Los Angeles County
Lath and Plaster Contractor in Los Angeles
Lath is the part of a stucco wall nobody sees and everything depends on. It is the metal reinforcement the plaster keys into, and together with the weather-resistive barrier and accessories it determines whether the wall drains, cracks or holds up for decades.
Lath and plaster is in our name because it is where the craft actually lives. We install complete lath assemblies on new construction and rebuild failed lath on repair and restoration work throughout Los Angeles County.
What a correctly installed lath assembly includes
- Weather-resistive barrier lapped shingle-style so water sheds downward and outward
- Metal lath fastened into framing members, not just sheathing, at the required spacing
- Lath lapped and tied at seams so panels act as one continuous reinforcement
- Weep screed at the base of the wall for drainage
- Casing bead at terminations, corner aid at outside corners
- Control joints laid out to break up large uninterrupted areas
- Flashing coordination at windows, doors, decks, parapets and penetrations
Why lath failures show up years later
Most of the serious stucco problems we open up on older Los Angeles buildings are lath-stage problems: barrier lapped the wrong direction, lath under-fastened or not embedded in the scratch coat, missing control joints on a long elevation, or a weep screed buried behind a new walkway.
None of those are visible on the day the scaffolding comes down. They surface as rust bleed, recurring cracks in the same location, or soft delaminated areas five to fifteen years in — and by then the repair means removing finished wall.
Plaster coats over lath
Once lath is set, the plaster goes on in stages. The scratch coat is pressed through the lath so it fully embeds and keys around the metal — this is the mechanical bond that holds the entire system to the building. It is then scratched horizontally to receive the brown coat, which levels and straightens the wall.
Cure time between coats is not optional. Plaster that is rushed shrinks and cracks after the fact, and no finish coat repairs that.
Interior plaster work
We also perform interior plaster work, including smooth-wall plaster and hand-burnished decorative finishes. On restoration projects in older LA buildings this often means matching existing plaster profiles and textures rather than replacing them wholesale.
Service areas
- Lath & Plaster in Los Angeles
- Lath & Plaster in Downtown Los Angeles
- Lath & Plaster in Hollywood
- Lath & Plaster in West Hollywood
- Lath & Plaster in Beverly Hills
- Lath & Plaster in Santa Monica
- Lath & Plaster in Culver City
- Lath & Plaster in Inglewood
- Lath & Plaster in Glendale
- Lath & Plaster in Burbank
Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between lath and stucco?
Lath is the metal reinforcement fastened to the building; stucco is the cement plaster applied over it. Together with the weather barrier and accessories they form one system — the plaster has nothing to hold onto without lath.
Do you replace lath on repair projects?
Yes. Where lath is rusted, loose or the barrier behind it has failed, the section is removed back to sound material and rebuilt with new paper, lath and accessories before plastering.
Can you install lath for another plastering contractor or a GC?
Yes, we bid lath-only scopes as well as full lath-and-plaster packages on commercial and multifamily projects.
Why does my building have cracks in the same place every few years?
Recurring cracking in a consistent location usually means movement without a control joint, or a lath issue at that location. Refilling it repeatedly treats the symptom; the repair has to address the joint or the reinforcement.
Related work
Other stucco and plaster services
New Stucco Installation
Complete three-coat stucco systems on new construction, additions and ADUs — lath through finish coat.
Stucco Repair
Cracks, holes, water-damaged sections and failed patches repaired and blended into the surrounding finish.
Commercial Stucco
Exterior stucco systems, restoration and repair for apartment, retail, office, hospitality and industrial buildings across Los Angeles County.
Exterior Plaster & Finishes
Finish coats, textures and architectural detailing that determine how a commercial building actually looks.