100 
House & Garden 
What Our Friend the Architect Told Us 
Tfome c Duil(Jer Weeds on Construction 
Hall 
and Stairway 
Plaster on 
Metal Lath 
J. B. Benedict 
Architect 
Not a Plaster Crack in 29 Years 
(Statement by a ^Public ^Building Inspector) 
“You want the plaster in your house put on 
so that it will never crack,” said the Architect to 
his friends. “The only way to be sure that you 
will not have plaster cracks is to use metal lath.” 
“Has it been proved that metal lath will give 
us walls and ceilings that will never have plas' 
ter cracks?” asked the wife. 
“ It is proved by many years of use,” replied the 
Architect. “I have brought some records to show 
you. Abuilding inspector of Illinois writes here— 
‘“The partitions in the county court house at 
Decatur, put up twenty mine years ago on metal 
lath, show no signs of cracks or deterioration.’ 
“Think of that; plaster up nearly thirty years, 
always in perfect condition, and never needing a 
penny spent on it for repairs.” 
Never Heard of a Crack 
When Metal Lath Was Used 
“A great firm of plastering contractors which 
has done the work on many of the biggest hotels 
in New York writes— 
“‘We have yet to hear of a complaint of 
cracking or other trouble on any work we put 
up on metal lath.’ 
“Another great New York firm writes— 
“‘We have used metal lath on such buildings 
as the Hall of Records, the Grand Central 
Station, and thousands of others with never a 
come back.”' 
Impossible to Crack 
“Long years of experience in all kinds of 
homes and public buildings give the same kind 
of proof that metal lath makes permanently 
beautiful walls,” continued the Architect. “Here 
is a letter from the Minneapolis Athletic Club— 
“‘The wall of our handball court, put up on 
metal lath, has undergone very hard usage for more 
than three years. We find it impossible to crack.’ 
“Another Minneapolis builder writes— 
“‘Metal lath and plaster walls up fourteen 
years have proved durable and crack proof.’” 
Not a Crack in Stucco 22 Years Old 
“A middle'west builder writes of—‘stucco 
twenty'two years old, put up on metal lath and 
in perfect condition, showing no sign of cracks or 
other deterioration.’ Whether for interior plas¬ 
ter or as a basis for exterior stucco, metal lath 
means no cracks.” 
Metal Lath Stops Fire 
“Don’t forget that metal lath is fire protection 
also. Here is a photograph of an elevator shaft of 
plaster on metal lath that stood, although the 
building burned to the ground around it in Boston. 
“I could give you hundreds of other instances 
of buildings, homes and lives saved by metal lath. 
Think of the lives saved by that 
metal lath elevator shaft. For safety 
build with metal lath.” 
Booklet Will 
Be Sent on Request 
“A booklet on this subject has 
just been published,” concluded the 
Architect. “It will be sent you free 
on request. It is not an adver- 
tising booklet. It is full of vital 
information that you want 
before you buy or build. 
Every person interested in 
any kind of building ought to 
have these faCts. Remember 
the title of the booklet,‘The 
Essentials of Building.’ Write 
for it today to the Associated 
Metal Lath Manufacturers, 
72 W. Adams St., Chicago.” 
The elevator shaft that 
stood though the building 
was destroyed. A mon¬ 
ument to Metal Lath. 
Metal Lath • Prevents Cracks • Stops Fire 
'Booklet on c Request: Associated Metal Lath Manufacturers, Dept. 1426, 72 West Adams St., Chicago 
The CAREY PRINTING CO. Inc. 
New York 
