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**History of Plasterwork:**
– Plasterwork is an ancient handicraft used in building operations.
– Evidence shows primitive man used sticks and mud for dwellings.
– Early plastering materials excelled in scientific composition.
– Egyptian pyramids contain durable plasterwork over 4000 years old.
– Greeks used fine white lime stucco for decorative plastering.

**Tools, Materials, and Techniques:**
– Plastering requires tools like laths, lime, sand, and hair.
– A variety of cements and coloring washes are used in plastering.
– Tools include laths made of wood or metal, lathing nails, and plaster of Paris.
– Materials like lime are crucial for internal and external plastering.
– Hair is used as a binding medium in plaster for strength and durability.
– Special sands and additives like barium are used for specific plastering applications.
– Different cements and techniques are used for various surfaces and finishes.

**Laths and Lime in Plastering:**
– Wood laths are narrow strips made from straight-grained wood.
– Laths are nailed with a space between them to form a plaster key.
– Metal lathing, including wire or perforated sheets, is used for fireproofing.
– Lime used for plastering is calcined from chalk or limestone.
– Perfect slaking of lime before use is crucial to prevent blowing.
– Hydraulic limes are used for external plastering.

**Hair and Finishing Process:**
– Hair is used as a binding medium in plaster to give tenacity.
– Traditionally, horsehair was commonly used before the availability of motor-cars.
– Ox-hair is now commonly specified for plastering.
– Good hair should be long and greasy to protect against degradation.
– The finishing process involves applying plaster in two coats, using a hand trowel for a polished finish, and scraping off loose sand grains.

**References and Additional Resources:**
– Plastering and plaster are related terms.
– References include books by Brian F. Pegg and William D. Stagg.
– Encyclopedia Britannica provides information on plaster and plaster of Paris.
– Building Limes Forum UK offers research presentations on plaster.
– The ISBN for ‘Plastering’ by Blackwell Publishing is 978-1405156042.