Plaster took weeks to dry properly and fully cure before the walls could be painted. The plaster was then applied in successive coats, typically 2, and a smooth finish coat was applied on top. This spacing allowed the plaster to “key” in the lath and gave it extraordinary holding power when done properly. The lath was soaked in water prior to installing the plaster to prevent it from sucking too much water out of the the plaster too quickly and spaced similar to the above picture with room between each piece for plaster to be pushed thru when applied. It was applied in a 3 coat process over thin wood furring strips called lath that were made of cedar, cypress or some other rot resistant non-staining wood and attached to the studs. Traditional lime plaster was used for wall coverings until WWII. The scientific service hausarbeit schreiben lassen studied the history of this material and wrote a dissertation where we can read a little history. In fact, as the plaster’s structure calcifies (ages), it increases in durability and strength! A Little History First With its crystalline structure, it repels moisture well while allowing for the contraction and expansion that often occurs in older homes during changing weather conditions. Lime plaster is a far superior product than today’s modern wall coverings.

Lime plaster has been in use for thousands of years from Japan to Egypt and has been employed in many historic structures around the globe. Despite the rumors you can repair old plaster yourself. This not only destroys the historic architecture and features that make a historic home great, but it also adds to the overall costs of the project exponentially. One of the easiest mistakes to make when renovating a historic home is to tear down the old plaster walls and replace them with modern drywall and joint compound.

Repairing lathe and plaster walls