All gages of lathing wire must be:

All gages of lathing wire must be:

• A. U.S. Steel wire gages
• B. ASTM wire standards
• C. Metric gauge
• D. Aluminum gauge

Answer: (A)

The thickness of lathing wire is specified by the U.S. Steel wire gauge system because this is the established standard used in plastering for metal lath. Using this gauge ensures a uniform wire thickness across all lathing projects, which is essential for consistent plaster key formation, secure attachment, and predictable performance of the lath-plaster assembly. ASTM standards address material properties and tolerances, not the actual gauge system, and metric or aluminum gauges are not the recognized standard for lathing wire in typical U.S. practice.

The thickness of lathing wire is specified by the U.S. Steel wire gauge system because this is the established standard used in plastering for metal lath. Using this gauge ensures a uniform wire thickness across all lathing projects, which is essential for consistent plaster key formation, secure attachment, and predictable performance of the lath-plaster assembly. ASTM standards address material properties and tolerances, not the actual gauge system, and metric or aluminum gauges are not the recognized standard for lathing wire in typical U.S. practice.