Conventional stucco, a mixture of sand, cement, lime and water, is troweled onto metal lath that is attached to wall studs. Newer types of stucco-like coverings are sprayed or troweled onto a base of fiberglass mesh, fiber-cement board sheathing or foam-board insulation. Because these polymer coatings are much more elastic than conventional stucco, they're less likely to crack.
--Don Vandervort
