I have recently moved into a 100-year-old farmhouse in the Ottawa, Ontario area. The walls are plaster on lath. Though I don't know much about this, it seems to me that there is no finish coat of plaster. I would like to stay true to the construction techniques/style of the period, though I'm not fanatical. What would be required for preparation? Can you suggest sources of repair/decorating information for house of this type and age?
Answer:
It sounds like someone partly finished your house and then didn't get around to doing the finish coat of plaster. This was never common practice but then, as now, when someone runs out of money or their get up go just gets up and leaves, they did the best they could with what was there. There are lots of products on the market now that you trowel on and then either sand or rub to a flat finish. The old material used to be trowelled onto the masonry surface. The new stuff may require a base coat for the sake of adhesion.
