Plastering Terminology

1. Plastering Terminology

2. Adhesion - the strength of bond between 2 coats of plaster
or a background.
Aggregate -the part of a mix which will not set.
Arris -a sharp edged external angle.
Background - the base to which plaster is applied.
Bay - the area of wall, ceiling or floor completed in 1
operation.

3. Binder – the part of a mix that sets and binds the
aggregate together.
Bond – the strength of a plastering material to a
background due to mechanical key.
Bonding Agent – a substance applied to a smooth surface
(concrete) to improve adhesion.

4. Dubbing out - the filling out of hollows on a background.
Dry-lining – Plasterboarding walls instead of traditional
plastering.
Darby – used for straightening work.
Devilling – scratching the straightening coat with a nail
float to provide a key.

5. Dot – small pieces of wood which are bedded and levelled
and used as guides for forming screeds.
Fat – the fine residue on a plasterer’s trowel when
trowelling out.
Feather edge – a rule used for ruling internal angles.
Grounds – timber rods fixed to the brickwork to give
thickness of plaster.

6. Hacking – the roughening of a brick background to provide
a key.
Mechanical key – openings or grooves in a background
into which plaster will pass.
Plasticizer – an additive used to increase the workability of
a mix.
Screed – a narrow band of plaster used to rule off.

7. E.M.L.- expanded metal lathing.
D.P.M.- damp proof membrane.
P.P.E. – Personnel Protective Equipment