Three-coat stucco wall assembly — sheathing, WRB, lath, scratch, brown, finish (7/8″)

Three-coat stucco over framing is a 7/8″ system: two layers of WRB, then metal lath (cups out so the plaster keys behind it), then a 3/8″ scratch coat, 3/8″ brown coat, and 1/8″ finish coat.

A cross-section of a three-coat portland-cement stucco wall over wood framing, with the layers from inside to outside: framing and sheathing, two layers of weather-resistive barrier (Grade D paper), galvanized metal lath whose cups face out so the plaster keys behind it, a 3/8-inch scratch coat that is scored, a 3/8-inch brown coat leveled true, and a 1/8-inch finish coat — about 7/8 inch total. Masonry and concrete systems are thinner and need no lath. — Source: ASTM C926-22 Table 4 / IRC R703.7; lath per ASTM C1063

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A cross-section of a three-coat portland-cement stucco wall over wood framing, with the layers from inside to outside: framing and sheathing, two layers of weather-resistive barrier (Grade D paper), galvanized metal lath whose cups face out so the plaster keys behind it, a 3/8-inch scratch coat that is scored, a 3/8-inch brown coat leveled true, and a 1/8-inch finish coat — about 7/8 inch total. Masonry and concrete systems are thinner and need no lath.

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    <img src="https://remodelcalculators.com/api/figure-embed/stucco-three-coat-assembly" alt="A cross-section of a three-coat portland-cement stucco wall over wood framing, with the layers from inside to outside: framing and sheathing, two layers of weather-resistive barrier (Grade D paper), galvanized metal lath whose cups face out so the plaster keys behind it, a 3/8-inch scratch coat that is scored, a 3/8-inch brown coat leveled true, and a 1/8-inch finish coat — about 7/8 inch total. Masonry and concrete systems are thinner and need no lath." width="800" height="520" style="width:100%;height:auto;border:0" loading="lazy">
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