The steel making up the metal lath contained many more spaces than wood lath had contained. The roman architect vitruvius, in his book on architecture written about 16. The plasterer applies a slight pressure to push the wet plaster through the spaces. Wood lath is usually made up of narrow, thin strips of wood with spaces in between. The plaster slumps down on the inside of the wall, forming plaster keys. Wood lath perfect for furring, sticking and more from. This article series discusses the identification and history of older interior building surface materials such plaster and lath, beaverboard, and drywall materials. Wood laths are narrow strips of some straightgrained wood, generally baltic or.
Union city, new jersey 1875 plaster on wood lath st. Plaster increases the historical authenticity and therefore resale. Compared to todays most common drywall thickness of only 12. Step by step guide to making dustsorry, i mean fixing up your lath and plaster ceiling. Traditional lath and plaster ceilings and walls, or lathe and plaster depending on your spelling. The plaster dries to form a hard, smooth surface suitable for finishing, first. Starting with wood lath, a coarse scratch coat plaster mixed with shrinkagepreventing aggregates, such as horse hair was applied followed by a brown coat plaster mixed with sand, and finally a fine skim coat. Our residential services are available for any single family home to multiunit residential buildings. My wife thinks we may be dealing with paint over wallpaper, and that the stony surface is in fact the original plaster. Lath and plaster refer to an interior wall construction technique that typically predates the 1940s. Discussion in plastering and rendering started by bizron, 30 nov 2010. Wood lath was originally wood boards with splits started in from the ends and the boards were pulled apart, expanding the wood, creating open slits between the splits for the plaster to mechanically key into. The inside walls of the speckled wood building are going to be of a lath and plaster construction.
Lath and plaster wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Removing plaster and lath is always an ugly ordeal, but my first try, 25 years ago, was the worst. Lath, 49 metal lath to wood framing, 49 metal lath to metal framing using screws, 50 metal lath to concrete and concrete masonry, 50 exterior insulation and finish systems eifs, 55 onecoat stucco systems, 60 3. See more ideas about plaster, plaster walls, plaster repair. The use of lime plaster can be documented to as early as 7500 b. Clean up the mess on the floor and put it in contractor cleanup bags per andy c. Step by step how to remove repair lath and plaster ceiling.
Contemporary plastered interior surfaces are generally accomplished with a very thin, or skim, coat of fine plaster over gypsum lath. It consists of narrow strips of wood laths which are nailed horizontally across. The plaster that oozes between the lath strips is called the key, which locks the plaster and lath strips together plaster walls and ceilings consist of three coats of plaster. Plaster on wood lath in religious buildings historic. Pruter contributing editor covers every aspect of stucco design, construction and repair. Early wainscots were always wood, but later innovations would introduce many alternatives. Plaster finishes and textures, and how to achieve them.
A lath or slat is a thin, narrow strip of straightgrained wood used under roof shingles or tiles, on lath and plaster walls and ceilings to hold plaster, and in lattice and trellis work lath has expanded to mean any type of backing material for plaster. This includes metal wire mesh or expanded metal that is applied to a wood or metal framework as matrix over which stucco or plaster is. Lath and plaster news newspapers books scholar jstor march 2012 learn how and when to. Redwood lath and plaster is dedicated to serving our customers by offering quality products and quality service at a fair price. Check for loose plaster and plan to reattach it using plaster washers. The lath is then embedded with three layers of wet plaster. The technique derives from an earlier, more primitive, process called wattle and daub. Wood lath kalinich wood lath is an allpurpose product found in a number of different settings. Michael recently got an inquiry about sourcing wood lath, the thin strips of pine that form a substrate for an oldfashioned plaster wall. Throughout most of the house, the shiplap was nailed to the outside of the exterior walls and the inside was lath and plaster. It consists of narrow strips of wood which are nailed horizontally across the wall studs or ceiling joists and then coated in plaster. If your home was built before 1950, you most likely have traditional lathandplaster walls. Drawing of worker applying plaster over lath, from the book of trades. It may be employed in two ways one, in the ordinary manner, only spacing the laths somewhat further apart than would be advisable on the interior of the dwelling.
Walls and molding describes the history of these key features and clearly. Leonard church boston, massachusetts 1899 plaster on wood lath st. As long as she doesnt start proclaiming that they come from the shiplap tree, im still a fan. But there are practical and historical reasons for saving it. Patching up old wood lath and plaster diynot forums. If youre one of the lucky ones to have true shiplap in your house and you just need help repairing it, read my post the 7 best products to patch wood. Plaster was used as a medium of artistic expression until the 19th century. We pledge to stand by you, the client, to hear out your needs and deliver high quality service that only highly skilled craftsmen can provide. Agnes church reading, massachusetts 1887 plaster on wood lath st.
Very early in the history of greek architecture we find the use of plaster of a fine. This is what the plaster walls in your great grandparents house were made of. Fourfootlong strips of wood lath, typically 1inch wide, are nailed directly to the open wall studs. Wood lath is occasionally used, and, in certain sections of the country, apparently with good results. Lath and plaster is a building process used to finish mainly interior dividing walls and ceilings. In the stairwell to the basement, which runs along an outside wall, the shiplap is attached to the inside of the exterior wall and the outside only has the thinner wood siding. This distance is sufficient to allow for lath shrinkage or swelling, and still provide a firm clinch for the plastering. Types of wooden lath used to support plaster or stucco.
Venetian plaster and other modern plaster walls remodelista. Before the age of gypsum and drywall, interior plaster walls were vulnerable to all sorts of potential damage. If the space is much less than this, the plaster clinch will be weakened. We started nailing on the laths a while ago and last week we started to do the earth plastering. Most put the lath up dry and make a really soupy mix that is really hard to handle, and because the plaster was too loose to begin with it cracks. Way back when we dug the foundation pits for the building we saved the clay we found in the bottom of these pits. Cavity insulation got a pretty inauspicious start in america as compressed eel grass cabots quilt at the turn of the last century. See more ideas about plaster lath, wood projects and tobacco sticks. The book includes extensive charts on finishes, wood and plaster problems, and. This article describes and illustrates hand split wooden lath, straightsawn or pitsawn wood lath, and more modern circularsawn wood lath that have been used in the construction of plaster or stuccocovered walls, ceilings, and some building exterior surfaces for hundreds of years. Plaster is then pressed onto the strips of lath board with sufficient. Types of wood lath used for plaster or stucco inspectapedia. Hence the paneled wall, and the wainscota protective and decorative covering for the lower third or so of the wall. Repairing historic flat plaster walls and ceilings.
Hartsell, and in us gypsums gypsum construction handbook book for sale link as. Remodeling a pre1920s home with planks on the interior walls. Plaster base structure, waterresistant barrier and lath and flashing. Gypsum lath much like modern sheetrock was introduced in the 1930s and modern iterations are still in use today. Plaster, a pasty composition as of lime or gypsum, water, and sand that hardens on drying and is used for coating walls, ceilings, and partitions. For the most part the structolite people are right, only because most people dont know how to work with wood lath. If you are having trouble finding the real stuff in your area, you can easily make your own shiplap with this quick tutorial. Plaster on wood lath historic plaster conservation services. As a building material base, our wood lath is used to create the substructure for slate or tiles, and for plaster walls and ceilings. I made every mistake in the bookmistakes that cost me time, frustration and blood. First congregational church of west haven west haven, connecticut 1859 plaster on wood lath st. Plaster accents around light fixtures and crown moldings are the details that can create a wowfactor on walls and ceilings. Laths are about an inch lathingwide, and are made in three thicknesses. The aluminum and vinyl siding industry uses lath for furring strips, while the lumber industry uses it as sticking.
Rediscovering the beauty of plastered walls the denver post. Weve tried searching for help in home improvement books and online but all we can find are howtos for wood lath plaster repair. Metal lath, patented in england in 1797, began to be used in parts of the united states toward the end of the 19th century. Lath and plaster merged a wealth of experience and skill into a company that would earn. From new construction and remodels to multistory residential buildings. Entering a building which has been vacant or poorly maintained and contains historic plaster. Plaster ceilings can be temporarily shored by using 2x4s nailed together to form a t, then wedging the top of the t to press plywood against the ceiling. Plaster on wood lath saints joseph and michael church. Redwood lath and plaster can help achieve your home renovation goals. Wooden lath strips are nailed across the framing and then plaster is applied to them. Complete doityourself guide for homeowners 1 by ian anderson isbn. Whats behind your plaster walls and ceilings angies list. Plaster walls are made by nailing strips of narrow wood lath, spaced 14 inch apart, horizontally across the vertical studs. Its the last bit, and the wide set parallel cracks, that make me think we have rock lath plaster.
Spend this time at home to refresh your home decor style. Wood lath serves to strengthen the wall by adding additional racking resistance. Wood laths are narrow strips of some straightgrained wood, generally baltic or american fir, in lengths of from two to four or five feet to suit the distances at which the timbers of a floor or partition are set. Gypsum is noncombustible, and compared to other wall materials, like solid wood and plaster, gypsum boards are much lighter and cheaper. How to care for old and historic wood and plaster shivers, natalie on. The most logical place for it to crack is along the spaces where it is supposed to key.
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