Scratch Coat
The scratch coat goes over the paper and chicken wire. By using the furring nails, the wire will be lifted out about a 1/4", this allows the coat to go behind the wire as well as covering it. I used the same material for the scratch coat and the brown coat. Mix two to three parts sand to one part of the 1-kote. I purchased the materail at Sacramento Stucco. It's real easy to get to off of hwy 80. It's only a few miles from the State Capital. If you go there, ask for Kevin at the sales desk, he's very knowledgable of their products and helpful.
Mix the mud up as you would concrete, not dry or it won't stick to the wire, and not too wet or it will just run off.
Apply with a steel trowel as shown below.
After you cover the wire and smoth out the mud, run a rake like tool along the surface, this will put groves in it and give the next coat something to grap on to.
Sorry, I can't remember the name of the tool be here's a picture of it.
