Installing Stone Veneer: 10 Tips

Cut Wire Lath the Easy Way

Wire lath can be unruly, and the cut edges are sharp. So anything you can do to keep the stuff under control while youre cutting it is a big bonus. Heres a tip from Schilling on how to make long cuts. Lay the wire lath on some long boards. Measure from the edge of the lath to the edge of the board on each end so the desired cutting line is lined up with the edge of the board. Then secure the lath temporarily with a few staples. Now use the edge of the board as a guide to make the cut. Schilling uses cordless metal shears, but tin snips or aviation snips will also work.

More tips for working with lath:

• Wear gloves and safety glasses.
• Cut wire lath with large tin snips, power metal shears or a diamond blade mounted in an angle grinder.
• Prebend lath at inside corners. Bend it over a board before putting it in place.
• Make sure the lath is installed so it feels rough when your hand is going up, and smooth going down. However, its important to check with your specific lath manufacturer guidelines, as they may give different instructions.