{"id":2743,"date":"2023-03-25T16:15:27","date_gmt":"2023-03-25T16:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cohesivehomes.com\/?p=2743"},"modified":"2023-03-25T16:15:27","modified_gmt":"2023-03-25T16:15:27","slug":"are-exterior-plaster-and-lath-walls-insulated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cohesivehomes.com\/are-exterior-plaster-and-lath-walls-insulated","title":{"rendered":"Are Exterior Plaster And Lath Walls Insulated?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you wondering if your home’s exterior walls are insulated?<\/a> If so, then you’ve come to the right place. Today we’ll be discussing a common type of wall<\/a> construction: exterior plaster and lath walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exterior plaster and lath walls have been around for hundreds of years, and many older homes still have them in place. These walls are composed of a three-layer system: plaster on the interior, lath on the exterior, and insulation in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question is: Are these walls actually insulated? In other words, can they provide the same level of thermal protection as other insulating materials like foam board or fiberglass batts? Let’s take a look at what we need to know before we can answer this question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Exterior Walls<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Understanding<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking to understand exterior walls<\/a>, it helps to know the basics of plaster and lath walls. Exterior walls constructed with plaster and lath are composed of multiple layers. The interior layer is usually made of wood lath, an array of narrow strips of wood that’s attached to the studs<\/a> in a wall frame. Next comes a layer of plaster, which is applied over the lath strips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the outside layer is covered in a textured material like stucco to protect it from the elements. While it looks nice, this type of wall isn’t insulated and lets air pass through, causing your home to lose heat or air conditioning on especially hot or cold days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without insulation, exterior plaster and lath walls do little to protect your home from temperature fluctuations or sound pollution from outside sources. To get both advantages\u2014insulation and esthetic appeal\u2014you may want to consider other materials, such as drywall <\/a>with foam board insulation on top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insulating an Exterior Plaster Wall<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Insulating<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking to insulate exterior plaster and lath walls<\/a>, you have a few options. The most common way is to add insulation materials between the laths. This process requires removing the old lath and plaster, adding new batt insulation and then re-installing the lath and plaster over it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another option is to blow cellulose insulation into the wall cavities. This process requires drilling small holes in the exterior wall at regular intervals, which are then filled with cellulose insulation. Once done, these holes can be filled and sealed with stucco or other fillers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, if you have an exterior plaster and lath wall that is already insulated, it’s important to make sure it stays that way by checking for cracks or openings in the walls where air could be getting through. If such cracks are found, seal them up with caulk or expandable foam insulation to keep your walls adequately insulated for maximum energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n