LathNet™ | Patented Drainage Plane and Metal Lath System for Adhered Masonry Veneers

LathNet is installed with the mesh drainage mat against the structural wall and the metal lath toward the outside of the building. Start from the lower left of the wall and install LathNet from left to right (as you face the wall) and bottom to top, with the longer side running horizontally.

On one long edge and one short edge of each LathNet section, the mesh is held back from the edge of the metal mesh 1 to 1-1/2 inches.  On the first row of LathNet at the bottom of the wall, cut off the metal lath that extends past the mesh on the bottom edge only so the mesh is flush with the lath.  The allows the drainage plane to extend all the way to the bottom of the wall.

Code requires that the metal lath overlap where the sections of LathNet meet with a 1 inch minimum lath overlap. When installing a new LathNet section to the right of or above an already installed section, over-lap the lath of the new section in a shingle fashion over the installed section and position the new section so the drainage mesh butts to the drainage mesh of the installed section.  There shall be no gaps between the edges of the drainage mesh so the mesh forms a continuous drainage plane behind the lath everywhere on the wall.  Stagger all vertical joints.

If butting LathNet against a solid wall component such as a door jamb or window frame, cut the metal lath so the mesh is flush with the lath to allow the drainage plane to extend all the way to the wall component.

When installing LathNet on an inside or outside corner, overlap the corner by a minimum of 12 inches and fasten the end of the panel to a stud or the nearest structural member.  When building conditions make it necessary to install a new LathNet section to the left of a previously installed section, leave at least 12 inches of the previously installed section unfastened until the new section is properly placed to make it easy to butt the mesh drainage planes together and to form the proper lath overlap.

When fastening LathNet to a steel or wood stud substrate, the LathNet sections must overlap at a stud.  Anchor all screws in a stud.  Use ceramic coated screws with 1-1/4 inch diameter galvanized steel washers placed a minimum of every 16 inches horizontally and 7 inches vertically.  Screws must penetrate wood studs a minimum of 5/8 inch and steel studs a minimum of 3/8 inch.  Do not use high speed twist drills.

For all types of substrates, install fasteners so they penetrate and secure both sections of LathNet where they overlap.

Click the link above to download the full set of instructions.