LATH & PLASTER SERVICES

The traditional technique of lath and plaster was first adopted in the 1700's and used to the early/mid 1900s to generally finish interior walls and ceilings. This technique was then superceded by the implementation of modern gypsum plaster and plasterboard, a less time consuming and more affordable process. Despite this technique being superceded, there is still a high proportion of properties which require this traditional technique and level of restoration, typically listed buildings.

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The process of lathing requires strips of wood, traditionally riven oak or chestnut, nailed horizontally across wall studs or ceiling joists, with spaces between, before having a coarse, haired lime compound spread over the laths. This enables the material to latch between them. Once the lime carbonates, the hairs help to form a solid base coat, ready for another layer of compound before a finishing coat. This is generally a three coat process. Riven laths are generally irregular in shape, thickness and width as these are cut by hand following the natural grain of the wood. This inhibits the woods natural strength and the coarseness of the wood results in a better key for the plaster.

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It is important to understand that due to a lime coumpounds breathability benefits, a suitable, breathable paint must be used; which we can advise on.