Lath

A lath strip or slat can is made from various types of wood. It’s not uncommon to find Oak, Chestnut or Larch, which we stock here.

There are two main types of wooden lath, Riven or Sawn. Riven or Split Laths are split by hand along the length of the grain, providing an ideal textured fibrous surface with a greater surface area than its rival for lime plaster. Sawn Laths are machine cut, thanks to the invention of the circular saw in the 18th-Century and are considered more straightforward to fix into place due to their uniform shape or form, especially for ceilings.

The size of your space, the size of the lath and the gap between the laths will determine how much you will need. Our lath is available in 50-length bundles or as individual lengths to suit your required amount. As a general guide, the gap between laths can be between 6 and 9mm depending on the lath, with 6 mm or 1/4 of an inch as a good starting point. However, remember that the goal of the spacing is to ensure a large enough gap has been left between the laths so that the lime plaster is pushed through effectively to form a key, often called nibs or rivets. If spaced too closely, the plaster is unlikely to go through and easily fail due to the lack of an effective mechanical bond to the lath. If the spacing is too wide, the plaster may fall through the back, inhibiting an effective bond and causing an excessive amount of material to be used unnecessarily.

In a nutshell, the invention of plasterboard. The application of wooden lath and plaster evolved from the ancient practice of “Wattle and Daub” and was widely used until the middle of the 20th Century. While this method had many benefits, such as fire and mould resistance, heat insulation, and soundproofing, in reality, its popularity was driven by limited alternatives that performed the same function. With the invention and production of plasterboard, which was less expensive and simpler to install, its use steadily declined.

Wattle and Daub is a very traditional method of making and finishing walls and buildings, used for at least 6,000 years. With this method, a woven lattice of wooden strips called “wattle” is formed and then “daubed” with a sticky material, typically a blend of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung, and straw. Wattle and Daub has been and is still an important construction method in many parts of the world.

While Expanded Metal Lath is a common material for cement or gypsum plasters, we generally advise against its use for traditional lime plasters.