![lath and plaster texture walls lath and plaster texture walls](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/UWfm1CPjFJmsipv-SSNCdytlsVg=/2070x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/plaster-and-lath-came-before-drywall-1822861-hero-6212a2d235ba4fab9d9a7edfca0564bc.jpg)
To the salespeople at a masonry supply house, a textured finish coat may mean a splattered application of drywall compound (or a mixture of acrylics made for a franchise ethnic restaurant), but this is definitely not what you seek for historic restoration or even new additions. To prepare the plaster mix, place a trowel-full of lime putty on a board or slab of marble, form it into a caldera or doughnut, and fill it with clean water.
![lath and plaster texture walls lath and plaster texture walls](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/EWKT0F/english-victorian-period-house-interior-wall-lath-and-plaster-wall-EWKT0F.jpg)
Once you learn how to control moisture loss to the base that’s receiving the plaster, you can use your creativity and enjoy the effects that spring from the action of a trowel and a few common tools. Not only are the plaster recipes for these materials essentially unchanged over the decades, they are compatible with historic construction practices without relying on additives such as acrylics, accelerators, retarders, and binders. Take the confusion out of common repairs, and begin your plaster project with lime and sand. Though many of the original, handed-down trade formulas and practices are lost, the key-simplicity-is right at hand, especially if you’re attempting to duplicate traditional work with modern materials. Learning how to reproduce plaster textures of the 1920s and ’30s for repairs or additions to old houses can be a rewarding experience when you employ the appropriate materials. American artisans brought out the personality of plaster again in the early 20th century, creating beautiful forms and decorative effects with names like Italian Plaster, Roman Tile Finish, and Spanish Palm Finish for houses built in revival styles. Vesuvius, I was impressed with how ancient artisans manipulated simple lime-and-sand mixtures to create vibrant textures and colors-fitting backdrops for their fine breads and rich cheeses. After studying an exhibition of Roman frescoes rescued from the volcanic ash of Mt. However, once you see plasterwork of the past, you can appreciate what’s possible with the free play of this timeless material. Real plaster walls are so rare in modern construction its easy to assume they can never be more than flat, neutral surfaces. Plaster has a way of pointing you in the right direction, as long as you are open to making adjustments according to its needs. The key to textured finishes is experimentation.