This section is from the book "The Building Trades Pocketbook", by International Correspondence Schools. Also available from Amazon: Building Trades Pocketbook: a Handy Manual of reference on Building Construction.
Plastering consists in the application of a plastic material, called mortar, to the walls and ceilings of a building. The plaster is either laid directly on the face of the wall, or it may be spread over a grille base of wood or metal strips called lath, the edges of which are sufficiently separated to allow the mortar to pass through and fold over on the inner face, thus forming a key, to hold the substance in position.
 
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