Visit our Lath and Plaster blog for more information. In this video we mention Chris Cute and Make the First Cut Channel. (In Scotland, they even used horsehair!) If metal mesh was used, even metal scanners may not find the stud. How to find studs behind a lath and plaster wall with a magnet. Mesh is also used to help secure the plaster to the lath in some instances. Before drywall became the go-to for modern homes, plaster walls were everywhere. The process has largely been abandoned in favor of drywall.
The lathe strips are typically 2 inches wide, therefore one should find a nail head spaced about every 2.5 -3 inches apart. Note that the plaster may be upwards of an inch in thickness behind which lies the nail heads. There are three different layers: the scratch coat, the brown coat, and the veneer coat. Dedicated metal scanners may be used to locate nails fastening wood lath to the studs. This keying creates the inconsistencies that challenge stud finding technology.Ī MultiScanner® wall scanner with metal-finding capabilities or one of our dedicated metal scanners may be used to locate nails fastening wood lath to the studs. Lath and plaster was a popular method of plastering homes between 17. Through insufficient “keying,” the plaster falls off over time. See Am I having trouble finding studs because my walls are lath and plaster for some suggestions. A stud finder is a tool that helps homeowners locate studs behind plaster or lath walls, ensuring that objects are firmly fixed to the wall.Without a stud finder, items may be installed on drywall, which can result in falling and damage to the object. The photo to the right illustrates how plaster oozes through the lath to create curls called “keys.” Keys keep the plaster securely attached to the lath. Finding studs behind lath-and-plaster walls can be difficult because the plaster is so dense. After the plaster completely dries, the walls can be painted. A rough, sandy “brown coat” is applied, followed by a smooth, finish coat on top. Two wet coats of plaster are applied to the laths. To fully understand why these walls present such challenges, it’s best to first take a look at how they’re built.įirst, wood laths, narrow strips of wood, are nailed horizontally across vertical wall studs. Stud finders, however, will not always return accurate results with lath and plaster walls because of the very inconsistent method by which they are constructed.Īlthough walls may have a smooth surface, some walls deceptively hide an inconsistent combination of wood (lath) and plaster, with deep and shallow levels of density among the plaster, lath and stud. To function properly, the wall surface must have a consistent density level, and be less dense than the wood stud. How to find studs behind a lath and plaster wall with a magnet. How to find studs behind plaster and lath when a magnet isnt working and the wall is featureless.Also, how to hang a lightweight hammock for a small perso. StudSensor™ stud finders locate studs by identifying increases and changes in density behind the wall.