16 c 
Asenath Leavitt 
.Editor 
SEPTEMBER, 1922 
Published Monthly by NORTH WESTERN EXPANDED METAL CO. 
Chester Lewis 
Associate Editor 
1237 Old Colony Bldg' 
CHICAGO 
From a Home Builder to 
Her Chum 
Dear Marie: 
Pack your suit case and Tom’s and 
come to see us next Saturday for the 
week end, for Marie, the bungalow is 
finished—we are in it and nearly set¬ 
tled already, and it is too adorable. 
It’s stucco, of course, the only con¬ 
struction within our purse limit that 
would give us the effect we wanted, 
but remember this, my dear, when 
you build—the stucco is over a base 
of Metal Lath. 
Our architect, Mr. Sims, advised 
this because it seems that the Metal 
Lath or steel web under the stucco 
so reinforces it that it will not crack. 
Goodness knows we don't want our 
“dream house” all marred with 
cracks or growing shabby looking in 
a few years, so we decided to use 
Kno-Burn Lath. And it is a real 
comfort in this little podunk place 
to know that there is a steel, instead 
of a combustible support under the 
plaster. For you know my dread of 
fire, and when you are outside the 
city limits, one certainly doesn’t 
want a “fire trap” house. 
Mr. Sims insisted on our using 
Kno-Burn Metal Lath under the 
plaster of the living room, dining 
room, our bedroom and the guest 
room so that we can be sure now 
“It’s stucco, of course, the only construction within our purse 
limit that would give us the effect we wanted.” 
that we will never have our ceilings 
cracking and falling on our heads as did the Vances 
or. that memorable Thanksgiving evening. Poor 
Grace; she certainly had my sympathy—for think 
of the muss, to say nothing of the expense. 
Incidentally, it is partly due to the use of the Kno- 
Burn lath that we are all ready “for company” so 
soon, because it seems that when you use Metal 
Lath you can decorate right away instead of hav¬ 
ing to wait so long. And I simply couldn’t have 
stood that awful flat another month. 
I won’t tantalize you by telling you of my dear 
little Dutch kitchen or my “built-in work-savers”— 
you’ll see them all Saturday. Until then, dear 
Lovingly, 
Gwen. 
Man to Man 
planning to build. Of course, the conversation 
turned on costs and he showed me some figures 
which rather surprised me. Thus—a S-room house 
in Evansville, Indiana was bid recently as follows: 
8 " “Ideal” (brick hollow wall).$7100.00 
Frame (siding and painting). 6930.00 
Back-plastered on Metal Lath. 6533.00 
In Milwaukee recent figures were: 
Colonial siding sheathing (paint not in¬ 
cluded) per sq. yd.$1.64 
Back-plastered cement stucco and lath 
erected . 1.57 
In California: 
Stucco on Metal Lath and sheathing per 
yd. 1.75 
Both erected . 1.62 
Dear Holbrooke: 
The other day after you left me I happened to 
run into an architect friend and told him I was 
While costs vary in different localities, you’ll note 
that in these particular estimates, stucco back- 
plastered on Metal Lath made the best showing. 
But, as Read pointed out, any initial saving in cost 
is one of the least advantages of this type of con¬ 
struction and then went on to explain its fireproof 
qualities and rigidity and strength. 
(I might add that he showed me a piece of this 
Kno-Burn lath which appears to be sheet steel cut 
and expanded to form a net work of small diamond¬ 
shaped meshes.) 
In the back-plastered method of stuccoing, the 
plaster is applied to both sides of the lath and when 
dry there results literally a reinforced steel and con¬ 
crete slab. This affords thorough protection to the 
main structural timbers of a frame house and, there¬ 
fore, by using Metal Lath as a support also for the 
interior plastering, one practically has an “armour- 
plated” or fireproof house. 
This appeals to me for I don’t think a man has 
any right to build a house which is a menace to 
his family and neighbors. Read also tells me that 
the Kno-Burn lath so perfectly reinforces the 
plaster that stucco houses he built years ago are 
entirely free from cracks today—an absence of re¬ 
pair bills which prospective builders of limited 
means, like myself, cannot afford to overlook. 
One point he particularly emphasized was that 
back-plastered Metal Lath and stucco construction 
saves some 20% more heat than the common con¬ 
struction of either hollow or solid masonry walls 
and over 34% more than unfurred masonry walls. 
On the face of it, this back-plastered stucco and 
Metal Lath construction looks worth investigating, 
doesn’t it? I am going to get the manufacturers’ 
book on “Home Building”. They forward it free 
if you address them as below. 
Sincerely, 
Bob. 
Free Information for Home 
Builders 
“Home Building” is a book full of suggestions 
on how to get the utmost in appearance, conveni¬ 
ence and durability out of your investment. It is 
free to prospective home builders. Write for your 
copy today. 
North Western Expanded Metal Company 
Please send me your home-building booklet No. 1237. 
Name . 
Street . ... 
City and State. 
Remarks . 
