Lathing Away
Most of the plaster to the right of the Octagon Room mantel was intact. Then I looked closely, and realized large sections had entirely pulled away from the lath. This cannot just be pushed back into place, as broken bits get behind the plaster. So…all this came off, effortlessly, by hand. Curiously, the room feels LESS damaged!
I know I do not have nearly enough lath to repair the house. Indeed, three ceilings are entirely stripped to the joists (entry hall, kitchen, Sewing Room). So, I was THRILLED to find that I can order new lath from a local supplier!
However, I might use diamond metal mesh on the ceilings. This would take WAY less work. I think. It is also possible that, by working with Justin, and his nail gun, we could lath a ceiling pretty quickly.
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Modern with traditional method, so creative!
This is very exciting! I’m confused (sorry) about the metal mesh. Is that instead of the wood lath or in place of?
On my three ceilings stripped to the joists, I might use the metal instead of wood lath.
Might.
Thanks for clearing that up. Maybe try a small area to see how well it holds? If possible.
By doing this yourself, you’re saving yourself a bundle. I’m having ONE wall in a bedroom redone with new plaster and it’s going to cost almost a grand. Plus I’ve been waiting for a year for this guy to be available. I don’t want plaster board, I want my walls repaired as they were originally made. So, I waited and I will pay. He mentioned he’s going to use metal lath. So, I’m excited to see your progress and process so I have some semblance of knowledge about the task.
Good on ya for being meticulous and willing to put in the effort.
As this is my first comment in the new year, let me also say: Happy New Year, Ross! May your year be prosperous, plentiful, and full of health and humor. Cheers!
The metal mesh is a great invention for plaster foundation, but I would think that for a horizontal application in a ceiling, that you would want to increase the strength of the foundation for the plaster. I know it costs more and would be twice the labor, but for a large ceiling area, applying the metal mesh to the joists and then the wood lath over the mesh with the nail gun would increase the strength of the lath and restrict the flex of the metal mesh. Making a plaster ceiling that would never crack and last over 10 generations.
After moving into a 1920s Tudor Gothic in the late 1990s, we installed CAT5 to distribute internet via a router within the house to the office, living spaces, and bedrooms. This was in the days prior to home wireless internet solutions. Once wireless routers became available, the hardwired network is rarely used (because who wants to walk around with a laptop dragging a cable) with the exception of one room. It’s the bedroom furthest from the wireless router.
When we renovated the nearby bathroom as the tile was being removed with a little too much force, the plaster came down on the wall behind in that bedroom. Diamond mesh was placed over the lathe of the damaged area (8’ x 6’) and the plaster reinstalled. The diamond mesh blocks the wireless signal into that last bedroom even with a wireless repeater just outside the room. My daughter’s solution was to use the neighbor’s wireless that was stupidly unsecured for years.
As you consider the wire mesh, please take into account your plan to distribute wireless internet throughout your house. It’s possible with some strategically placed repeaters you can still get the signal to be available where you need it if you use the mesh on the ceilings.
Just sharing a lesson learned.
BTW, I did not find out about the theft of the neighbor’s wireless until after my daughter moved out after college. I would have stopped it at the time since I consider it theft. So why did she do it? The Ethernet cable to the CAT5 jack in her room was only four feet long, and she wanted to do homework on her bed. Rather than ask me for a longer cable, she found the easiest solution. Teenage logic, what can I say?
As my kids get older they are finally confessing to things they did I was not aware of —— still waiting for a more juicy confessions.
Most laptops /internet TV devices / distributed home security systems do not have Ethernet ports. The only hardwired port used in our house today is a laptop dock in the office. Just plan accordingly for your home, Ross.
As a mother of two over 40 yr. old “children”, believe me when I say sometimes ignorance is bliss. Just saying… 😁
Oh my god yes! I’m STILL getting occasional stories from my son, and may I say that I have earned every single gray hair on my poor head! Holy cow, I am surprised that kid lived to adulthood. (Some of the stories are hilarious but for the life or death aspect)
He feels bad now though…. he’s got two kids of his own, and is floored by how diferently he thinks now as a dad. *grin*
Interesting — my house is entirely plaster with wire lath and we have no trouble with WiFi reaching from the basement all the way up to the second floor. It’s a small house though so maybe that has something to do with it.
Metal lath has been used since at least the 1950s for plaster. I think metal lath is a little lighter and with rough, uncoated edges, than the diamond lath in your picture. My father did plaster and ceramic tile starting right after WWII, and my grandfather before him was a plasterer. I remember it well as I often was press-ganged into being his helper.
Also, cut a sheet of full-length lath into 12 inch widths to carry in your car. It is wonderful for getting a stuck car out of a snowbank.