Things to Watch for When Removing Old House Lathe and Plaster

Before the days of sheet rock, builders used a technique called lathe and plaster to finish walls. This labor intensive method of building a wall began with nailing horizontal firring strips called “lathe” to the existing wall studs. Lathe strips were about 4 feet long and spaced 1/4 inch apart, and provided something for the plaster to grip as it was troweled onto the wall. A good plaster job was applied in several layers, usually finishing with a smooth top coat that could be painted or wallpapered.

Plaster does fail eventually for an assortment of reasons. Plaster walls that weren’t prepared with enough lime in the mixture can crumble to pieces while old layers of wallpaper are being removed. In some cases, years of traffic vibrations will cause the plaster to lose it’s grip on the lathe and fall. Depending on the size of the damage, you may find yourself having to remove an entire wall of lathe and plaster in order to replace the old material with sheet rock.

Removing lathe and plaster is a dirty, dusty, and potentially costly process. While this project seems like it should be relatively easy, there’s a whole list of things that can go wrong if the demolition isn’t done properly. Before tackling a lathe and plaster removal process, check out this list of things you should know and watch for.

Coal dust

Removing plaster means stirring up a lot of dust, including that old 19th century coal dust. Before picking up that mallet and crowbar, you should address all that dust you’ll be stirring up. These means removing electronics from the room, covering the furniture, sealing up the room, and wearing a respirator.

Watching for electrical wires

In older homes with retrofitted electrical systems, it can be hard to tell how the wiring might be configured. Until you know for positively certain where the electrical wires are located within the walls of your home, it’s best to approach lathe and plaster demolition with a light touch to avoid prying out more than just lathe.

Watching out for asbestos

If your old house was retrofitted with heating ducts, you can probably expect to find asbestos lined duct work behind those plaster walls. If demolition work will be in the area of a heat vent or two, contact the Hazardous Waste center in your community and learn the guidelines for proper disposal. In our state, homeowners can safely remove asbestos following a prescribed method. Most states are much more stringent about asbestos removal however, and may require an abatement team to deal with the lined ducts.

Keeping an eye out for loose plumbing

The process of demolishing lathe and plaster will send vibrations through the entire house that can shake plumbing fittings loose. During the demolition, take periodic breaks to make sure that the plumbing hasn’t been knocked loose and is leaking water all over the floor. Homes with vintage fixtures are particularly vulnerable to springing leaks.

Watching out for dead critters, mouse poop, hornet’s nests, and other unwelcomeables

When we pried the ceiling lathe away the corner of our living room some 12 years ago, a mummified squirrel lunged out of the space to stop about 2 inches from my husband’s eyes. He screamed, I screamed, and when the kids came tearing down the stair to see what was wrong, they all screamed too. That thing was GROSS.

Be prepared to watch for those nasty little surprises that may come tumbling out of the walls when you least expect it. While the dead critters won’t hurt you, hornets can sting and dried mouse poop can transmit hantavirus. Again, demolishing lathe and plaster walls with a light touch may prevent you from getting caught off guard by something nasty.

Be current on your tetanus shots

Lathe is held in place with millions of nails. Therefore the chances are very high that you’ll probably be either scratched by a nail, poked by a nail, or will step on a nail. If you haven’t had a tetanus shot recently, it’s probably a good idea to have one before starting in with a lathe and plaster demolition.

Wear protective gear

Of all the DIY old house jobs our family has tackled, lathe and plaster removal is one of the worse. It’s easy to get hurt from falling plaster, exposed nails, and flying debris which is why protective gear is a must.

After getting coshed on the head with falling plaster one summer, we began wearing a hard hat along with goggles, thick gloves, and work boots to protect ourselves from injury. For people predisposed to backaches, an occupational back support with help prevent straining the back while lifting those heavy shovelfuls of plaster.

While removing lathe and plaster is a relatively easy DIY project, it comes with the potential problems that you may have never anticipated. These tips should get you through the task without causing injury to yourself or damaging your home in the process.