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"Repairing Historic Flat Plaster" an Historic Preservation Brief November 21, 2008


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Repairing Historic Flat Plaster
Walls and Ceilings

Mary Lee MacDonald
Repairing Historic Flat Plaster

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Introduction

Historical Background

        Plaster

              Lime Plaster

              Gypsum Plaster

        Lath

              Wood Lath

              Metal Lath

              Rock Lath

Common Plaster Problems

        Structural Problems

              Overloading

              Settlement/Vibration

              Lath movement

        Poor Workmanship

              Poorly proportioned mix

              Incompatible base coats and finish coats

              Improper plaster application

              Too much retardant

              Inadequate plaster thickness

        Improper Curing

              Dry outs, freezing, and sweat-outs

        Moisture

              Sources of Water Damage

Repairing Historic Plaster

        Canvassing Uneven Wall Surfaces

        Filling Cracks

        Replacing Delaminated Areas of the Finish Coat

        Patching Holes in Walls

        Patching Holes in Ceilings

              Establishing New Plaster Keys

        Replastering Over the Old Ceiling

Damaged Plaster Cannot be Repaired

        Replacement Options

              Replastering--Alternative Lath Systems for New Plaster

                    Replastering old wood lath

                    Replastering over new metal lath

                    Replastering over new rock lath

              Painting New Plaster

        A Modern Replacement System

Patching Materials

Summary

Plaster Terms

Selected Reading

Acknowledgements


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Selected Reading

Ashurst, John and Ashurst, Nicola. Practical Building Conservation, English Heritage Technical Handbook, Volume 3. Mortars, Plasters and Renders. New York: Halsted Press, 1988.

Gypsum Construction Handbook. Chicago: United States Gypsum Company, 1986.

Hodgson, Frederick Thomas. Plaster and Plastering: Mortars and Cements, How to Make and How to Use. New York: The Industrial Publication Company, 1901

Jowers, Walter. "Plaster Patching, Part Il." Restoration Primer. New England Builder, November, 1987, pp. 4143.

Leeke, John. "Problems with Plaster, Part One." Landmarks Observer, Vol. 12. March/April, 1985., pp. 10,14. Also "Problems with Plaster, Part Two." Vol. 12., May/June, 1985, p. 12.

Leeke, John. "Saving Irreplaceable Plaster." Old House Journal. Vol. XV, No. 6, November/December, 1987, pp. 5155.

McKee, Harley J., FAIA. Introduction to Early American MasonryStone, Brick, Mortar, and Plaster. New York: National Trust for Historic Preservation and Columbia University. 1973.

Phillips, Morgan. "Adhesives for the Reattachment of Loose Plaster" APT Bulletin, Vol. XII, No. 2, 1980, pp. 3763.

Poore, Patricia. "The Basics of Plaster Repair." Old House Journal, Vol. 16, No. 2, March/April, 1988, pp. 2935.

Shivers, Natalie. Walls and Molding: How to Care for Old and Historic Wood and Plaster. Washington, D.C.: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1989.

Stagg, W. D. and B. Pegg. Plastering: A Craftsman's Encyclopedia. Woodstock, New York: Beekman Publishers, 1976.

Van den Branden, F. and Thomas L. Hartsell. Plastering Skills. Homewood, Illinois: American Technical Publishers, Inc., 1984.

Weaver, Martin. "Nuts and Bolts: Properly Plastered." Canadian Heritage. Aug./Sept., 1981, pp. 3436. Also "Nuts and Bolts: Fixing Plaster." Oct., 1981, pp. 3335.


Acknowledgements

Preservation Brief 21 was based on an article in Old House Restoration on repairing historic plaster, published by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1984. Kay D. Weeks, Preservation Assistance Division, Technical Preservation Services Branch, expanded the article and made substantial contributions to its development as a Brief. Special thanks go to the technical experts in the field who reviewed and comment upon the draft manuscript: Andrew Ladygo (Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities), David Flaharty, Gilbert Wolf (National Plastering Industries), Michael Kempster, and Walter Jowers. Insightful comments were offered by the Technical Preservation Services Branch which is directed by H. Ward Jandl. Finally, staff member Karen Kummer, Small Homes Council-Building Research Council, University of Illinois, provided invaluable production assistance.

Washington, D.C. October, 1989



This publication has been prepared pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, which directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop and make available information concerning historic properties. Technical Preservation Services (TPS), Heritage Preservation Services Division, National Park Service prepares standards, guidelines, and other educational materials on responsible historic preservation treatments for a broad public.



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