Abstract: A building wall covering system for application to a wall support comprises a layer of insulative material and an overlying layer of matting which is attached to the wall support structure. The matting is particularly adapted to provide structural strength in the cementitious material applied thereto. The matting is of a bulkly layer of open construction formed by randomly directed interconnected flexible filaments. The cement layer is applied to fill the voids in the matting and cover same. A finish coat is applied to the layer of hardened cement material to complete the covering. The system has considerably enhanced impact resistance compared to existing systems.