Adamant Plaster 189 



sand. One barrel suffices for thirty square 

 yards of two -coat work, three - fourth - inch 

 grounds being used ; seven -eighth -inch grounds 

 are required for three -coat work. As mortar 

 made of this material sets quickly, the laths 

 should be thoroughly wet before the mortar is 

 applied, and the rooms should be closed while 

 the work is progressing, or the mortar will 

 harden too rapidly. Not only plastering mortar, 

 but that used for other purposes which depends 

 on cement for its binding force, should not be 

 allowed to dry out rapidly. 



One serious objection is urged against walls 

 made of cement mortar,— it being said that 

 they are so resonant as to be annoying. To 

 overcome this objection the walls of one public 

 building were covered with burlap and painted. 

 Notwithstanding the objections raised against 

 cement plastered walls, they are likely to come 

 into common use, since they are so superior in 

 hardness and durability to the old style wall. 



Ordinarily, a full year should be allotted for 

 building the house, and it should not be occu- 

 pied until it has become thoroughly dried out. 

 Perhaps this hint of the unsanitary condition of 

 a damp house may be sufficient for the Ameri- 

 can. In Germany the law requires that a new 

 house must have been completed a full half year 

 before it may be occupied. 



