Grounds. Grounds should be nailed upon the studs around all openings before the house is lathed, at a distance sufficient to allow the casings to cover them, as shown at a, Fig. 135. They are also nailed to the bottoms of the partitions, at the proper height to receive the top of the baseboard, as at b, and a short strip for furring behind the base, as at c. They are for the purpose of giving the plasterer a ground upon which he may run his straightedge, to insure a straight wall, against which the finish may be fitted.

The sizes of grounds vary in different localities; in some places they are ¾ " X 7/8 ", laid so that the laths and plaster will be ¾ " thick. They are sometimes made of |7/8 square material, which makes the plaster 1/8' thicker. If the grounds are to receive the nails of the finish, they are sometimes 2" wide.

Fig. 134. - Plaster Bead.

Fig. 135. - Grounds for Plastering.