Kirk Giordano Plastering

Stucco Plastering

You are here: Home / Videos / Rib lath, Why use Rib Lath, plaster lath tips, install soffit wire

Rib lath, Why use Rib Lath, plaster lath tips, install soffit wire

By 100 Comments

Rib lath, Why use Rib Lath, Fastening Rib lath, install soffit wire

Hello everyone, in this video I show and explain how and why we choose Rib lath for this project and how to install soffit rib lath.
for those who are paying attention, I made a mistake in this explanation video and said, “Why buy a box of inch and a quarter for just this ceiling,” oops.
I meant why buy a box of 7/8 for this ceiling as I buy inch and a quarter for all our work.

Rib Lath is the most rigid of all the laths commonly used, it has a full 3/8″ ribs running longitudinally through the lath 4″ on center.
Really strong stuff especially if your joists are spaced far apart.

Please also see our web site at http://www.StuccoPlastering.com
Kirk Giordano Plastering Inc.
Thanks for watching and have a great day!
Rib lath, Why use Rib Lath, plaster lath tips, install soffit wire
Plaster geek, need a life stucco dude

What is Rib lath, Why use Rib Lath, Fastening Rib lath, how to install soffit, how to install soffit under a porch, how to replace porch soffit, soffit installations

Pages

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Man I would really love to work as an apprentice for ya, your instructions are as clear as they can get.

    4 years I've been working in lathing & plastering and all the real details I've had to look up online or through books because my boss has only taught me how to work the material and only that. Knowing every detail about the materials we use is just as important!

    Reply

    • Hi A R Diaz, Dude, you have initiative and ambition and ito want to know about all the in and outs of your trade.
      Folks like you usually outgrow their companies and start your own business.
      Good for you!
      If you have the time Jason and I show some good tips on all stucco and plastering materials and how they work best.
      Thanks for the comment.
      Kirk & Jason Giordano's DIY plastering network

      Reply

  5. Great insite Kirk.. Being an old drywaller…my Brain says everything has to break on a stud and stagger. I am curious what you do where the sheet doesn't land on a stud..? Over lap and tie the loose ends with wire? Or over lap let it float? D

    Reply

  6. i cant believe people actually bitch…why dont they try making a video if they are so confident in the work they do. I emailed Kirk about an issue I had down in LA on my own home…he called me and spent 1 hour on the phone with me even though there was no money in it for him. He knows what he is doing…so stop bitching people

    Reply

    • Hey Quest dude, thank you, I cheat as I know the answers,
       I find 99% percent of the folks who watch are really cool, what's life without an occasional arse-hole or two these folks bring some excitement to the table, I think?
       Best wishes,
       Kirk and family

      Reply

    • Absolutely right these idiots probably don't even know how to make their own video. So this is why they complain I guess they are jealous of Kirk.
      Kirk don't let these idiots get to you because you are Awesome.
      I will tell everyone about you so this will be great.

      Have a great day or night and you other people get your life together stop complaining.
      Go do something with your life something good stop acting like idiots.

      Reply

  7. Kirk I have a house built around 1944, the inside walls in the upstairs and other parts of house have 16" wide drywall. It looks like they put plaster or mud over the drywall, this is the first time I've seen this. I am in the process of doing my bathroom and wondered the best way to do it with half the walls tore down to the studs, if I put half inch drywall would it match up alright if I put shims under the drywall. They have paper shims you can put under the drywall to help bring it out to match up.

    Reply

    • Good morning Michael Maxwell, there are many ways of doing this, the way you suggested is fine, another way is to use thicker sheetrock or just use the closest thickness available and apply a base coat of structo-lite, wait the cure time then follow up with a plaster finish. FYI, For a bathroom  green board is a bit more water resistant. If you use blue board you don't need a bonding agent for the plaster as the blue backing is designed to accept most plasters.
       best wishes,
       Kirk & Jason Giordano's DIY plastering network

      Reply

    • Morning Colin M, I am using a Senco stapler, I could have used 7/8 length if I wanted, as long as the staple leg is in the stud 7/8 of an inch that's code.
      But as a rule I have on my truck 1 1/4 to account for the shear wall that's also code on homes.
       It makes little sense to buy a box of 7/8 just for this soffit.
      FYI, these guns can be used for roofing, furniture and a few other chores as well.
       Best wishes and thank for watching,
      Have a Merry Christmas from Kirk and Jason’s DIY plastering channel

      Reply

  14. Hello Kirk. I wanted to ask you about the gun (what model) you have in this video. How wide is the Crown and how long is the staple. Thanks for all your videos. I really enjoy all these stories you have. Cheers my friend God bless and be well.

    Reply

    • Evening Carlos Gonzalez, it's Senco Wc200xp fires 1" crown, 16 gauge staples, 7/8" to 2" in length inch.
      I used inch and a quarter staple as a rule, but for this ceiling I could have used the older stud staple 7/8 as there was no plywood sheathing.
      If there is Sheathing the leg of the staple has to penetrate the stud at least 7/8 that's why inch and a quarter are so popular.
      Most walls have sheathing.
      Best wishes, 
      kirk Giordano

      Reply

  16. the groove on the rib-lath is for you to nail for support. what happened on the return of the paper and wire towards the ceiling… you will have a crack all around for not overlapping!!

    Reply

    • Hi Jorge Guzman, for this soffit no paper is necessary, as it does not line up with an exterior wall.
      When I worked union and for the 5 years I owned my own pump, if I was to blow on the stucco I would use a paper backed mesh, not to water proof as this won't ever get wet but to save materials.
      But for this small ceiling my small $70,000 dollar pump and 8-10 men necessary to operate it would outweigh any profit benefits.
      BTW, I did overlap in video all the inner corners, with corner aid, look at the lath against the door this lath is called structa-wire, (2 inch squares) now look directly above that lath, in this video it shows corner aid installed, I used it for the inner tie ins a fella with time in will know what he seeing.
      best wishes,
      kirk giordano

      Reply

  17. Hi Kirk, thanks for the videos! Do you recommended doing this on the inside of a room's ceiling or is it better to first install blueboard/plaster board over studs. Would you then use a rib wire over the board? I haven't seen a video where you start a ceiling from only studs or you always already have either previous lath or a board installed. So what are your recommended options for an interior ceiling that has bare studs. Thank you.

    Reply

  22. Ok Kirk. Although you did not specifically say, it looked as if you were putting the nails IN BETEEN the ribs and not through them. When doing an Italian buon fresco on an interior wall, using pure Italian non-hydraulic lime and marble sand, I achieve 7/8 inch wall thickness using four coats. Sure, I can leave any existing drywall on and wire lath it with 17 ga woven wire mesh as if I were going to stucco it, but on new construction I use expanded diamond lath over the studs, but I have to add some type of backing such as wooden furring strips or 16 ga wire stretched back and forth across the wall at 4 inch intervals, since the diamond lath is so floppy. I want to try ribbed lath to avoid using backing. I add breathable WRB over the backing, and screw the lath on using the same furring plugs that come on furred galvanized nails to get the extra bit of embedment. Of course I substitute longer stainless screws for galvanized nails and add a stainless washer for more grip. The whole lathing procedure is a lot of trouble. So my question to you, maestro, is: assuming I want my fresco to last a few thousand years, am I on the right track? Is it better to always use woven wire mesh on vertical walls even if on the interior over bare in-drywalled studs? Can I use ribbed lath on a vertical wall? I always enjoy your videos and thanks for demystifying the science and art of plastering and stucco.

    Reply

    • Howdy my fellow plastering compadre, the contractor said he was going to plywood this ceiling, instead I said don't bother I would show the 3/8 rib lath to prove a point, cost me an additional 2 hours to prove this point, a bit foolish but I had the energy and wished to explain this 3/8 rib VS the 1/8 rib.
      The reason we use the rolls of metal lath on walls is it's faster and more cost effective, the idea is cement plaster usually does last thousands of years, but I won't be here to prove this point.
      FYI, I have used wahers myself a time or two, very time consuming.
      Cheers and have a good and healthy new year,
      Kirk and Jason giordano

      Reply

    • Good afternoon Junior, easy peasy lemon squeezy,
      I use a drill to install all metal lath or j trim when I'm attaching to steel or aluminum framing, I use self tappers also or the screws won't go in.
      Live long and plaster
      teaching plastering video’s

      Reply

    • Good Morning David dude as long as stucco mesh or netting is tied in properly, no need to stagger them.
      I do however stagger sheetrock and floors boards such as tongue and groove but that's another story, stucco mesh as long as it ties in or is overlapped its fine all the corners are tied in with a corner aid, if you watch closely you can see the corners as this is also used for the tie-in.
      Live long and plaster
      Mastering Plastering by Kirk and Jason Giordano

      Reply

    • Good Morning David dude as long as stucco mesh or netting is tied in properly, no need to stagger them.
      I do however stagger sheetrock and floors boards such as tongue and groove but that's another story, stucco mesh as long as it ties in or is overlapped its fine all the corners are tied in with a corner aid, if you watch closely you can see the corners as this is also used for the tie-in.
      Live long and plaster
      Mastering Plastering by Kirk and Jason Giordano

      Reply

    • So you’re telling me you tie ALL your laps and ends and corners with tie wire? That’s ridiculous and time consuming. I’ve been a lather (440) since before they became part of the carpenters and you would get 2 checks the min the foreman caught on.

      Reply

    • And I know about corner aid but if you had read my comment you would have seen that it says “inside” corners but it looks like you have some aluminum vent to butt up to now that I look closer.

      Reply

    • Good evening David dude, I used outside corner aids set the opposite way to tie in a wall to soffit metal lath, a fella just turns these corners around and voila, instant inner corners, look again my friend as I don't say everything we do in a video, I just do it and forget some folks don't know these tricks or methods.
      FYI, this method always passes city inspections as it ties in the wall and the soffit with two inches of overlap.
      Live long, and plaster
      Plastering tips and techniques

      Reply

    • Chill baby, no need flexing on me, you misunderstand, I didn't use tie wire at all, in fact, I rarely use tie wire.
      I used a stick of corner aid, just flipped in inwards, stop the video and observe it's staring you in the face, if you never thought of doing this, "now" you know. FYI, two checks ain't a bad way to end any day!
      Live long and plaster
      Mastering Plastering

      Reply

  28. Well if your going to post a video why wouldn’t you show all the steps? Otherwise how is someone supposed to know? I still think staggering the lath is easier and less time consuming. Just hang it and you’re done. BTW, 2 checks is a bad way to end your day because it means you’ve been laid off.

    Reply

    • Good Morning Rylie dude, I was a lather before a plasterer, sheetrock and flooring especially tongue and groove needs to be staggered not rib or 3.4 soffit mesh, these metal products just need to be overlapped and tied in properly.                   
                          Live long and plaster
          Mastering Plastering by team Giordano

      Reply

  33. You should add the 2inch roofing paper to joist so the plaster does not come in contact with wood and nail on the rib not in the center the mud has to go there was a lather back in the day in south florida

    Reply

    • Evening dude, have you hung this board overhead? If so now you know why.
      besides the last thing, you want hanging over your head are heavy boards, because of the gravity thing.
      Peace, love with happiness to all.
      Kirk Giordano plastering tips-mixed with sound advice

      Reply

    • Cement board? This is scratch coat, brown coat and finish dummy. Go take a class and stop pretending you know what you are talking about.

      Reply

    • Evening Dolfans, you got it, screws with big flatheads.
      Bringing peace, love, and harmony back to the world of plastering.
        The complete plastering encyclopedia on video, by the plastering messengers of Youtube.  
      Over, 800 videos online about plastering

      Reply

    • Evening Jose, yes, you can attach all lath with nails if you don't have a staple gun.
      The idea is to sink the nails into the studs or rafters at least 7/8 of an inch.
      Bringing peace, love, and harmony back to the world of plastering.
      With over 800 educational and free Youtube videos, by your favorite plaster geek, “me,” and Jason, my son, the bearded plasterer.

      Reply

  43. Hey kurt not only will you have a cold joint cause the high rib isn't staggered you will also get a cold joint at the ends where the walls meet the high rib you have no wire wrap from the wall to the ceiling you also need to staple off every rib to prevent it from possibly pulling through the wire and possibly killing someone if they are under it

    Reply

Leave a Reply