Without a good lath foundation, a plaster wall will easily crack.
A wood lath is an arrangement of horizontal strips of thin wood placed under a plaster wall. The lath strips hold the weight of the plaster and also act as an anchor point for the plaster. The scratch coat of the plaster is applied directly to the lath, and as the plaster dies, the plaster soaks into the wood and between the joints, creating a tough and porous surface that the following coats of plaster can stick to. Installing a lath wall is one of the most important steps of creating a plaster wall.
Instructions
1. Measure the distance between each stud in the wall. If your studs are exposed, then this is very easy. If the studs are covered in drywall or some other substance, then you will have to use a stud finder to locate the studs. Mark the placement of the studs with a pencil or marker.
2. Put on the safety goggles, ear protection and a dust mask. Using the table saw, cut the wood lath strips to fit horizontally between the wall studs. Stagger the length of the lath strips so that the ends of the strips land on different studs. This will add the most strength to the wall.
3. Nail the lath strips to the wall studs using a nail gun and two 3-inch long nails. Space the lath strips about ¼- to 3/8-inch apart along the walls. The finished appearance should look like wooden shutters. Never nail the lath strips to anything but a wall stud. Since the weight of the plaster will rest on the lath base, the lath must be attached to something strong.
4. Screw the lath pieces into place if you do not feel like the nails will hold the weight of the plaster well enough. Screw the screws into place with a power screwdriver.
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