Lath
Thin, narrow strips of wood nailed to wall studs or ceiling joists to provide a base for plaster in traditional construction, the standard interior finish before drywall.
In-Depth Explanation
Wood lath consists of strips roughly 1/4 inch thick, 1-1/2 inches wide, and 4 feet long, nailed horizontally to studs with small gaps between each strip. When plaster is applied, it squeezes through the gaps and curls behind the lath strips, forming keys that lock the plaster to the wall. This lath-and-plaster system was the universal interior wall finish from the colonial era through the 1950s, and millions of buildings still have original lath-and-plaster walls. Remodeling in older buildings frequently involves dealing with lath, either preserving it for plaster repair or removing it when converting to drywall. For restoration purists, salvaging wood lath maintains historical authenticity and provides superior sound-dampening qualities.
Usage Example
When we opened the wall in the 1920s bungalow, we found the original wood lath still in excellent condition with the plaster keys intact.