In this ceiling, the plaster washers are going into the actual framing (ceiling joists). This tightens both the plaster and the lath to the framing.
When Avalanche Plastering resurfaces existing plaster, we follow
this process. You can leave all the baseboard, window and door trim
in place. We will:
Remove any loose paint or plaster.
Screw plaster washers
with screws through both the plaster and lath (the rows of thin strips
of wood in rows that act as framing supports or substructure
for plaster). We install these every 8" along
all framing members and put additional washers along cracks running
off the framing. This always pulls the plaster and lath up tight.
Painted surfaces will be sealed with an oil based primer as a precaution to prevent the old paint from reactivating and delaminating.
Coat the entire surface in USG Durabond™ "hot mud." This
seals up the surface and provides an excellent base for the plaster.
While the hot mud
is still wet, trowel in heavy 4.5 oz fiberglass mesh over the
entire surface to tie the whole ceiling or wall together and prevent cracks.
Finally, plaster with a two coat veneer plaster system.
