More serious repair problems include delamination, bulging walls, and key failure, where plaster has broken loose from its grip on the lath substructure. Wide cracks: A crack of 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch in width is problematic it's a sign of something going on that is more serious than a house settling or climate control issues. The most common type of damage to plaster is cracking, progressing from the superficial and easily repaired to deeper and wider cracks that require multiple repair techniques.If your building is older and hasnt undergone significant renovations, theres a higher chance that asbestos-containing materials, including those in lath and plaster walls, might be present. This board had holes regularly spaced, providing room for wet plaster to keep the insulation intact. Older buildings, typically constructed before the 1980s, are more likely to contain asbestos in various building materials, including lath and plaster walls. During that time, rock lath, also called gypsum board, was developed. They are most common in the first 10 years of plaster installation. While lath and plaster was popular into the 20th century, newer methods were developed during the 1930s. Builders apply several layers of plaster to the lath to form a thick, strong wall with a smooth. Diagonal, horizontal, or vertical cracks: These streak-like cracks are structural cracks caused by foundation movement, moisture expansion, or plaster drying and shrinking. Lath and plaster walls consist of layers of wood, called lath, placed close together on wall studs.The laths, which should be roughly 25mm wide and around 6mm thick, can then be applied. These provide the necessary support for the lath, which will be nailed horizontally across the wall studs. To measure the plaster thickness, insert a flat-head screwdriver between the lath boards and twist it. The thickness of the plaster will indicate what size drill bit to use and how long the wall anchor should be. This is a sign of a bigger problem that should be remedied immediately. The first step in building a traditional lath and plaster wall is installing the wall studs. Before drilling, you need to identify the wall’s plaster thickness. It could be from outside water getting in or a pipe in the walls that has sprung a leak. Bubbling or discoloration of plaster: If you notice cracks that include bubbling, wetness, discoloration, or water stains, you likely have water seeping into the wall.The outer layer may only need removal and replastering. Bulging is usually caused by a simple problem like the outer layer separated from the inner layer of plaster, called delamination. Bulging: Bulges in plaster create small cracks emanating from them.The lath is then embedded with three layers of wet plaster. Four-foot-long strips of wood lath, typically 1-inch wide, are nailed directly to the open wall studs.
Hairline cracks are usually caused by plaster drying, expanding, and contracting. What Is a Lath and Plaster Wall Lath and plaster refer to an interior wall construction technique that typically predates the 1940s. There is no need to bother with them unless you want to clean them up cosmetically. Hairline or spiderweb cracks: These cracks are benign they are so small that you can hardly fit a fingernail in them.The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.