If you’ve ever walked past a stucco home with ugly cracks or “rust weeping” down the walls, you’ve seen the aftermath of a poor lathing job. For decades, the industry standard was a simple dance of asphalt paper and wire mesh. But a newer contender, Diamond Furr, has been shaking up the job site.
Is it worth the switch, or should you stick to the tried-and-true methods? Let’s break down the “Stucco Showdown.”
1. The Traditional Lath Method
Traditional lathing involves installing a water-resistive barrier (WRB), then nailing or stapling metal lath (the “wire”) over it. To keep the wire from sitting flat against the wall—which would prevent the stucco from embedding properly—contractors use “self-furring” lath or furring nails.
- The Pros: It’s cheap, every crew knows how to do it, and the materials are available at any hardware store.
- The Cons: It’s prone to human error. If the lath isn’t furred out perfectly, the stucco won’t “key” (bond) to the wire, leading to delamination and cracks. Plus, traditional trims often require poking holes through your moisture barrier, creating a “perforation party” for potential leaks.
2. The Diamond Furr System
Diamond Furr isn’t just a different wire; it’s a lath attachment system. It uses specialized trims and termination components designed to hold the lath away from the substrate at a consistent depth without penetrating the moisture barrier as aggressively.
- The Pros: * Better Embedment: It guarantees the lath is “floated” in the middle of the stucco, where it provides the most strength.
- Moisture Management: The system is designed to reduce the number of fasteners that pierce your building wrap.
- Reduced Cracking: By creating a more rigid and uniform matrix, it significantly cuts down on spiderweb cracking.
- The Cons: Higher upfront material costs and a slight learning curve for crews used to the “old way.”
Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | Traditional Lath | Diamond Furr System |
| Moisture Protection | Vulnerable at fastener points | Integrated moisture management |
| Crack Resistance | Moderate (depends on skill) | High (superior reinforcement) |
| Installation Speed | Fast (familiar) | Moderate (precision-based) |
| Cost | Low | Higher Material Investment |
| Long-term Value | Higher maintenance | Lower maintenance / Fewer repairs |
The Verdict: Which should you choose?
If you are a builder looking for the cheapest possible bid on a “flip” house, traditional lath is likely where you’ll stay.
However, if you are building a forever home or a commercial project where moisture intrusion and cracking are non-negotiable risks, Diamond Furr is the winner. It treats the lath as an engineered system rather than just a “background” for the mud. You pay more at the start to avoid the massive headache of stucco remediation 10 years down the line.
Pro Tip: Regardless of the system you choose, ensure your contractor is following ASTM standards for stucco thickness. No system can save a coat of stucco that’s applied too thin!