Interior lath and plaster walls can be very difficult to penetrate with axes or hand tools.

• A. Very difficult
• B. Easy
• C. Moderately difficult
• D. Impenetrable

Answer: (A)

Lath and plaster walls present a dense, multi-layer barrier that makes forced entry particularly challenging. The plaster coat can be thick and hard, and the lath behind it—whether wood or metal—adds substantial resistance. Striking with an axe or other hand tools has to break through both the plaster and the lath, which takes more time and effort than modern drywall, so penetration is described as very difficult. It isn’t truly impenetrable, but it requires more energy, technique, and possibly alternative entry methods to breach.