California C-35 Contractor Exam Practice 2026 – Complete Prep Guide

End laps in metal lath are overlaps where one piece extends over the end of the next, creating a continuous, anchored skeleton for the plaster. The overlap distance must be enough to hold the lath firmly in place and to transfer the plaster load evenly across joints, preventing gaps, tearing, or movement as plaster is applied and as the wall experiences movement with drying, curing, or temperature changes.

The minimum end lap distance for metal lath is one foot. That amount provides sufficient surface area for the lath to grip the adjacent sheet and for the plaster to bond across the joint, reducing the risk of cracking or loosening at the lap. Shorter overlaps—such as six inches or three inches—can allow gaps or pull-out under plastering stresses, while a two-foot overlap is more than necessary for standard practice.