Structa Wire FAQs

Unlike other stucco reinforcing products, Structa products have been specially engineered to improve the performance of the stucco wall system. Structalath provides higher quality installation with fewer cracks and at a lower overall cost.

• There are two separate galvanizing standards; one for Wire (ASTM Standard A641) and one for Metal Lath (ASTM Standard A653).
• ASTM A641 requires that Welded & Woven Wire have a Zinc Coating Requirement of Class 1.
• ASTM A653 requires that Expanded Metal have a Zinc Coating Requirement of G60.
• The building code specification recognizes that the principal long-term condition for corrosion protection is achieved by full stucco.
• embedment of the stucco metal base.

Yes! Structa Wire offers an AIA Program. Course is SW 101 and is titled Lath Selection and Specification to Enhance Stucco Performance 1 HSW/SD Credit. Find out more information here. Call us to book 1-800-887-4708 or info@clarkdietrich.com

• Welded wire is resistance welded to make a grid whereas woven wire is twisted into a hexagonal grid .
• Welded wire is easier to cut as there are single wires on cross cuts .
• Welded wire is a flat rigid grid and there are no bumps and twists so welded is easier than woven to fold into and around corners.

Yes. Stucco with welded wire metal reinforcing provides a cladding that is fire-resistant, non-combustible and strong.

There are a variety of colors, textures, and finishes, large monolithic uniform surfaces can be achieved; impact-, insect-, rot-resistant; performs in various climates; low maintenance with a life expectancy of 70 years or more; sound insulation; air-tight; and cost-effective

Welded wire lath is the critical element of a sound stucco wall because it provides an excellent base for full embedment of the stucco. It is very similar to reinforced concrete, where steel reinforcement is required to provide tensile strength.

As one of the steps to becoming a dealer we ask that you fill out the following credit application. If you have any outstanding questions about this please give us a call.

Structa Wire products typically increase installation productivity by 20-40%.

Yes, Structalath can be screwed to steel studs. For improved attachment, we recommend Twin Trac – a product that we have designed specifically to simplify attachments to steel stud and wood.

Yes. V Truss Walls & Ceilings is designed for and can be successfully installed to 24 inch OC on open framing.

Since the manufactured stone is not an approved cladding, the approved cladding is intended to be a 19-mm (¾-in.) thick stucco layer behind the stone. Using a traditional expanded metal proper embedment can be an issue, as applicators do not have to get a full stucco layer. Our Structa Twin Trac and Mega Lath provide excellent reinforcing for veneer and natural stone claddings because our products do not allow a lick and stick approach – rather these products are designed to ensure a full ¾” stucco layer is in place – which is required by stone manufacturers.

Fastening must be with code specified fasteners, which are usually roofing nails, but may be construction staples or screws. The fastener should be located at framing members and penetrate 25 mm (1-in.) into the framing. The fasteners spacing is required to be spaced 150 mm (6 in.) vertically when framing is 400 mm (15.7 in.) on center (oc) horizontally, or 100 mm (3.9 in.) vertically when framing is 600 mm (23.6 in.) horizontally.

Fastening is required at 4 inch spacing.

• Mega Lath product exceeds 3.4 lb/sy expanded metal lath in structural properties.
• Mega Lath has excellent furring so the wire is always well embedded in the middle of the scratch.
• Mega Lath pushes the building paper tight to the plywood with its vertical furring crimps so the paper doesn’t bunch up and block the scratch coat.
• The openings are much larger than 3.4 expanded so you can overlap without clogging.
• Easy to install even on gable ends where the lathers like to run the sheet parallel to the rake wall – you don’t need to cut the roll, just overlap that last course and you still get full embedment.

Structalath, like all Structa products, is considered an “alternative” to code listed products. This ranking is determined by the code officials’ equivalency testing (Acceptance Criteria – AC 191 created by the International Code Council – ICC).

Structa products are manufactured from recycled steel and our packaging and transport strategies are all designed to ensure that our products minimize environmental impact. See our recycled content sheet for further details.

We offer a variety of products to fit your needs please see our sheet- for more details. If you are still unsure if a product is right for you we are always happy to answer your questions info@clarkdietrich.com or 1-800-887-4708.

Commonly used for architectural flooring and wall products, Twin Trac and Mega Lath are approved for tile under Section 3.6 of ANSI A108.02: Excerpt from ANSI A 108.02 3.6 Metal lath or approved alternate Flat expanded type, weighing not less than 2.5 lb. per sq. yd. (1.4 kg/m²). Metal lath for interiors shall comply with ASTM C847, except steel need not be copper bearing and may be painted. Metal lath for exteriors shall comply with ASTM C847. Alternative materials shall have a valid and current evaluation report issued by an accredited building products evaluator, identifying them as an alternative lath to ASTM C847 or shall meet ASTM C1032, be 17 gauge or heavier, weigh a minimum of 1.40 lb. per sq. yd. (0.75 kg/m²), and have a valid evaluation listing/report issued by an accredited building products evaluator 

No. Structalath products are self-furred and can be attached to both open stud and shear walls without the use of additional furring devices. Our products maintain a minimum embedment (1/4 inch) regardless of where our products are attached so fastening at the furring point is no longer necessary.

Structa Wire products are approved to allow fastening almost anywhere on the product; unlike other lathing products, ours are not limited to the furring point. Structalath, Structalath Twin Trac, and Structa Mega Lath can all be fastened in one of three ways:

• At the furring points.
• At the intersection of the horizontal and vertical wires.
• Anywhere along the horizontal line wires.

It is important that fasteners are centered at framing members. Twin Trac and Structa Mega Lath provide double fastening wires at 3/16th of an inch apart which are evenly spaced across the products to make identifying where fasteners should be positioned easy for the installer. Screws or nails should be positioned between the wires and staples should be parallel to and centered within the framing members. For more in depth information on the differences see the article-

In independent laboratory testing, our products consistently exceed the performance of traditional metal lath:

• Structalath, Structalath Twin Trac, and Mega Lath are rolled products, making them significantly easier to install than sheet products.
• Structa Wire products can be cut to the appropriate length, eliminating the typical lap joint every eight feet of sheet products.
• Each Structa Wire product is “taller” or wider.
• Structa Twin Trac is more than eight inches wider than 2.5 lb diamond lath.

Each sheet of V Truss Walls & Ceilings lath is wider and longer than metal rib lath. It also has a barrier paper that is sandwiched between the front and back wires which ensures the proper thickness of the stucco across the sheet. Unlike metal lath, this paper cannot be separated from the lath by heat, wind, or other abuse. The only spot where the paper does not block the stucco is at the lap joint. Here it allows more stucco to pass through the lapping of the wires, ensuring that lap joints will have a full thickness of stucco and helping to eliminate hairline cracks. V Truss Walls & Ceilings has full installation instructions printed on every sheet (in both English and Spanish) to assist in proper installation.

• Structalath, Structalath Twin Trac, and Mega Lath are rolled products, making them significantly easier to install than sheet products.
• Structa Wire products can be cut to the appropriate length, eliminating the typical lap joint every eight feet of sheet products.
• Each Structa Wire product is “taller” or wider.
• Structa Twin Trac is more than eight inches wider than 2.5 lb diamond lath.
• Mega Lath is about 3 inches wider than 3.4 small diamond lath.
• Structalath is an inch taller than woven wire and 10 inches taller than 2 inch x 2 inch welded sheets.
• Another difference is the weight and handling of a roll of Structa Wire products – they are lighter and easier to handle than similar yardage of comparative products.

All Structa Wire products are designed to be palletized, shipped, and stored efficiently. Per square foot, Structa Wire rolled products save approximately 40% or more space in transportation payload and storage than other leading products. Additionally, all of our rolled products use only four plastic bands, used both to package and identify key information: the manufacturer and country of origin, the product identity including the dimension, and the industry approvals. Please refer to this PDF for more detailed information and diagrams.

Safety

• Our products are user friendly:
• We’ve eliminated the razor edges that are created when cutting metal lath.
• Our products never weigh more than 60 pounds.
• Structa Wire products roll out flat: they never spring back like other lathing products.

Reduced Cracking

• Consistently, contractors state that our products reduce cracking by up to 80%

We’ve virtually eliminated lap joints by creating a product in which the plaster flows freely behind and around every wire. The blockage and inability to embed that can result from doubling up small diamond metal lath or metal rib lath does not occur with Structa Wire products. Our product resists the stretching tensions that are experienced both in shrinkage and minor building settlement, making it far more durable. The furring (28 or more in every square foot of our rolled products) ensures that thickness is created in the scratch coat and that full thickness is experienced evenly across the wall. The furrs also hold the weather barrier flat against the substrate, preventing any puckering or bunching of the paper from developing and ensuring thin areas with a high risk of cracking are not created within the wall.