Editing Lath and plaster

{{Short description|Finish mainly for interior dividing walls and ceilings}}
[[Image:Lath.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Lath]] seen from the back with white [[plaster]] coat oozing through]]

'''Lath and plaster''' is a building process used to finish mainly interior dividing [[wall]]s and ceilings. It consists of narrow strips of [[wood]] ([[lath]]s) which are nailed horizontally across the [[wall stud]]s or ceiling [[joists]] and then coated in [[plaster]]. The technique derives from an earlier, more primitive process called [[wattle and daub]].<ref>Oliver, Paul (2006). Built to meet needs : cultural issues in vernacular architecture (First ed). Architectural, Amsterdam; London</ref>

Lath and plaster largely fell out of favour in the [[U.K.]] after the introduction of [[plasterboard]] in the 1930s.<ref name="On the level">Jeff Howell, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130328110047/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertyadvice/jeffhowell/3349760/On-the-level-is-the-old-plaster-best.html ''On the level: is the old plaster best?''], The Telegraph (London), May 10, 2006. Retrieved 2012-03-30.</ref> In [[Canada]] and the [[United States]], wood lath and plaster remained in use until the process was replaced by transitional methods followed by [[drywall]] (the North American term for plasterboard) in the mid-twentieth century.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

==Description==
[[File:Lathwork and plaster.jpg|thumb|Partially-exposed wallpapered lath and plaster illustrating the technique.  Example from the [[Winchester Mystery House]], constructed between 1884 and 1922]]
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2012}}
The wall or ceiling finishing process begins with wood or metal [[lath]]s. These are narrow strips of [[wood]], extruded metal, or split boards, nailed horizontally across the [[wall stud]]s or ceiling [[joist]]s. Each wall frame is covered in lath, tacked at the studs.  Wood lath is typically about {{convert|1|in|cm|spell=in}} wide by {{convert|4|ft|m|spell=in}} long by {{convert|1/4|in|mm|0}} thick. Each horizontal course of lath is spaced about {{convert|3/8|in}} away from its neighboring courses. Metal lath is available in {{convert|27|in|cm|adj=on}} by {{convert|8|ft|cm|adj=on}} sheets.

In [[Canada]] and the [[United States]] the laths were generally sawn, but in the [[United Kingdom]] and its colonies, [[Wood splitting|riven or split]] hardwood laths of random lengths and sizes were often used. Early American examples featured split beam construction, as did examples put up in rural areas of the U.S. and Canada well into the second half of the 19th century. Splitting the timber along its grain greatly improved the laths' strength and durability. As Americans and Canadians expanded west, saw mills were not always available to create neatly planed boards and the first crop of buildings in any new western or northern settlement would be put up with split beam lath. In some areas of the U.K. reed mat was also used as a lath.

Temporary lath guides are then placed vertically to the wall, usually at the studs. [[Lime (material)|Lime]] or [[gypsum]] [[plaster]] is then applied, typically using a wooden board as the application tool.  The applier drags the board upward over the wall, forcing the plaster into the gaps between the lath and leaving a layer on the front the depth of the temporary guides, typically about {{convert|1/4|in}}. A helper feeds new plaster onto the board, as the plaster is applied in quantity.  When the wall is fully covered, the vertical lath "guides" are removed, and their "slots" are filled in, leaving a fairly uniform undercoat.

In three coat plastering it is standard to apply a second layer in the same fashion, leaving about {{convert|1/2|in}} of rough, sandy plaster (called a ''brown coat'' or ''browning'' (UK)). A smooth, white finish coat goes on last.  After the plaster is completely dry, the walls are ready to be painted.  In this article's photo ("lath seen from the back...") the curls of plaster are called ''keys'' and are necessary to keep the plaster on the lath. Traditional [[Lime plaster|lime based mortar/plaster]] often incorporates [[horsehair]] which reinforces the plasterwork, thereby helping to prevent the keys from breaking away.

==Historical transition==
In addition to wood lath, various types of '''metal lath''' began to be used toward the end of the 19th century.<ref name=oldhouse/> Metal lath is categorized according to weight, type of ribbing, and whether the lath is [[galvanized]] or not.  Metal lathing was spaced across a {{convert|13.5|in|adj=on}} center, attached by tie wires using lathers' nippers.  Sometimes, the mesh was dimpled to be self-[[furring]].

In use as early as 1900, '''rock lath''' (also known as "button board," "plaster board" or "gypsum-board lath"), is a type of [[gypsum]] wall board (essentially an early form of drywall) with holes spaced regularly to provide a 'key' for wet plaster.<ref name="oldhouse">{{cite web|last=MacDonald|first=Marylee|title=Repairing Historic Flat Plaster Walls and Ceilings|work=Old House Online |url=https://www.oldhouseonline.com/repairs-and-how-to/repairing-historic-flat-plaster-walls-ceilings/|date= 11 October 2016|accessdate=8 May 2021}}</ref> Rock lath was typically produced in sheets sized {{convert|2|by|4|ft|mm}}. The purpose of the four-foot length is so that the sheet of lath exactly spans three interstud voids (overlapping half a stud at each end of a four-stud sequence in standard construction), the studs themselves being spaced {{convert|16|in}} apart on center (United States [[building code]] standard measurements). By the late 1930s, rock lath was the primary method used in residential plastering.<ref name=oldhouse/>

Lath and plaster methods have mostly been replaced with modern [[drywall]] or [[plasterboard]], which is faster and less expensive to install. Drywall possesses poor sound damping qualities and can be easily damaged by moisture. Traditional lime based plasters are resistant to moisture and provide excellent sound isolation.

==Advantages==
One continued advantage of using traditional lath is for ornamental or unusual shapes. For instance, building a rounded wall would be difficult if drywall were used exclusively, as drywall is not flexible enough to allow tight radii. Wire mesh, often used for exterior [[stucco]], is also found in combination or replacement of lath and plaster which serves similar purpose.

Traditional lath and plaster (including rock and metal lath varieties) has superior sound-proofing qualities when used with lime or gypsum plaster, which is denser than modern drywall.<ref name="On the level" />

In many historic buildings lath and plaster ceilings play a major role for the prevention of fire spread. They are critical to the protection of horizontal elements such as timber joisted floors, including the flooring on top, which in terms of fire performance is often in a poor condition due to the presence of gaps.<ref>"Fire Resistance of Historic Fabric" by Peter Jackman - http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/fireresist/fire_resistance.htm</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lath]]s
* [[Stucco]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary|lath|plaster}}
{{Commons category}}
* [http://free-ed.net/free-ed/Resources/Trades/carpentry/Building01/default.asp?iNum=1402 Plaster Base Installation], Building Construction & Finishing
* [http://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/21-flat-plaster.htm Preservation Brief No. 21] by the National Park Service.  Contains detailed descriptions of Lath & Plaster construction and advisories on repairing and restoring these walls (especially in historic buildings).

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[[Category:Building engineering]]
[[Category:Building]]
[[Category:Plastering]]