Roger and David's house
Capitol Hill area
Washington, DC

nailer for the coping Wall is straightened
A two by ten is set for a nailer for the coping (flashing on a parapet wall is called coping). The wood also serves as a ground
for the stucco. A ground establishes a straight line as well as the wall thickness.
  A two by ten is just right- 9-1/2" wide.
8" block+3/4" stucco+3/4" stucco on other
side equals 9 1/2" exactly.		 Wall is straightened by pulling string lines.
Wood strips are set using strings vertically
at the outside corners, or arrises.
If you haven't seen it on my site before, the arrises are the outside corners in plastering.
Window strips are set using strings at top
and bottom of strip.
You'll never see the block joints You'll never see the block joints on my jobs. PERIOD.
Walls are straightened using straight-edges
called rods. This is called rodding off the 
wall.
Mynor rods wall side to side holding rod
vertically. Juan C. (right) scrapes excess mortar from rod onto mortar board.
Jack arch Jack arch protrudes past the window
to create the illusion of supporting weight.

The old houses here in Capitol Hill have
cast stone lintels that look just like this.
 
Jack arches White Portland cement and white sand
Jack arches are formed with furring strips,
filled with metal lath and cement mortar.		 Finish coat is White Portland cement and white sand colored with "Silver grey" from
La Habra stucco, mixed double strength and troweled real rough for a stone like effect. 
Tops of walls from basement are rounded Tops of walls from basement are rounded
to shed water. It makes a nice Santa Fe look.