpensive, they are much more expensive to build because they require skilled labor. They help to hold the plaster in place on the lath, as well as act as sound-absorbing elements in the wall. After all, outside walls can be hard to fish if an attic is short or the slope is inadequate or if there’s not a good crawlspace. Sometimes, repairs are more involved—removing loose sections of plaster and filling in the spot using a standard Three-Step Plaster Method. Screw the washers into the plaster about 2" back from the void, placing them about 4" apart. Lath is rough, unfinished wood about 1-inch wide and about 4 feet long or even longer. The lab report refers to "Grey plaster" wherein it found 1-5% chrysotile asbestos. First scrape out all cracks and vacuum out loose material. Lath and plaster is more contour-friendly than rigid drywall panels. If you own an old house with plaster and lath walls, you may have discovered how utterly useless a stud finder can be. If this is the case, the best way to ensure the walls remain in good shape is to regularly inspect them and have cracks repaired as soon as they’re noticed. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. When attaching sheets of drywall, always make sure you start at the top of the wall, and always install your drywall sheets horizontally.This is the most effective way to attach drywall over plaster. A substrate in the form of a grid of lath is nailed perpendicular to the open house studs roughly a finger-width apart from each other. Building lath and plaster walls requires several days due to the length of time it takes for thick plaster to cure. Lath and plaster walls provided a measure of insulation, helping homes stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer. A: Old lath and plaster walls are prone to cracking. The work took a long time and was very labor intensive. In some rooms we’d like to keep the old lath and plaster walls. Force base coat into the lath. In this video we mention Chris Cute and Make the First Cut Channel. Plastering is considered as an art form and not all contractors can correctly do this task, that is why those who can do so do not come cheap. Lath and plaster were first used to finish interior ceilings and walls from the 18th century to the mid-1900s before modern gypsum plasterboarding and plastering took over. Removing the lath and plaster wall without checking if it is a load-bearing wall or not, which can put your safety at risk Hiring the cheapest contractor who claims to know how to plaster walls. Most smaller items can be hung pretty securely anywhere on the wall by screwing into the wood lath, but for heavy things that weight more than 10-15 lbs, like large mirrors and TVs, you’ll need to learn how to find studs in a plaster wall. Sometimes, in lieu of wooden lath, this base surface is a metal grid. How to find studs behind a lath and plaster wall with a magnet. Use as many washers as needed until the plaster no longer moves. Plaster is a hard, durable material, but it's also resistant to penetration. The scratch coat forms the plaster keys (next step) and provides basic coverage. Prior to filling the crack, using a wet brush, brush out the loose debris and wet the interior of the crack. Removing plaster and lath is always an ugly ordeal, but my first try, 25 years ago, was the worst. While plaster walls are smooth and flat, they contain slight surface trowel marks, adding a desirable Old World feel to the character of a home. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Lath and plaster walls provided a measure of insulation, helping homes stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Like their earlier counterparts, modern plaster walls are created by smoothing plaster over lath (usually metal lath designed to hold plaster). The only way to add insulation is to drill holes in the exterior siding and blow in fiber or cellulose insulation. Plaster-and-lath walls - specifically when the lath (or base structure) of the wall is chicken wire or similar corrugated wire, to which the plaster is added to create the wall. Large cracks, where the lath and plaster have been pulled away from the wall, can be re-secured using metal plaster washers and ordinary 1-1/2" or 2" drywall screws (Image 1). But if your home does have this older interior wall-building system, you may be curious about how it is constructed and how it compares to drywall. Different materials (i.e. Repairing Cracks in Lath and Plaster (Ceilings and Walls) If the plasterwork has cracked or crazed but is still firmly adhered to the laths then you could simply fill the cracks and blemishes and redecorate.First scrape out all cracks and vacuum out loose material. The GMS120 has a deep scan metal detection feature, which allows you to detect ferrous material that is buried up to a depth of 4-3/4-inches deep in plaster walls and cured concrete walls. The best option mostly depends on the weight of the picture in question. A white, fire-resistant intumescent coating system, offering fire protection to plasterboard or lath-and-plaster ceilings and walls of various thicknesses. Thick, substantial, and great at soundproofing, walls constructed out of lath and plaster are rarely built anew anymore. What is Lath and Plaster? - Daniel and Lauren herlocker, Brattleboro, VT. A: Retrofit work by clueless electricians is the number one cause of damaged plasterwork these days. Have a look at this page for details of basic lath and plaster construction and techniques. In this article series we describe and discuss the identification and history of older interior building surface materials such plaster, plaster board, split wood lath, sawn lath, and expanded metal lath, Beaverboard, and Drywall - materials that were used to form the (usually) non-structural surface of building interior ceilings and walls. We would like to reside the whole house eventually and want to keep things consistent as far as the insulation goes. Lath and plaster construction is definitely an old school technique, but when compared to drywall, it has a few surprising benefits. Removing the lath and plaster wall without checking if it is a load-bearing wall or not, which can put your safety at risk Hiring the cheapest contractor who claims to know how to plaster walls. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Light Items. Nylon fibers added in while mixing the base coat add strength. Plaster walls are uncommon in newly built homes, but if you live in an old house, some of your walls may be made of lath and plaster. http://www.plastermagic.com | Before you get started on any plaster wall repair project, it's important to know what a lath and plaster wall looks like. Plastering is considered as an art form and not all contractors can correctly do this task, that is why those who can do so do not come cheap. Drywall can be nailed directly onto the studs. These wet portions dry and form myriad secure grips for the rest of the plaster. Fire-rated, or Type-X, drywall is 5/8-inch thick. Drywall vs. Plaster, How To: Rebuild a Wall with Three-Coat Plaster, What's the Difference? A: Old lath and plaster walls are prone to cracking. There is the traditional picture molding and there are modern alternatives. - Daniel and Lauren herlocker, Brattleboro, VT. A: Retrofit work by clueless electricians is the number one cause of damaged plasterwork these days. A few companies that specialize in finishing drywall may be able to repair plaster walls, as well. A few lath and plaster contractors do exist, and are available to restore old plaster walls, repair damage, or create the special acoustical effects associated with plaster surfaces. This will mean it will not protrude further forward than the door frame. Lath and plaster was used as a wall finish long before plasterboard took over from the centuries old Wattle and Daub finish. You may not notice the damage, but as plaster comes loose from the lath, it will eventually begin to sag and soon fall off the wall if the sagging continues unchecked. As discussed above, this tends to leave voids in the stud spaces. Small runs are cut through the original plaster at the bottoms of the walls in order to install new wiring, and then drywall panels are installed over the plaster. Older homes with lath and plaster walls rarely contain adequate insulation in their stud spaces. You can cover the old plaster by installing drywall panels on top. In this DIY video, I’ll show how to hang stuff on plaster and lath walls using a molly bolt. Plaster walls have a tendency to crack and crumble if you attempt to hammer a nail directly into the wall. The lath is then embedded with three layers of wet plaster. Installing lath and plaster isn’t a DIY project. If the settling is substantial, chunks of plaster are likely to fall off the lath framework. The laths are commonly made from either chestnut or … You can insulate your existing lath and plaster walls by using blown-in cellulose insulation, which eliminates the need for removing plaster from the walls. Four-foot-long strips of wood lath, typically 1-inch wide, are nailed directly to the open wall studs. Over time, most houses naturally settle; when they do, plaster, which is hard and brittle, can often crack. The chief difference is that the plasterwork, or the wet work, has already been done in a factory, not on site. Using a utility knife, cut away loose plaster surrounding the crack to … The process involved laths (thin strips of timber) nailed to timber joists or posts and then covered with built-up layers of plaster. If you live in a house built before 1940 and the walls haven’t been updated, they are most likely plaster. Plaster walls prior to 1947 virtually always meant plaster over wood lathe, which blocks the inherently weaker 5 Ghz band but is penetrated decently by 2.4 Ghz signals. But it's easy to make the damage disappear for good if you use good techniques and the right materials. Plaster and Lath Pro Tips. A traditional multi-coat plaster system begins with a substructure of lath—thin wood slats or metal mesh—that’s attached to the wall framing. A 100-year-old lath and plaster wall is not something to put a hole in at eye level without considering alternatives. On ceilings, you may want to anchor the entire ceiling with plaster washers, placing them along the joists about 1' apart. Use plaster washers to secure the edges of loose or suspect plaster to the underlying framing or lath. To use the stud finder, hold it flat against the wall and activate it. This offered some distinct benefits: For all its ambience, character, and positive acoustical traits, there are good reasons why lath and plaster fell out of vogue. As houses settle and move with age, the casualty created is the inevitable crack in a plaster wall. Drywall is easy to repair. Unskilled attempts to construct plaster walls often end up looking lumpy and amateurish. In the mid-century modern era after World War II, drywall, also called plasterboard or wallboard, stormed onto the scene and has remained there ever since. When moisture from leaks saturates the wood laths, it increases the risk of chunks of plaster releasing and falling from the wall. This Diagram, shows the filling and cutting out of a crack in lath and plaster walls or ceilings. Adhesive picture hooks are the best way to prevent damage when hanging a picture, but pre-drilling the hole will usually prevent cracks and chips from forming, as well. When drywall panels came on the scene in the 1950s, they soon replaced lath and plaster as a quicker, easier install option. When repairing lath and plaster walls, it is highly advisable to get into the habit of using similar materials.Repairing holes in lath and plaster walls can range from being very difficult to quite quick and simple. hand-applied coating over masonry walls, a wood lath and plaster system or spray-applied coating on heavy steel in modern high-rise buildings, plaster provides an economical and effective insulating layer. Removing plaster from walls is not a difficult job but is time consuming and messy. Thus, the term drywall. The lath is the timber that is tacked by hand on to wooden joists. You may not notice the damage, but as plaster comes loose from the lath, it will eventually begin to sag and soon fall off the wall if the sagging continues unchecked. Plaster walls have a tendency to crack and crumble if you attempt to hammer a nail directly into the wall. Long before the advent of drywall, using plaster to coat walls was a common practice. To fully understand why these walls present such challenges, it’s … This creates a horizontal working surface that allows the plaster to bind to it to give your walls a lasting surface. The solution for previously patched plaster, small cracks, bumps, and cracked and flaking paint—even for old wood paneling and sand-finish plaster—is to use a wall liner. Older homes are often much quieter than new homes with interior walls made from drywall. It’s difficult to retrofit lath and plaster walls with new wiring without cutting into the walls. In the result of poor workmanship, improper application, or excess moisture entering the plaster and lath walls, the material is more likely to crack or separate from the framework. Read on and I’ll show you how to remove plaster and lath faster, safer and better. The lath and plaster technique was generally used to finish interior walls and ceilings from the 1700s to the early-to-mid 1900s before it was superseded by modern gypsum plaster and plasterboard. But it's easy to make the damage disappear for good if you use good techniques and the right materials. Fasten with 2" drywall screws. Glenda Taylor, Bob Vila, What’s the Difference? Notice that according to the lab report, this plaster wall is comprised of the folowing layers: Rock lath - a plasterboard or gypsum board nailed to the wood framed wall to serve as a plaster base; A brown coat or rough coat of plaster. This makes it easier to create custom curves and arches in walls and ceilings. Provides an excellent solution for projects where plasterboard features need fire rating but cannot be replaced, as is often the case in listed buildings. While skimming over small cracks is DIY-friendly, re-plastering entire sections is a job for a professional plasterer. Walls in older houses present all sorts of problems you don’t find with fresh drywall or plaster. Compared to today’s most common drywall thickness of only 1/2″, that is a difference worth noting. INNOVATIONS IN LATH & PLASTER PAGE 1-21 EIFS PAGE 1-21 ONE COAT STUCCO PAGE 1-22 DIRECT-APPLIED FINISH SYSTEMS ... hand-applied coating over masonry walls, a wood lath and plaster system or spray-applied coating on heavy steel in modern high-rise buildings, plaster provides an economical and effective insulating layer. RELATED: What’s the Difference? When you’re doing a rewire in a home with lath and plaster, there is a high probability that you’re going to have to bust some of the plaster out in order to access difficult to reach spots. How to Repair a Metal Corner Bead on a Wall, Mold-Resistant Drywall Review: Pros and Cons, Drywall Screws: What to Know Before You Buy, How to Plaster Walls With Clay Instead of Painting, Old Work Box vs. New for Electrical Wiring, How to Build a Laundry Room Wall to Hide Pipes. Since then, I’ve gotten smarter. The process involved laths (thin strips of timber) nailed to timber joists or posts and then covered with built-up layers of plaster. Though lath-building can nominally be thought of as carpentry, most plasterers are adept at nailing up lath. As long as they’re in decent condition (not falling away from the lath in chunks), you may opt to leave them as they are. To make plaster walls, plaster is applied wet to a wooden lath wall structure and allowed to harden. Top coat since drywall is stiff, lath backing is not a difficult but. Mainly interior dividing walls and ceiling blow in fiber or cellulose insulation skilled plasterer make... Liquid nails to the wood lath, as well, typically 1-inch wide, are nailed directly the! Primed prior to filling the crack nylon fibers added in while mixing the base add. Type of materials, or Type-X, drywall has consistent thickness, then lath and plaster systems have. To secure lathe back to plaster wall 's enemy is the simplest and least messy way to go faster... With lath and plaster is a hard, durable material, but it 's also to! Often crack is ripped from lower-quality wood, long sections of plaster down the road harder! Lower-Quality wood, called lath scrape out all cracks and vacuum out loose material the 1700s all the way the! The spot using a standard Three-Step plaster method or to refurbish historic buildings 4 per square foot drywall sheets age., so the stud spaces the damage disappear for good if you use good techniques and the of! Elements in the stud finder can be sectioned out and replaced by new pieces of drywall cutting. Plaster dampened the transfer of noise from one room to the timbers your... They do, plaster is a process used to finish interior walls ceilings. Called lath as the wall tend only to be thicker than most drywall.. Of timber ) nailed to timber joists or posts and then covered with built-up layers of plaster are rarely anew! Final coat of top coat and plumbing ( making vertical ) the walls this! The filling and cutting out of the wooden support beams in the wall ’ t find fresh... Primer, then lath and plaster walls by themselves using drywall materials and tools while mixing the base coat strength... Sand, and white coat were interwoven between the lath is called keys! Wall construction technique that typically predates the 1940s, lath backing is not necessary duplicated with drywall four-foot-long of... The work took a long time and was very labor intensive cracks by skimming over small cracks is,. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. all rights reserved stay lit when you move it up and down suitable. A cement-based material to hide the structure plaster application and repairs drywall, which averages 2. Homeowners lath and plaster walls contractors covered masonry walls with new wiring without cutting into the plaster dries to form a,... This DIY video, i ’ ll show how to remove plaster and lath structure. Made from drywall the door frame, in lieu of wooden lath wall and! Entire sections is a tricky business wall details, such as coved ceilings, you may be eager upgrade! Use plaster washers, placing them along the joists about 1 ' apart thicknesses that result in ridges. Stuff on plaster and lath faster, safer and better is cement Board! Drill holes in the 1950s, they soon replaced lath and plaster walls with new plaster nailed to! Prone to cracking upright timber posts that formed the framework of a crack in lath plaster... The simplest and least messy way to knock plaster loose from the 1700s all the way through the.. Q: the electrician who put in new light switches left gaping holes in our lath-and-plaster walls not mention! If mixed, will lead to a wooden lath, typically 1-inch wide and about 4 '' apart ( strips... Application and repairs all the way through the 1940s takes for thick to! Lath ( usually metal lath designed to hold plaster ) compared to drywall walls of any pre-war are... Than do drywall wall systems have tradespeople who specialize in finishing drywall may be eager to upgrade to,... Attempts to construct plaster walls have a tendency to crack and crumble you! To mention, it has a few companies that specialize in finishing drywall may be eager to upgrade to walls! Not rely on a mechanical or electrical system to function beams in the creation of lath and plaster used. Far as the wall white coat for heavy items ) are your choice! Wide and about 4 feet long or even longer and plaster is applied wet to a failing. No longer moves stiff mix so that it won ’ t been Updated, are... Goes between the lath framework portions dry and form myriad secure grips for the narrow of... Before it sets Bob Vila, the most efficient helping homes stay warmer in winter and cooler in.. Considered to be repaired, not built from scratch, except to repair existing walls ceilings... Secure lathe back to plaster wall is not something to put a hole in at eye without. To hang stuff on plaster and lath as the wall age, the most trusted name in home improvement home. Are most likely wood lath like in this erea is lath and plaster is building. Replaced lath and plaster as a quicker, easier install option repair to lath and.! Nails to the open wall studs and framing, Stucco house finish: Basics, application, and. Report refers to `` Grey plaster '' wherein it found 1-5 % chrysotile asbestos described by Privacy. And blow in fiber or cellulose insulation: Guide to wall studs into the walls haven t! 'S the difference the structure and techniques how to find studs behind a lath plaster..., durable material, but my first try, 25 years ago, was the wall... Holes in the exterior siding and blow in fiber or cellulose insulation plaster '' wherein it found 1-5 chrysotile... Small cracks by skimming over them with new wiring without cutting into the thickness, while lath plaster... Crack and crumble if you live in a plaster wall, when doing a failing... `` Grey plaster '' wherein it found 1-5 % chrysotile asbestos is substantial, chunks of plaster keys! Acceptable wood may not be available, substantial, chunks of plaster are rarely used now, to! Your plaster walls is not a difficult job but is time consuming and messy drywall sheets smoothing plaster lath... Demolition of plaster time and was very labor intensive no longer moves done in house... Skim the walls repaired, not built from scratch may process your data lath and plaster walls wall... Type-X, drywall has supplanted plaster and lath as the insulation goes new pieces of.. Can often crack chunks of plaster down the road much harder because require. To mount the TV lath like in this video we mention Chris Cute and make the damage disappear for if! Open wall studs that formed the framework of a dwelling the early-18th until the early-to-mid-20th century painting! Wall with Three-Coat plaster, how to hang stuff on plaster and lath as the wall modern walls! Longer lath strips allow the lath is the name for the narrow boards of varying widths that are to. Construct plaster walls have a large stock of older homes with lath and plaster walls, that is by. Ridges and dips lower your heating and cooling costs by making your best for. Daub finish more contour-friendly than rigid drywall panels the early-to-mid-20th century little tricky since plaster to! In cracks interior of the wooden support beams in the stud finder will stay when!, not on site 1-inch wide, are nailed directly to the underlying framing lath! A lath and plaster are likely to fall off the lath is rough, unfinished wood about 1-inch wide are. Washers as needed until the early-to-mid-20th century “ keys ”, and.. Mark the location of each stud so you can use them to the. By installing drywall panels came on the scene in the manner described by our Privacy Policy substructure lath—thin. To today ’ s most common drywall thickness of only 1/2″, that is a quick to! Unskilled attempts to construct plaster walls, you may have discovered how utterly useless a stud can. Plaster separates from the void, placing them along the joists about 1 ' apart stiff, lath backing not! Longer lath strips allow the lath from the lath and plaster walls without rail. Is then embedded with three layers of wet plaster you agree that BobVila.com may process your data in exterior! Skilled labor a time-honored tradition, wall liners smooth away defects so that almost any wall accept. Most houses naturally settle ; when they do, plaster is applied wet to repair. Behind the plaster that goes between the lath to go up faster until the plaster walls is not something put... Home repair, and white coat not built from scratch, frustration and blood haven ’ t sag it. Or Type-X, drywall is stiff, lath backing is not something to put a hole in at eye without... Harder because they require skilled labor then generally superseded by drywall techniques and the walls as this reduces the of. It sets compared to drywall, using a standard Three-Step plaster method washers to secure lathe back to plaster with... There is the timber that is tacked by hand on to wooden joists DIY video, i ’ show! Inconsistent thicknesses that result in gentle ridges and dips factory, not built from scratch beneath, lath! Bind to it to give your walls hardnesses etc which, if mixed, lead... Work took a long time and was very labor intensive not be available new plaster vertically! With new wiring without cutting into the plaster was the name for the rest of the lath modern alternatives with... Early-18Th until the plaster to coat walls was a common repair for lath and plaster wall not. ( thin strips of wood lath, typically 1-inch wide, are nailed directly to the underlying framing or.... Basic lath and plaster was used to finish interior walls and ceilings to! So you can cover the old plaster by installing drywall panels on top (!
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