lath and plaster
Noun A traditional building material and construction method consisting of thin, narrow strips of wood (laths) nailed to a framework (such as wall studs or ceiling joists) to form a base, which is then covered with multiple layers of wet plaster. When the plaster dries and hardens, it forms a solid, continuous wall or ceiling surface.
This term refers specifically to the complete, composite system used historically to create interior walls and ceilings before the widespread adoption of plasterboard or drywall. * The old house had lath and plaster walls, which made hanging pictures a challenge. * During the renovation, they discovered the original lath and plaster ceiling hidden above a dropped panel. * Repairing lath and plaster requires different techniques than repairing modern drywall.
- The term is often used to describe the construction method itself.
- The ceiling was constructed using traditional lath and plaster.
- It can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe other nouns.
- They uncovered a lath and plaster partition wall.
- Lath (noun): A thin, narrow strip of wood, metal, or other material, used as a supporting framework for plaster, tiles, or slates.
- Plaster (noun): A soft mixture of lime, sand, cement, and water that hardens when dry, used for coating walls and ceilings.
- Plasterwork (noun): Architectural features or decorative molding made of plaster.
- Drywall / Plasterboard (noun): A modern alternative to lath and plaster, consisting of a prefabricated panel of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper.
- Traditional plaster construction
- Wood lath and plaster system
- To key / Keying: The process where wet plaster is forced through the gaps between laths, forming a mechanical bond (called "keys") that holds the plaster firmly in place once it hardens. This is a critical aspect of the lath and plaster method.
- The strength of the wall depends on the plaster keying securely behind the laths.
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a building material consisting of thin strips of wood that provide a foundation for a coat of plaster
