Plastering the Rouse 187 



may even endanger the lives of the little ones. 

 With quick- lime and sand and an honest and 

 efficient workman, a good, durable wall may be 

 secured ; provided, however, that the joists and 

 studding are strong enough to prevent vibra- 

 tion when the floors are walked upon or the 

 doors are closed quickly. 



In plastering, the green- coat finish should not 

 be adopted, since poorer walls will inevitably be 

 the result than by the scratch- coat method. To 

 the new settler on the prairies living in a cov- 

 ered wagon, the time consumed in building .a 

 house was important; therefore the second coat 

 of plaster was put on a few hours after the 

 first. The pressure required to si3read, level, 

 and smooth the second coat often disturbed the 

 clinches formed by the first coat. The bond of 

 these mortar clinches being broken or disturbed, 

 the wall was made weak. It is well known that 

 if the bond between the lath and mortar is once 

 broken after the mortar sets, it never reunites. 

 The only safe way to place a wall when the 

 common mortar is used is by the scratch -coat 

 method. This consists in allowing the first coat 

 to become fully dry, having, however, scratched 

 the surface of the plaster slightly soon after it 

 is put on. When it is perfectly dry the second 

 coat is placed, and when this is dry, a third 

 (skim) coat may be added, which should be 



