Lath & Lime Plaster

A simple and enduring technology

This extremely effective technology for making ceilings, partition walls and the panels of timber frame houses has been used for hundreds of years.

When time takes its toll, sections of lath are readily removed and replaced. New laths of oak, larch or chestnut are installed between the main timbers, and a coarse mortar pressed between them to create ‘snots’ or little hooks which keep them in place for many decades and even hundreds of years.

The coarse scratch coat is allowed to cure, completed with a float and top coat and finished with a lime wash.

Over the centuries many timber frame buildings were decorated with pargetted stories or geometric figures and we are delighted when the process of restoration gives us the opportunity to bring this old craft back to life.

Lath and plaster ceiling. Tower at Homme House Herfordshire

Laths on a ceiling, ready for lime plaster. Mill House, Gloucestershire.

Laths ready for lime plaster under a stair case. Mill House. Gloucestershire.

The original panels of this lovely Gloucestershire Manor House had been replaced with steel mesh and cement resulting in a severe ingress of water. We replaced them with oak laths and lime plaster and the house is sound and dry.

The panels of timber framed houses make fine canvasses for pargetting.

Shurdington House. Cheltenham. 90 panels had been replaced with steel mesh and cement, allowing a generous ingress of rain! They were replaced with lath and lime plaster and the house is now sound and dry

Laths under new stair case courtesy of Ben and Adam, Severn 3. Dutchcombe Farm. Glos.

Completed hall and landing. Dutchcombe Farm. Glos. Traditional laths allowed the stair case to flow seamlessly into the ceiling.