Sheet Metal Lath &#; Diamond Metal Lath and Rib Metal Lath

Stucco, plaster and veneer would easily crack under types of stress and deflation in the process of building construction and residential living. Metal lath is used to prevent or decrease wall crackings in either pumped or troweled application. Sheet metal lath is slit and expanded into small diamond openings (approximately 11,000 per square yard).

Read more

We supply sheet metal lath in two types: diamond metal lath and rib meta lath. Flat diamond metal lath is nor used over solid surface like gypsum, concrete and wood sheathing. Because flat sheet will only cause the stucco to bond only to the sheathing and not complete the embedding process. Therefore expanded metal mesh is usually self-furred: dimpled and V-grooved. Diamond metal lath, for its unravel feature, is especially suitable for high strength needed architectures. Rib metal lath is expanded metal made sheet with ribs to increase the strength of it overall structure. Strip lath and corner lath are also available for installation convenience.

Diamond Metal Lath:

Flat diamond metal lath could only bond to the sheathing but not complete the embedding process for covering a solid surface like gypsum, concrete and wood sheathing. Therefore self-furring metal lath came into being. Self-furred diamond metal lath is generally used as reinforcement of plaster for solid surface. And it is divided into two types: dimpled and V-grooved. The two kinds of diamond metal lath is showed below in DML-01 and DML-02.

SML-01: Diamond metal lath with dimples shapes.

SML-02: Diamond metal lath with V grooves.

SML-03: Plan and section of diamond metal lath with dimples shapes.

SML-04: Plan and section of diamond metal lath with V-grooves.

Specification

Material (Conforming to ASTM A653/A653M):

• G60 hot-dipped galvanized steel, G90 is available upon special request;
• G60 cold-rolled galvanized steel;
• Zinc alloy and vinyl coated.

Weights (per Sq. Yd.):

• 1.75 lbs./sq. yd.;
• 2.5 lbs./sq. yd.;
• 3.4 lbs./sq. yd.

Mesh Size:

• 5/16" × 9/16", 6/16" (8.3 mm) × 3/4" (17.7 mm).

Thickness:

• Standard diamond metal lath: 1/8".
• Depth of dimples and grooves: 1/4".
• Overall depth of the lath: 5/16" (7.9 mm).

Sheet Size: 27" × 96".

Number of Grooves per Sheet: 5.

Weights per Bundle:

• 35 lbs./bdl (for 1.75 lbs./sq. yd.);
• 50 lbs./bdl (for 2.5 lbs./sq. yd.);
• 68 lbs./bdl (for 3.4 lbs./sq. yd.).

Packaging:

• 10 sheet (20 sq.yds) per bundle, 50 bundles/lift.

SML-05: diamond metal lath
LWD: 17.7 mm, SWD: 8.3 mm.

Application:

• Dimpled and v-grooved diamond metal lath is generally used in applications over solid surfaces such as gypsum, concrete and wood sheathing block.
• 5/16" × 9/16" for common interior plastering, 3/8" × 3/4" for stucco work or as a support for loose fill rock wool or similar insulation.
• 1.75 lbs./sq. yd. lath is not recommended for open frame use other than in tested proprietary one coat systems.

Rib Metal Lath

Rib lath is the most rigid for all sheet metal laths for its ribs running the whole length of the sheet added additional strength. Rib metal lath is commonly used for soffits and ceilings. Two types of rib metal lath are supplied: Hi-rib lath and flat rib lath, among which the most popular type is 3/8" high rib and 3.4 lbs./sq. yd.

Flat-Rib: 1/8" for all ribs on the lath, spaced at 3" on-center. The 3" wider space is provided for wooden or metal supports. This lath is ideal for machine applied plaster, backed with 2 strips of backing papers.

Hi-Rib Lath: 1/8" rib between two 3/8" ribs, spaced 4" every pairs of 3/8" ribs. Hi-Rib lath is used primarily in horizontal applications or for framing spaced no more than 24" on center. Strips of 3" backing paper should be attached to the spaces between the 3/8" ribs in order to minimize blow through of plaster when machine applied as showed below in picture SML-09. This lath should be installed horizontally on vertical walls or ceilings.

SML-06: Hi-Rib Lath with 3/8" ribs and 1/8" ribs in the middle of 3/8" ribs.

SML-07: Flat rib lath with widths of two opening holes being 1'.

SML-08: Hi-Rib Lath with widths of two opening holes being 1'.

Specification

Material (Conforming to ASTM A653/A653M):

• Hot-dipped galvanized carbon steel;
• Zinc alloy and vinyl coated.

Weights (per Sq. Yd.):

• 1.75 lbs./sq. yd.;
• 2.5 lbs./sq. yd.;
• 3.4 lbs./sq. yd.

Mesh Size: 12.7 mm × 7.1 mm.

Sheet size:

• 27" × 96" for 1/8" & 3/8" ribs;
• 29" wide, 5', 10', 12' length for 3/4" rib.

Weights per Bundle:

• 35 lbs./bdl (for 1.75 lbs./sq. yd.);
• 50 lbs./bdl (for 2.5 lbs./sq. yd.);
• 68 lbs./bdl (for 3.4 lbs./sq. yd.).

Packaging:

• 10 sheet (20 sq.yds) per bundle, 50 bundles per lift.

SML-09: Strips of 3" backing paper should be attached to the spaces of 3/8" ribs with margin.

SML-10: Rib metal lath would be bound together tightly for the transport security.

Application

Suggested reading:
Different Types of Sprayer and its Uses
3D wire fence panels - Curvy welded mesh supplier
10 Questions You Should Know about Triangle Bending Fence Dealers

Wusheng Hardware Product Page

Made of expanded metal, rib lath is the ideal material as a background for plaster, render, stucco application in construction of suspended ceilings partition.

Strip Lath and Corner Lath

Strip lath is expanded diamond metal lath formed into strips with smooth edge and used for reinforcing joints of solid based. It is normally attached diagonally at the corner of all openings as doors, windows or areas prone to crack for reinforcement. It may also be used to span pipe chases or reinforce other stress points such as the corners of openings in the stucco membrane within the lath system.

Specification:

Roll Size:

Short Rolls: 4" × 8', 6" × 8';

Long Rolls:

• 2.5" - (20 m × 65 mm)
• 4.5" - (20 m × 115 mm)
• 7" - (20 m × 175 mm)
• 9" - (20 m × 225 mm)
• 12" - (20 m × 300 mm)

Packaging:

• 75 pcs/ctn., 600' ft/ctn., 39 lbs./pallet for 4" × 8';
• 75 pcs/ctn., 600' ft/ctn., 60 lbs./pallet for 6" × 8'.

SML-11: A roll of strip lath used for areas prone to crack.

Corner lath came into being by strip lath bent into obtuse angle with smooth edges. It is used in where intersections happens&#;wall meet walls or ceilings and ground.

Table 1: Specification of corner lath Design Flange width Length Pieces per carton Feet per carton Galvanized weight per lineal. feet CL-01 2" 96" 75 600 84 lbs. CL-02 3" 96" 75 600 118 lbs. CL-03 2" 48" 125 500 84 lbs.

Feature

• Cracking resistance
• Fire-resistance

Application

• Can be used for exterior and interior walls, ceilings, floor constructions as well as ornaments designs in other applications.
• Ideal for gypsum, concrete, wood based sheathing.
• For veneer plaster, render, stucco material reinforcement.

Accessories

• Backing barrier: kraft paper and asphalt paper.
• Other accessories: expanded corner bead, expansion joints, soffit vent, foundation screed.

Installation

Where paper-backed metal lath is applied over wood based sheathing for cement plaster (stucco) reinforcement, an additional layer of Grade D paper shall be installed on the sheathing.

Codes and Standards

• Manufacture: ASTM C-847.
• Zinc-coated (galvanized): ASTM A641/A641M.
• Backing paper: Federal Specification UU-B-790.

SML-12: Galvanized carbon metal made corner lath.

The Purpose of Furring in Lath Embedment

Lath embedment is an often-discussed topic in the lathing and plastering industry, and the debate often ranges around one question: To furr or not to furr? Which technique provides the most proper and sturdy lath embedment for your building?

What is Furring?

In construction, furring refers to the process of installing the furring strips and to the strips themselves. Furring strips are thin strips, typically wood or metal, used to level or raise the surface of another material to level and resurface walls or ceilings, prevent dampness, or make space for insulation. Metal furring strips are often used for commercial projects, and in cities whose building codes require fire-proof supporting elements.

Many experts contend that when there is a lack of furring, the scratch coat (the first layer of plaster application) will not key into the metal lath that helps provide structural support.

Various types of Lath and Furring

Many lath manufacturers make products that are self-furred, by either crimping the wire or providing grooves in expanded metal lath products. The self-furring provided is usually one-quarter inch (¼&#;) &#;no full embedment,&#; which is the minimum requirement in ASTM .

Woven wire vs. 3.4 expanded metal lath

All of the products in this post can be purchased. Here are some key elements to know about each of them:

Woven wire, used in the residential wood-framed market, is fastened by hand to the walls with furring nails or staples. This product provides the minimum of one-quarter inch (¼&#;) furring &#;no full embedment,&#; but furring nails cannot be used on 3.4 expanded metal lath as they won&#;t fit through the diamonds.

Grooved 3.4 expanded metal lath has grooves running lengthwise every six inches (6&#;) on the sheet. These grooves provide the minimum one-quarter inch (¼&#;) furring &#;no full embedment&#; that&#;s required by ASTM. These grooves also give a fastener location. The problem with type is that every six inches (6&#;) horizontally, the lath is not furred at all.

Why is this so important? Most three-coat plaster is seven-eighths inch (&#;&#;) &#;overall thickness&#;:

• Three-eighths inch (&#;&#;) for the scratch coat
• Three-eighths inch (&#;&#;) for the brown coat
• One-eighths inch (&#;&#;) for the finish stucco coat

As an example, consider the world of concrete slabs where rebar is used to reinforce the slab. The rebar, or metal rods support concrete in a specified grid pattern. You would never just lay the rebar on the dirt. Instead, you would place small blocks of cement between the dirt and the rebar to furr it up to the center of the slab where you want it.

A Great Solution

Non-furred &#;flat&#; 3.4 expanded metal lath is a great product when it&#;s furred correctly.

This correct furring is easier to achieve when it&#;s fastened to Diamond-Furr®. The patented Diamond-Furr ® Furring Strips have a unique design that offers the best solution to the moisture intrusion problems that have plagued the plastering industry for decades.

Continuous three-eighths inch (&#;&#;) furring is achieved in the field, and at every termination point, including doors and windows. When these products are used together, you will get full embedment, and strong support of the scratch coat through the millions of diamonds in the 3.4 expanded metal lath.

Note: Diamond-Furr&#;s Continuous Insulation (CI) System trims are intended for use on projects complying with the new energy codes when specifying 3-coat plaster over continuous rigid insulation.

If you tune in to Robert Rutherford&#;s Off The Wall construction lifestyle podcast, you will hear many guests rave about the embedment benefits of using Cemco 3.4 non-furred metal lath, fastened to Diamond-Furr®.

*  *  *  *  *  *

About Robert

Robert Rutherford hosts the Off The Wall podcast, known for candid storytelling related to all aspects of the building industry. Guests include CEO&#;s, estimators, project managers, superintendents, foremen, journeymen, pre-construction managers, quality assurance managers, architects, and developers. New episodes post every Tuesday!

For more information, please visit Self-Furring Metal Lath.