Estimate of material for 100 square yards.

Plastering laths are usually of white or yellow pine, 1.5 inches wide, 0.25 inch thick, and 3 or 4 feet long. They are nailed up horizontally, about 0.5 inch apart. The upright stud of partitions are spaced at such distances apart, (usually about 15 inches centre to centre), that the ends of the laths may be nailed to them. Laths are sold in bundles of 1,000 each. A square foot of surface requires 1.5 four-feet laths, or 1,000 such laths will cover 666 square feet. A carpenter can nail up the laths for from 40 to 60 square yards of plastering in a day of ten hours, depending on the number of angles in the room, etc.

Plastering is always measured by the square yard for plain work, by the superficial foot for cornices of plain members, and by lineal foot for enriched or carved mouldings in cornices.