There are several ways in which to repair lath and plaster - using modern or traditional techniques, or by learning how to patch plaster. If, on the other hand, large chunks of your wall or ceiling are coming away, more significant repair work will be necessary. Simply check them regularly and keep an eye on any new cracks that appear - often simply skimming over them with a suitable, lime-based, plaster mix is sufficient. How To: Find Studs in a Plaster Wall Septemby Scott Sidler 2890 6933 1595 1636 If you own an old house with plaster and lath walls, you may have discovered how utterly useless a stud finder can be. Of course, if your walls are still in good condition, there is no need to touch them.
If you live in a house with lath and plaster walls (likely if your house was built before 1940) then you might be wondering how to repair damaged lath and plaster. How do you Repair Lath and Plaster Walls? If you find an electrical box that is flush with the wall, then it’s probably in a stud. These mixtures usually used a 1:1:6 combination of gypsum or cement, lime putty and sharp sand for the initial two coats, then equal parts of lime putty and gypsum for the final layer. When plastering walls, plaster must be applied in such a way that it adheres to the support wall surface, bears its weight load without cracking, and exhibits a smooth. Later on, it became common to add in gypsum or sometimes cement - this was to speed up the setting process between each layer. The third layer was commonly made up of lime putty and a fine sand in a 3:1 mixture - or sometimes just lime putty.
The first two layers of plaster that were applied to the lath were usually made up of lime putty and sharp sand in a 1:3 ratio - often with animal hair added in to help bind them. (Image credit: Getty) What Type of Plaster Was Used For Lath and Plaster? Lath and plaster walls were commonplace in house right up until the advent of plasterboard in the 1930s. Whether you are a professional contractor or a DIYer, these methods provide a reliable and effective way to locate studs in lath and plaster walls.