{"id":783,"date":"2021-07-22T13:43:03","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T13:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cohesivehomes.com\/?p=783"},"modified":"2021-07-22T13:43:05","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T13:43:05","slug":"year-lath-and-plaster-was-stopped","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cohesivehomes.com\/year-lath-and-plaster-was-stopped","title":{"rendered":"What Year Did They Stop Using Lath and Plaster (and Start Using Drywall)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are taking a look at an older building, you may be wondering what materials they used to make it. If you have a newer building, there is a good chance that it has been made using drywall. This is a cost-effective material that has a wide variety of advantages that has become popular during the last 50 to 100 years. At the same time, there are a lot of older buildings that have actually been made using lath and plaster. What material do you think has gone into the building you own? Which one is better for you? Before you decide which of these building materials is better for you, you may be interested in learning more about the history of lath and plaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Overview of Lath and Plaster<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Worker
Worker measuring the level of a lath<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

First, it is important to learn more about lath and plaster. Lath and plaster is a traditional building process that was once used as the standard to finish ceilings and interior dividing walls. The structure uses narrow strips of wood, called laths, which were nailed horizontally across the joists or wall studs. Then, the entire structure was coated in plaster, which provided the structure with its integrity<\/strong>. There are countless builders that leaned on lath and plaster for many years because it was strong, soundproof, and able to resist fires. Eventually, lath and plaster fell out of favor as drywall became more popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to use this process, the wall or ceiling was built using either wood or metal strips, which went into the lath. The laths were tacked in place at the studs. A wooden lath was usually about one inch thick and four feet long. Then, the laths were spaced about a half of an inch apart. Metal laths were usually provided in bigger sheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In North America (the United States and Canada), the laths were typically sawn; however, the United Kingdom usually used split or riven hardwood laths. Both processes proved effective; however, the United States found that their engineering did a better job of holding up to the rugged and extreme temperature changes that took place during Westward Expansion. These buildings help up well throughout the 19th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Applying
Applying an initial scratch coat to a plaster wall<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Once the individual laths are in place, three layers of plaster were usually applied to complete the process<\/strong>. First, there is a\u00a0scratch coat<\/a>, which is the first layer that attaches to the lath itself. Then, the brown coat or browning coat is added next. Finally, the color or finish coat is added on top. This is done before the walls are ready to be painted. Sometimes, additional ingredients were mixed into the plaster to strengthen. For example, many traditional buildings in the UK incorporated\u00a0horsehair<\/a>\u00a0into the plaster to reinforce it. This prevents chunks of plaster from breaking away as the building settles. This process changed slightly over the years; however, the basic process remained the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Brief History of Lath and Plaster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Prior to the development of lath and plaster, the standard building procedure used something called\u00a0wattle and daub<\/a>. This is a process that was used for thousands of years up until the 17th century. Wattle and daub were made using a combination of wooden frames, called the wattle, and then daub, which is a sticky substance that was used to hold the frame together and provide insulation. A variety of materials were used to make the daub over the thousands of years this practice was used. Examples include wet soil, clay, animal feces, and straw. Sometimes, sand was incorporated into the daub as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The old wall is covered with lath and covered with clay<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The process of\u00a0lath and plaster<\/a>\u00a0was developed during the 17th century; however, it did not reach widespread use until the 18th century. It was popular in the United Kingdom before it spread to the United States and Canada as the colonies continued to grow. Wooden lath was popular during the 1700s and early 1800s; however, as the industrial revolution took off, metal lath was more popular at the end of the 19th century. Metal lath was usually separated according to weight, length, and ribbing; however, by the end of the 19th century, metal lath was also galvanized from time to time, creating a new category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While lath and plaster was popular into the 20th century, newer methods were developed during the 1930s. During that time, rock lath, also called gypsum board, was developed. This was the early precursor to drywall<\/strong>. This board had holes regularly spaced, providing room for wet plaster to keep the insulation intact. By the late 1930s, this type of rock plaster with gypsum board was the primary method in residential plastering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the United Kingdom,\u00a0gypsum board<\/a>\u00a0transitioned to complete drywall by the end of the 1930s. The lath and plaster model was popular in the United States and Canada through the 1950s; however, this was replaced with drywall and plasterboard by the 1950s. This modern material worked better with wiring practices, as electricity became standard in most homes and offices. Furthermore, engineers discovered that lath and plaster was more susceptible to settling than drywall, leading to the transition. It is important to keep these dates in mind if you are trying to figure out which material was used to make the building that you own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pros and Cons of Lath and Plaster<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to lath and plaster, it is important to figure out whether this is a good option for you. Should you go with lath and plaster? We should look at the pros and cons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Advantages of Lath and Plaster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a typical lath and plaster construction project has been finished, this is going to result in a thick layer of plaster that is about 1.25 inches thick, as there is a minimum of three coats of plaster. A few of the top benefits of this process include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n