×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Identification of lath and plaster?

Identification of lath and plaster?

Identification of lath and plaster?

(OP)
I am looking at a building that was constructed in 1952, along the east coast of Florida. Between the ground level and the 2nd level, open web steel joists spaced at approximately two feet center support a concrete floor deck above and a wire lath and plaster ceiling below. I've attached a picture illustrating the system, and have more, if needed. As a result of Hurricane Matthew, the roofing membrane, roof deck and roof framing were missing above this system (i.e., it was exposed to the elements), over a portion of the building, for several months before they were recently replaced.

I was hoping to be able to obtain some additional information about the plaster ceiling (i.e., is it purely cement-based or lime-based, or is there likely some gypsum in the mix as well?). Specifically, is anyone able to determine the type of plaster that may have been used, and the ceiling system's relative resistance to moisture exposure for a period of several months?

Obviously the metal lath cannot hold up to years of moisture exposure. In many instances in the building, plumbing leaks occurred above this ceiling, causing severe corrosion/deterioration of the metal lath and plaster. However, I thought that exposure for only a period of months may not necessarily mean removal/replacement is required.

Thanks.

RE: Identification of lath and plaster?

tcox....that appears to be portland cement plaster installed on rib lath. If it were gypsum plaster, it would have a smoother appearance and would be whitish rather than grayish.

Portland cement plaster has been prominent since the 1920's. You can check by trying to crush a bit of the material. PCP will be much stronger than lime or gypsum plaster.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources