Plaster Wall Repair Basics - Anatomy of a lath and plaster wall

[SavannahHarrington]

Hi! We bought our first house last year. It’s 1929 with mostly plaster walls. We have had folks suggest we just drywall because it’s easier than dealing with plaster despite nothing being wrong with it! Excited to learn how to care for our home! ❤️ thanks for this video!!

[TechStudios]

We just bought a house in North Wilmington, DE (Belfonte) and the house is OLD!!! Built in 1915 and most of the house is wooden math and plaster walls. I showed my girl this video so she could understand why a lot of the walls are wavy and have imperfections. This was an amazing explanation!!! Thank You!!

[hockeylilly]

Thank you. This is a big help in understanding my 1890 home with plaster walls and their
cracking and loosening

[joshuasmith]

Simple and concise. Thank you so much!

[ritabritschgi]

And how do you suggest to fix these walls. Someone has suggested they strip the walls to the studs and lay drywall. What would be my other options?

[leemoore]

If you need to cut into a plaster wall for an electrical box, how can you avoid damaging the lath or making it come loose? Would using something gentler than a reciprocating saw help?

[heydrdj]

Great intro to lathe and plaster. Could you talk a bit about how these were insulated? I have wall with lathe and plaster beside a chimney, and it's crumbling. I was thinking I'd put 1" foam panels on the interior and then drywall, but don't want to trap moisture between the plaster and the outer wall.

[donadams]

Hey I'm glad I ran into this video again, lath and plaster is a beast of it's own, typically with lath and plaster comes the pain of knob and tubing... that being said I'm scoping out my so's house and have seen plenty of no no's when it comes to the electrical very scary... and a lot of it has been damaged to the point where it should all be mitigated, do you know if it was typical for that time period to run straight shots from the basement to the attics as I would like to re use the same passages as much as possible I already have some repair to do on the plaster I would like to limit how much I have to do thank you!

[moofushu]

When I go to my hardware store I don't think I ever seen them stock wood lath bundles. What are the dimensions of a single wood lath member? I'd like to see if I can locate it at my local hardware store.

[danielriveraandujar]

I have plaster wall and I need to put 2x4 in it so I can install a tv bracket do you have any videos on how to do it

[HobokenHam]

Thanks! This was the best explanation yet I've seen of how plaster. lath and studs are utilized to build these walls. I own a early 1890s brownstone and always fear mounting pictures and paintings. Now I know to look for the studs. You may have a few tricks for doing that. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks again.

[KimberlyYoungMcDonald]

I'm trying to hang a shelving system in a ole house that has lath and plaster it has been a nightmare. when I drill my holes I want to drill in the lath correct....once I do that do I need to use anchors or just the screw?

[VladTN]

I have to join plaster with tile at the corners due to renovation. What corner design and material do your suggest? Also, do you know any asbestos cases in those 1900s joint compounds?

[hbic]

Are the studs in an early 20th century house still pretty much 16 OC? I need to hang a shelf, house built in 1915, all plaster and lath, going to drill small holes along the bottom but If I don't have to keep drilling to find the next stud after the first, I'd prefer that. Have a feeling my house might not have very "standard" and "even" stud spacing.

[arniet]

Great information thankyou. How would you extend or shorten the width of a lath and plaster wall to accept a new door frame?

[blitzinger]

So this video is really good to show whats behind the wall. Im trying to install ethernet outlets. I cut through the plaster and now have the horizontal wood. Before I cut, what should I do to prepare? you said in your video the people who cut out the outlet didn't prepare which is why those pieces are loose.

[owlsinsomnia]

Thank you - that was exactly what I needed to know.

[JonathonNeville]

Hi Rory @BigWalleze, I need to install an 8 pound fire extinguisher on the wall, and I can't find the studs. (1) Would 8 pounds be too heavy for lath? 4 screws - horizontally 1 inch between 2, vertically 5" between the pairs. (2) Is there a way to drill pilot holes and then screw through the lath without damaging the bond between the plaster and the lath? (3) any way to minimize the risk that 2 of the screws - or all 4 - will go into the gaps between the lath?

[AntonioMaggetio]

In the 50s 60s. What would be typical spacing of studs for the lathe?

[noahmorrelljr.]

I need to hang a tv on my plaster wall any do's and dont's and suggestions on types of screws?