There are three main types of lath, and they are used for different applications. While skimming over small cracks is something a handy homeowner can do herself, replastering entire sections is a job for a professional plasterer. Sometimes, however, repairs can be more involved and may require removing loose sections of plaster and filling in the spot using a standard Three-Step Plaster Method. Patching plaster walls can be as simple as skimming over small cracks with new plaster. If this is the case, the best way to ensure that the walls remain in good shape is to regularly inspect them and repair cracks as soon as you notice them. For many, plaster walls are a big part of an older home’s historical charm, and they’re well worth keeping intact. As long as they’re in decent condition (in other words, not falling away from the lath in chunks), you may opt to leave them as they are. If you live in a house built before 1940 and the walls haven’t been updated, they are most likely plaster. Most houses built before 1940 have lath and plaster walls that need regular inspections and repairs. When moisture from leaks saturates the wood laths, it increases the risk of chunks of plaster coming loose and falling from the wall or ceiling.ģ.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 were left without any insulation. Older homes with lath and plaster walls rarely contain adequate insulation.That’s because the spaces between the lath and studs are often filled with a few inches of fallen plaster, which block the space and prevent an electrician from “fishing” new wiring through the walls. It’s difficult to retrofit lath and plaster walls with new wiring without cutting into the walls.If the settling is substantial, chunks of plaster are likely to fall off the lath framework. Over time, most houses naturally settle when they do, plaster, which is hard and brittle, can often crack.Lath and plaster construction does, however, have its downsides.įor all its ambience, character, and positive acoustical traits, there are good reasons why lath and plaster fell out of vogue. RELATED: 15 Drywall Alternatives You’ll Wish You Had Known About Sooner 2. This makes it easier to create custom curves and arches in walls and ceilings.
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