Our News

**History of Plasterwork:**
– Earliest plasters date back to around 7500 BC in Ain Ghazal, Jordan.
– Romans used lime and sand mixtures for plastering in the Roman Empire.
– Plaster decoration was common in Europe during the Middle Ages.
– 14th century saw the use of pargeting for decorative plasterwork in England.
– Terracotta was reintroduced in Europe in the 14th century.

**14th Century Developments:**
– Pargeting was used for exterior decoration in South-East England.
– Terracotta became popular for ornament production.

**15th Century Innovations:**
– Venetian workers developed marmorino for external facing.

**16th Century Advancements:**
– Scagliola, a decorative plasterwork, was invented in Bavaria.
– Sgraffito technique was introduced in Germany.

**17th Century Progress:**
– Stucco marble and stucco lustro were introduced for internal plasterwork.

**18th Century Innovations:**
– Oil mastics were introduced in the UK.
– Water-based renders gained popularity.
– Natural cements were used in stucco mixes.
– Portland cement was popularized, changing stucco composition.
– Artificial cements were developed in the 19th century.

**Tools and Materials:**
– Trowels
– Floats
– Hammers
– Screeds
– Hawk

**Developments in Tools:**
– Trowels now available in polycarbonate material.
– Floats finished with sponge or expanded polystyrene.
– Modern materials allow for new acrylic-based applications.
– Traditional tools include scratching tools and utility knives.
– Variety of cements and ingredients for color washes used.

**Laths:**
– Plaster traditionally laid onto laths.
– Wooden laths are narrow strips of straight-grained wood.
– Laths come in three thicknesses: single, lath and a half, double.
– Thicker laths used in ceilings for extra strength.
– Thinner laths used in vertical partitions.

**Nailing Laths:**
– Laths usually nailed with 3/8 inch space between them.
– Space between laths forms a key for the plaster.
– Thicker laths recommended for ceilings.
– Thinner laths used for vertical partitions.
– Double laths used for extra strength in some cases.

**Historical Use of Laths:**
– Laths were formerly used for plaster application.
– Laths made in different thicknesses for various applications.
– Thicker laths used in ceilings, thinner in partitions.
– Laths nailed with specific spacing for plaster key.
– Laths essential for traditional plasterwork applications.