Abstract: A reinforced composite sheathing paper for use in wall construction between interior framing and exterior materials such as stucco in which a backing sheet of asphalt saturated kraft paper is provided on the interior surface with a plurality of reinforcing bands extending for the length of the paper in spaced parallel relation, each band including a plurality of fiberglass yarns, a thermoplastic adhesive coating each of said yarns and bonding each yarn to said interior side surface whereby each of said bands reinforces said kraft paper and minimizes deflection of said paper during application of stucco to the exterior surface of the sheathing paper. A method of preparing a wall frame construction for application of exterior stucco material including the step of wrapping in one operation the wall frame construction with a longitudinally reinforced backing sheet including reinforcing bands and securing the backing sheet to the studs of the wall frame construction.