Is wood the only material used for rustication strips?
No, many materials are used including rubber or neoprene gaskets, plastic and metals. The main criteria are that they must be easily removable and capable of producing sharp edges. When wood is used care must be taken to choose a material that will not absorb a large amount of water and become wedged into the rustication so that it will be difficult to remove. Sometimes it helps to saw kerfs along the back in order to make it easier to remove the strips. Wood strips should be given two or more coats of shellac and a coat of form release agent. There should be a slight bevel on the sides of the strip to make removal easy.