Spec Finish

THE REPAIR OF HISTORIC LATH AND PLASTER CEILINGS BEST PRACTICE GUIDE 10 www.thefis.org F IS and its Heritage Plaster working group are launching a new guide on the repair of historic lath and plaster ceilings to plug the gap in detailed guidance. The term ceiling comes from a point in history where open roofs were sealed to make the rooms a more comfortable place to be in and are in the main constructed from timber lathes pinned to structural timbers and covered in layers of lime plaster. These ceilings became more ornate with embellishments and decoration often “run in-situ” by hand to create decorated ceilings that are works of art in themselves. Over time and where external forces such as water ingress or vibration, some can fail, delaminating from the laths, cracking, sagging and in danger of collapse and in need of repair before they are lost; so how to conserve and repair them using methods that are sympathetic, robust and where possible reversable was the starting point in commissioning an experienced conservator to draft a new best practice guide called Repair of Historic Lath and Plaster Ceilings. The Author of the guide SarahMayfield , a building conservator, sculptor and ornamental plasterer said: “This is collaborative work by conservators, Historic England and eminent plasterers to provide the trades and professions with robust guidance to the conservation of historic plaster ceilings grounded in good conservation practice, peer reviewed and endorsed by trade and professional bodies alike. “It is hoped that the guide should be used as an intermediary between parties on site to guide discussions, specification and practical practice in the most common of historic ceilings - traditional lath and lime. “The guide aims to provide a language and understanding for everyone managing and working on historic buildings to achieve respect for the skills and attributes involved in the protection of historic ceilings. “Illustrating various methods of repair, the examples are presented within a chart designed with conservation principles to aid proportionate decision making for an individual project and assessing significance is described in simple terms in order that pragmatic decisions can be made and balanced with other values and project pressures. “Each suspension style, material and application is detailed irrespective of preference yet the pros and cons are discussed so that for ceilings of high significance the preference is for minimum intervention and reversibility balanced with access and surrounding historic assets and surfaces.” Sarah concluded by saying: “The most successful projects are achieved when the roles of specifier and craftsperson have overlapped or blended. We hope that this guide can help avoid conflict on site and aid the smooth running of heritage repair projects, ultimately ensuring the longevity of our built heritage”. Jonathan Riley Chair of the FIS Heritage Plaster working group explained that at Technical A Best Practice Guide for trade and professions for the repair of historic lath & plaster ceilings Joe Cilia, FIS Technical Director Sarah Mayfield of Mayfield Heritage Ltd, a building conservator, sculptor and ornamental plasterer Jonathan Riley, Managing Director of Locker & Riley, Chair of the FIS Heritage Plaster working group