keep a small area of exposed wattle and daub

[sar]

We are having the bathroom renovated and have uncovered an internal wall of timber, wattle and daub and would like to keep a small "window" of it as a feature. We are unsure as to whether it will need sealing behind glass or perspex, or left open and treated accordingly. Most of the areas between the timbers will be covered with lime plaster.
Any advice would be much appreciated please.

 

[Cubist]

You say this is in a bathroom?

If so then, absolutely not! Wattle and daub if left exposed, or if there is any room for moisture to penetrate to it, will rapidly deteriorate and you might be surprised how quickly those old dry timbers and the wattle itself can be attacked by woodworm. It needs the protection of an outer layer of plaster to inhibit/prevent decay.

My view would be to take a good photograph, get it printed to a suitable size and hang that on the newly plastered wall.

 

[malcolm]

I went to look at a house for sale where they had a bit of glass showing the wattle and dawb and some timber. Turns out spiders build webs where there is light and it didn't look very welcoming.