#Repairing plaster and lath walls how to#
#Repairing plaster and lath walls install#

Depending on the temperature, it can get stiff within a few hours. Step Seven: Allow the Structolite to set up. Use the carpenter's square to span across the good plaster on the sides of the hole to ensure there's a gap between the square's edge and the fresh Structolite. You want the finished surface of the sandy Structolite to be 1/8-inch below the surface of the finished plaster. Step Six: Use your smaller taping knife to fill the hole in the plaster. This will help the Structolite bond to the old plaster. I've always had great success spritzing the area to be patched with some clear water to slightly dampen the hole. Make sure the hole you're filling has all loose material out of the way and dust off the area to be patched. Step Five: Mix the Structolite as instructed on the label of the bag. Your new base coat to fill deep holes will be the Structolite. The addition of the Portland cement is one reason plaster is so hard because, in essence, you have a thin sheet of concrete on your walls and ceilings. Step Four: Traditional plaster was a two-stage process where the master plasterers put on a base coat of sanded plaster that was a mixture of medium sand, hydrated lime and a little Portland cement.

#Repairing plaster and lath walls install#

If you have to install new plaster lath, you can purchase 3/8-inch thick drywall and cut it to fit the opening you have. Both of these are the foundation to the plaster and they must be sound. The same is true if you have plaster lath. Step Three: Be sure the wood lath strips are securely nailed to the wood framing. The plaster lath was the precursor to larger sheets of drywall used in today's new homes and remodeling jobs. Homes constructed just before WW II and after, usually had 3/8-inch by 16-inch by 48-inch long pieces of plaster lath board that covered the wall studs and joists. Very old homes had thin wood lath strips nailed to the wall studs and ceiling joists. Step Two: Remove any loose plaster from the area you're going to repair. one 25-pound bag of Durabond 90 dry-setting joint compoundĭust off all of your normal drywall finishing tools:.You need to use different materials and fortunately they're readily available and not too hard to work with. If you own an older home that's got real plaster walls and ceilings, you'll discover quickly that traditional drywall premixed joint compound will not work well to fill larger holes. You can still get real plaster installed in a new home, but it's more expensive than drywall that's now the belle of the ball.

I don't know how many older homes there are on Long Island, NY that have traditional plaster, but I'm willing to bet it's in the tens of thousands.

#Repairing plaster and lath walls how to#

Q&A / How to Patch a Plaster Wall Projects text: Tim Carter