When properly installed, stucco is a tough, durable and long lasting system that can not only add a aesthetic value to your home, but when properly maintained, can last for many years. http://biowashing.com
2. When properly installed, stucco is a tough,
durable and long lasting system that can not
only add a aesthetic value to your home, but
when properly maintained, can last for many
years. But during the last couple of years
especially, I am seeing a wide range of issues
when it comes to stucco, resulting in thousands
of dollars in water and mold damage.
3. Short cuts taken by the applicator can cause
cracking, water infiltration, discoloration and
many more issues when not properly
installed. When buying a home, having your
stucco inspected could save you thousands of
dollars in issues and possible years of litigation,
and when hiring a stucco contractor, doing your
due diligence will be time well spent. Here’s
some of the issues which causes stucco to fail:
4.
5. Incorrect Installation or No Lath
Some contractors fasten metal lath to the wall
with pneumatic staples, but this can cause
problems. A staple has two prongs, so it creates
twice as many penetrations as a nail. Furring
nails are preferable; they have a small cork
washer that helps space the lath away from the
wall and also seals around the nail..
6. Checking that all furring nails are perpendicular
to the wall, and that the cork is compressed
against the sheathing, makes a significant
difference. Home with no lath will only last a few
years and crack easily causing home owners to
tear down the existing stucco and start over.
7.
8. House or Building Wrap
This step is extremely important and also
misunderstood or completely left out of many
installations. Grade D-60 Minute paper is a
durable choice that could be used as the first
layer, since it is highly recommended that all
home be wrapped twice. Contractors tend to
wrap home once, and then cover the windows
and cut an X to expose the windows and then
trim it out.
9. This process will nearly leak after each
application. The flap of housewrap above the
window must be held up temporarily until the
window is installed and flashed, then pulled
down over the window flashing and taped into
place.
10.
11. Flashing
A common mistake around windows is that self-
adhering flashing tape has been applied over the
bottom nailing fin. Water that leaks in around
the window frame gets trapped behind the
flashing and causes the adhesive to fail.
12. Instead of sealing water out, the failed
membrane actually channels water into the wall
cavity. The use of manufactured flashing
corners and primers can help with failings in
adhesion.
13.
14. Plumbing & Electrical Penetrations
When contractors make holes in the facade to
allow piping and electrical lines into the house,
they commonly just use caulk or plugs to seal
the holes. This leads to water infiltration mostly
through the foundation and into
basements. Flashing panels can eliminate this
issue. The cost for these materials is very low as
compared to the damage it can cause.
15. Remember to always use your best judgement
when hiring any contractor and try to familiarize
yourself with any type of construction taking
place. For more information, click here to view
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