Wooden Lath Work

Traditional Wooden Lathwork Plastering
Our work with timber laths is rooted in centuries-old traditional methods, essential for the repair and restoration of period and listed buildings. We use sawn laths, uniformly cut timber strips, typically 12–25 mm wide and 450–600 mm long, providing a consistent base for lime plaster.

When fixing the laths to the building’s timber framework, including ceiling joists and support rails, we stagger every eight laths. This staggering distributes the plaster’s weight evenly across the wall or ceiling, minimises cracking, and ensures a continuous key for the plaster to bind securely. It also prevents long vertical seams, which can compromise adhesion and lead to plaster failure over time.

Before plastering, the laths are lightly dampened. This slows moisture absorption from the lime plaster, preventing shrinkage cracks and ensuring strong adhesion. Once the laths are prepared, lime plaster is applied in successive layers, embedding into the gaps and keyed onto the laths, producing a durable, breathable finish that preserves the historic character of the building.