How to Repair a Hole in a Victorian Lath and Plaster Wall
In the late 19th century when Victorian houses were being built, drywall had not yet been invented. Interior walls were made with lath and plaster. Thin wooden laths were installed horizontally across the wall studs, then covered with a coating of plaster, which would adhere to the lath by being pressed through the spaces between the laths. This created smooth, white and durable walls. You can repair these walls in old houses rather than knocking them down and replacing them with drywall, thus preserving the historical character of the building. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Clear away any bits of plaster that are loose or breaking off. Enlarge the hole if you have to; be sure that everything left is firmly adhering to the wall before you add new plaster.
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Replace missing bits of lath if the hole is so deep that it has knocked pieces of lath out of the wall. Use scraps of wood with a rough surface; the plaster adheres to these more easily. Bridge the hole in the lath with the scraps of wood and screw them onto adjacent pieces of lath or the wall studs.
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Mix a small batch of plaster according to the instructions on the packaging. Most plasters require you to add water then let the mix sit for a few minutes to set up.
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Spread the wet plaster over the exposed lath using a plastering knife. Be sure to fill all air holes and squeeze the plaster through the gaps between the laths. Smooth the surface of the patch until it is flush with the rest of the wall.
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Let the new plaster dry for at least 24 hours. When it is completely dry, sand it smooth using a piece of sandpaper on a sanding block. The smoother you can make the plaster when you apply it, the less sanding you will have to do.
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References
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