The Washington times., 1924-07-12
STUCC0 IS OLD
As BUILDERS
MATERIAL
Plaster Work on Pyramids Is
Still Strong as Rocks
Under 1t

OF all the building materials in
use, stucco, tracing its pedigree back
through the plasters, is one of the
most ancient and honorable.
The pyramids Of Egypt contain
plaster work at least 1000 years old
in splendid condition today and COM
pairing favorably with the rock itself
Tor durability. Indeed, the early
the art of plastering and plaster
products to high state of perfec-
ton, many of the present day tools
being the same as used in that
ancient day.
They made most Of their plasters
from burnt gypsum, similar to our
plaster OF Paris. They used base
or lime stucco which, in partitions,
was laid in reeds laced together
with cords for lathing.
Egypt Used Stucco.
The ancient Egyptians also used
stucco extensively for art and pic
torial representations in bas-relief-
frequently colored. The likenesses,
or death masks of deceased per.
sons, found on many mummy cases,
were canvas plaster. Canvas plaster
has been claimed recently as a new
invention.
The harem Of King Amenhotop
~, about 1400 B. c., had its prin-
c1pal room floored with plaster
pavement deliberately painted. This
floor was laid on brick, the first
coat of lime stucco about / inch
thick; the finishing coat of well.
haired plaster about "a inch thick,
smooth and fine, showing evidences
Of troweling.
Early In Greek and Roman archi-
lecture, stucco work became prom
tnent. Pliny refers to it's use by
an artist in the temple at Ellis,
$50 B. G. One Of the few works
Of art which survived the fire of
Nero, A. D. 81, was a bas.relief
in plaster work of the Siege of
Troy.
vitruvius. a military engineer
with Julius Caesar in his African
campaign, As B. c., wrote detailed
instructions for plaster work COM
Of today.
Modern Use of StuccO.
The use of plaster as an interior
finish is an accepted practice which
long has been widespread. Rough
lime plasters were used to some
extent for outside finish of peasant
homes in Europe and occasionally
in this country.
Within recent years, however,
stucco for outside finish has be.
come increasingly popular with the
development Of the perfected port.
land cement and magnesite stuc-
cos, which are much better adapted
for this use than former materials.
Magnesite Is a magnesium car
Donate, found principally in the
Mississippi valley and the South
east. Many successful stuccos to.
day are made from it. Perhaps
the principal novelty in connec-
ton with its use are the chemicals
used in the water with which It
Is mixed. These chemicals are non.
freezing and the magnesite haa
other characteristics which prevent
the formation of cracks. Magnesite
stuccos are particularly successful
and permanent finishes, and their
popularity is becoming more wide
spread every day.
Discovered in France.
The discovery Of magnesite Is
attributed to a French scientist,
M Sorel. In 1868, he discovered,
that, by combining magnesite and
magnesium chloride, a chemical
reaction took place which pro-
duced what is known as oxyckloride
cement, which sets dense and COM
pact, hard and nonporous. It was
first used in the United States
as sanitary flooring in the Aus.
TRAN Building at the worlds fair.
One reason for it's popularity is
the variety of color and texture eff.
fects obtainable. Granite, marble.
and tinted and sparkling stones
are ground and pebble.dashed on
the final coat. Or the final coat
can be effectively spray painted
any tint desired.
Unaffected by Elements.
Portland cement stucco is said to
be unaffected by rapid changes in
temperature, rains, sunshine, or
frost. Periodical painting is not
required and dirt streaks can
be removed by scrubbing.
It usually is applied in three
coatS-the first coat, intermediate
coat and finish coat. On masonry,
the intermediate coat Is often
omitted. 1t can be applied over
wood, lath, metal lath, stone, brick
or concrete. When applied over
concrete, the surface first should
be scored or roughened, to provide
a proper bond.
Architects make clever use of
brick, coloreH cements and stone
work around windows and at other
effective points, to relieve the mo.
notony Of gray stuccos.
Solid tints throughout the entire
stucco mix are obtained by use of
colored cements, thus affording
home builders a wide range Of
choice in the outside appearance
of the building.