30 
HOUSE & GARDEN 
STUCCO EFFECTS WITH METAL LATH 
An Architect’s Opinion on Using This 
Medium Both Indoors and Out 
JOHN J . KLABER 
T HE great extent to which stucco is 
being used in domestic architecture 
renders it of interest not only to the archi¬ 
tect, but to the prospective home builder 
as well. And since the stucco is very gen¬ 
erally applied over metal lath, this material 
also draws its share of attention. 
Two types of metal lath are at present 
in general use: expanded metal and woven 
wire lath. In the former, which is made 
by cutting and pulling apart a sheet of steel 
by the use of special machinery, the strands 
run diagonally, forming a diamond-shaped 
mesh; in the latter, which is composed of 
wires welded together at their intersections, 
the mesh is usually square, and the strands 
run horizontally and vertically. There are 
also several special types of metal lath, but 
slightly different in principle from the 
above, whose makers claim for them many 
advantages in actual utility. 
Applying the Lath 
The lath is ordinarily applied as shown 
in one of the illustrations, being nailed 
directly to the studding and plastered on 
both sides, the total thickness of the stucco 
being not less than 2", so that the lath is 
thoroughly imbedded in cement and so pre¬ 
served from rust. For this reason also the 
galvanized lath is preferable, although some¬ 
what more expensive than the painted, since 
cement stucco is not completely waterproof 
nor can cracks in the material be entirely 
eliminated by any satisfactory method. 
A better method, so far as waterproof¬ 
ing is concerned, is that illustrated in 
House & Garden for July, 1916. Here 
sheathing and paper are nailed to the studs, 
and the lath applied over furring strips 
which hold it away from the sheathing and 
allow the stucco to pass through it and ob¬ 
tain a firm hold. With this method, of 
course, the back of the lath cannot be plas¬ 
tered, but the use of sheathing paper adds 
greatly to the impermeability of the wall at 
For the country 
cottage, stucco 
over metal lath is 
a practical combi¬ 
nation for walls 
Metal lath makes 
a more even wall 
than the old-fash¬ 
ioned. wood lath 
W. A. Bates, architect 
The suburban 
home lends itself 
to the lath and 
stucco treatment 
Finishing ti-ie Stucco 
The finish of the stucco may also be con¬ 
sidered in this connection. With a smooth 
finish, every crack will show up promi¬ 
nently, but if the surface is rough, the 
shadows of its irregularities will hide the 
cracks and greatly improve the appearance 
of the work. Moreover, there is no doubt 
that a rough finish, particularly in a simple 
house with little or no ornament, is far 
more pleasing in effect. 
The possible variety of finish is consider¬ 
able. It may be floated or stippled, spatter- 
dashed, wire-brushed to bring out the sand 
grain in the mixture, or pebble-dashed with 
materials of various colors. Color may also 
be incorporated in the stucco, or it may even 
be painted over with a solid coat. 
(Continued on page 62) 
a slight additional cost over the usual plan. 
Another improvement is the use of a 
form of lath in which the material itself 
contains ribs, spaced more or less widely, 
that hold it away from the studding. Un¬ 
less this is done, the stucco directly over 
the studs, where it cannot penetrate the 
meshes of the lath, is weaker than else¬ 
where, and it will have a tendency to crack 
along these lines. 
This question of cracks is, in fact, the 
great stumbling block in all work where 
exterior stucco is used. With a mixture 
rich in cement, the contraction of drying 
causes extensive cracks; while a lean mix¬ 
ture, which avoids this difficulty, is so ab¬ 
sorbent as to be almost worthless as a pro¬ 
tection from the weather. The use of 
hydrated lime (one part to five of cement) 
works some improvement, but the surest 
safeguard is the experience of the mason, 
for the mixing of the material is an opera¬ 
tion requiring such care that only with skill 
and experience can good results be ob¬ 
tained. Cheap labor has no place here. 
