A mesh-like metal substrate made from expanded, woven, or perforated metal sheets providing mechanical attachment and reinforcement for plaster and stucco finishes.

Metal lath is a mesh-like metal substrate made from expanded, woven, or perforated metal sheets that provides mechanical attachment and reinforcement for plaster, stucco, and other cementitious finishes in wall and ceiling applications. This essential building component creates a mechanical bond between the structural substrate and applied finishes, ensuring proper adhesion and long-term durability. Metal lath systems are fundamental to traditional plastering and modern stucco applications, providing the foundation for high-quality wall and ceiling finishes.

The primary purposes include providing mechanical attachment for plaster and stucco systems, creating reinforcement that prevents cracking and failure, enabling proper keying and bonding of cementitious materials, supporting uniform thickness of applied finishes, accommodating structural movement and thermal expansion, ensuring long-term durability of finish systems, and meeting building code requirements for exterior and interior finishes.

Types and configurations involve expanded metal lath, woven wire lath, welded wire lath, and specialty lath products for different applications and performance requirements.

Fun Fact: Metal lath was first patented in 1797 by John Johnson in England, revolutionizing plastering by replacing traditional wood lath! The diamond pattern in expanded metal lath is created by slitting and stretching solid metal sheets – no material is wasted in the process. Some historic buildings from the early 1900s still have their original metal lath and plaster systems in excellent condition. Interestingly, metal lath can hold up to 10 times its own weight in wet plaster!

• Lath
• Lath and Plaster
• Metal Stud