How much does lath and plaster cost to replace? [2024]

Does your existing home have lath and plaster internal walls? If so, you may be thinking of replacing them with stronger and better insulated drywall, plasterboard or Gyprock.

This traditional method of creating internal walls and ceilings is found on period homes across Australia, but they can cause problems as they are not insulated and can suffer from movement and cracking. Replacing lath and plaster walls is generally recommended, but it can be a messy and costly job.

To get an idea of how much replacing lath and plaster costs and what else you need to know, read this guide to find out:

• What is lath and plaster?
• How much does it cost to remove lath and plaster?
• What can replace lath and plaster?
• Lath and plaster repair costs
• Getting quotes for replacing lath and plaster wall or ceiling

What is lath and plaster?

It's first important to understand what exactly lath and plaster is and why it's inferior to modern finishing techniques.

Lath and plaster is a combination of narrowly nailed strips of wood with wet plaster applied over the top. There are small gaps left between the timber laths (strips) which allows the plaster to adhere and gives the wall structural integrity. Animal hair (usually horse hair) was also added to the plaster to help it bind more effectively. 

This technique has its origins in the 18th century, when it became the default method for creating and finishing interior walls and ceilings. In the 20th century, lath and plaster was replaced by drywall/plasterboard as this was a faster and more effective way to create internal walls.

Lath and plaster should not be confused with plaster glass (GRG). This is a super-fine plaster that contains glass fibre strands and was used extensively in Western Australia homes.

How much does it cost to remove lath and plaster?

To give accurate costings for lath and plaster removal, your plasterer or builder needs to know the size and complexity of the job. However, removing old plaster will generally only be a fraction of the new plastering cost.

Plasterers charge around $45 per hour on average to plaster a wall. This can increase to around $50 per hour if they also need to remove old plaster.

Note that if you have asbestos in your property, the overall cost of removing wall and ceiling materials will escalate significantly, as you need to have this removed by a specialist. Asbestos removal costs between $25 and $50 per square metre.

Read more: How much does it cost to remove an internal wall?

What can replace lath and plaster?

If you choose to replace lath and plaster walls, you have a couple of options. You can plaster straight over the existing wall or remove it and replace it with drywall/plasterboard first.

• Hard plaster costs $20–$70 per square metre
• Wet plaster costs $45–$90 per square metre
• Plasterboard costs $15–$20 per square metre

Read more: How much does drywall installation cost?

Lath and plaster repair costs

There is no fixed price when it comes to the cost of repairing a lath and plaster wall. Ultimately, it will come down to the size of the area that needs repairing and how much time it will take a plasterer to fix it.

Small cracks are generally repairable, but where cracks appear larger or the plaster is falling away, it is often advisable to replace the substrate with drywall or plasterboard.

In terms of a per square metre rate, expect to pay anywhere from $70 per square metre for lath and plaster repairs, though an intricate or more difficult job could cost more.

Read more: How much does it cost to repair damaged plaster walls and ceilings?

Getting quotes for replacing lath and plaster wall or ceiling 

The best way of finding out the cost of replacing lath and plaster in your home is to get quotes from local tradies who can take on your job. This will give you a sense of what market rates currently are.

Remember that the cheapest quote isn't necessarily the best, and you really need someone who is already familiar with lath and plaster to do a good job. You should take your time to screen each service to get a sense if they are right for your project, checking details such as:

• Do you have experience with lath and plaster?
• Are you licensed or qualified for my job?
• Are you insured to work in my home?
• How long will my job take?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• Do you have references I can follow up?
• Can I see examples of your work?

Costs and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.