[Strawbale] what's wrong with chicken wire? ( Structalath )

[Chris Green]

Alan Mason wrote:
> Hate to sound like a shill here, but I was recently turned on to a product
> called Structalath,<snip>
>  I don't know what its status is for building
> departments generally, but inspectors in San Diego County have no problem
> with it. A stucco contractor I know in SD won't use anyting else anymore.
>   
Thanks for the lead on this, Alan..
Judging by the "Approvals" pdfs, this is permitted for use in all of 
California, since the Cal. Building Code now allows for self-furring 
stucco lath.
They do point out you shouldn't pull on the wire so hard the assembly no 
longer has the 1/4" stand-off that is needed for stucco.
The pdf also advises against nailing or stapling these so hard that you 
break the moisture barrier paper--however, that doesn't apply to most of 
SB construction.

This material looks a lot easier to work with than chicken wire. I can 
see where stucco contractors would switch to this line.
If I'm correct in assuming the larger wires mean there is more fusion of 
the metal during the automated welding process, then it it fairly safe 
to assume the whole assembly will be quite a bit stronger than chicken 
wire. Bonus!
> I generally pay about $47 for a 38" x 150' foot long roll, a little more
> expensive than standard chicken wire stucco mesh, but far cheaper than 2x
> welded wire mesh last I checked. 
Since the CAN $ is rising in value in relation to the US one, your price 
will have risen for this in the past few 3-4 months.
> It works really well when tying bales
> together and otherwise. The company has or is developing numerous other
> products that the strawbaler will find useful.
>   
Methods of Work questions:
When you put this lath on, do you start from the top row and work down 
the wall or go the other way?
How many hands are needed to place this?

Cheers,

Chris Green.