What does lathwork mean?
Lathwork is a construction term for work made with laths, narrow strips of wood fixed in rows or crossed over supports. Its most familiar application is beneath plaster in ceilings and partition walls: the plaster is applied to the lathwork, which provides a firm, slightly textured surface while allowing the finishing material to bond. The word is consequently associated with traditional building methods and is especially useful in architectural descriptions and restoration work. In modern construction, plasterboard and other sheet materials have largely replaced timber laths, but lathwork remains important in the repair and conservation of older buildings. It should not be confused with latticework, which describes an open crisscross arrangement, or with wattlework, which uses woven rods or branches.
nounWork constructed from or consisting of laths, especially a framework of narrow wooden strips used to support plaster or other finishing materials.
- Work made from laths, especially a framework of wooden strips used to support plaster.
"The old ceiling was built of lathwork that had been covered with plaster."
"Restorers carefully repaired the lathwork beneath the damaged plaster."
"The building method relies on timber lathwork to support the interior wall finish."
Used when referring to multiple distinct examples or installations of this construction work.
"The survey identified several surviving lathworks in the building's upper rooms."
Lathwork is the hidden wooden skeleton behind many traditional plastered ceilings and walls.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lathwork come from?
The word is formed by combining lath with work, reflecting its use for construction assembled from thin wooden strips. Lath derives from an Old English word for a narrow piece of wood or similar material, while work in this compound retains its general sense of a product or structure made through labor and construction. The compound belongs to the vocabulary of woodworking and traditional building practice.
How lathwork is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon technical or historical term, used especially in construction, building conservation, and descriptions of traditional interiors.
Easily confused with lathwork
Lathwork is made from narrow strips called laths, whereas latticework is made from strips arranged in a crisscross or decorative open pattern.
Lathwork uses thin wooden strips fixed to a supporting structure, while wattlework is woven from flexible rods or branches.