Does stucco need weep holes?

Weep screeds are generally only used on walls constructed with wood framing, and are not required on stucco-coated masonry structures or when adhered stone is installed over masonry.

Is stucco weep screed necessary?

The question of when a weep screed is required is actually fairly common. It is highly recommended to use one when placing stucco over wood on a house. This is standard when you have a new construction build. They are code enforced and those codes can vary based on counties and states.

What is a weep hole for stucco?

Weep screed is a special piece of metal flashing that runs along the bottom of walls that wicks moisture out of holes that are located at the bottom of the flashing. It hangs below the lower sill plate to ensure that the water wicks past any material that could become damaged by excessive amounts of water.

Should stucco touch the ground?

When installing stucco, you should ensure that it never touches the ground, or in other words, is below-grade. There needs to be a minimum of two inches of space between the concrete and the stucco for houses that rest on concrete foundations.

Where is weep screed required?

Per Chapter 7 of the International Residential Code (IRC), a continuous weep screed is required to be installed at the bottom of exterior plaster (stucco) walls to allow moisture to escape.

How would adding weep holes help prevent stucco seams?

How do you prep a wall for stucco?

When working with an existing masonry or brick wall, you're going to first need to use some fresh mortar to repair any cracks that exist, then wash the wall with a power washer (or use a trisodium phosphate-water mixture and scrub it). The wall should be thoroughly wet before you apply the first coat of stucco.

Can water leak through stucco?

Despite what many people think about stucco walls, stucco walls are not water-resistant. As a matter of fact water actually absorbs into the stucco. In most cases, the problem with water leaking through stucco is that the building envelope has been breached.

Should there be a gap between stucco and foundation?

If your house rests on concrete, there should be about 2 inches between the stucco and the concrete foundation. When the minimum distances between stucco and ground are not met, serious issues begin to arise.

How can you tell if water is behind stucco?

Stucco Siding and Water Leakage

You'll likely see staining around the corners of windows or doors, possibly dark spots where at the roofline, and even hairline cracks. All of these are indicators of possible water damage and are signs of where water runs on or behind the stucco.

Does stucco need flashing?

Metal flashing, also called roof flashing, goes against a stucco wall to protect it from water damage. For areas where the walls meet the roof, you will need to use the step flashing technique, but you will need kickout flashing in other areas.

Does EIFS need weep screed?

Moisture Drainage MD-EIFS

A Moisture Barrier and drainage plane is first placed over the moisture sensitive substrates. PVC accessories are permitted but not required. Most systems have a weep screed (PVC starter track with weep holes), but not all systems.

What is stucco trim?

Stucco Trims

Our Stucco Trim is made from light weight polystyrene (styrofoam), with an acrylic-based cement coating that looks like concrete, and embedded fibreglass mesh to keep that coating from cracking.

What is stucco stop?

Casing beads are often referred to by the industry as a plaster stop because it is used to terminate plaster or stucco. Made of galvanized steel. Ideal for use as a plaster stop, screed ground, base screed or as exposed trim around doors and windows. Forms a juncture between a suspended plaster ceiling and the wall.

Does new stucco need to be sealed?

New stucco should be sealed with a clear concrete masonry sealer, typically made of a silicone material. For older stucco that's already showing signs of cracking, waterproof elastomeric paints are an excellent choice to preserve and protect your stucco.

Should I seal the gap between my basement floor and wall?

In the short term, a sealant applied along this gap between your basement floor and wall may prevent leakage. However, it will eventually fail in one of two ways: #1. The water being blocked by the sealant will find another gap in your foundation to enter the home.

How do you seal stucco on concrete?

The best sealer for stucco is the Iso-Tek 8100. Best used as a water repellent sealer on natural stucco or as a primer and bonding agent for stucco that will be painted, the Iso-Tek 8100 is an industrial grade penetrating concrete sealer.

What is the main problem with stucco?

There are several stucco problems that you can encounter. The most common ones are staining and discoloration, stucco cracking, and moisture intrusion. Other problems include stucco extending below grade and caulking. Some of these issues will need either repair or remediation.

How do you protect water from stucco?

A great way to protect the look of your stucco and prolong the life of your exterior stucco is to apply a Stucco Sealer by Rainguard®. Our Stucco Sealer is an easy to apply, reliable sealants that will help keep water and moisture from absorbing into the surface of your stucco.

What goes behind stucco walls?

Sheathing is basically the “backing material” that can be found underneath the various layers of stucco that form the backing of residential and commercial buildings. They can be made out of wood, cement, gypsum, fiberglass and other materials.

What's a weep screed?

A weep screed is a type of building accessory installed along the base of an exterior stone or stucco wall, most commonly above roofing and at the foundation level (above grade).

What is a foundation weep screed?

A weep screed is a construction building material used along the foundation of an exterior stucco wall. The weep screed serves as a vent for the moisture to drain from the stucco wall finish just above the foundation.

What do weep holes do?

The Masonry Design Manual describes weep holes as, 'Openings placed in mortar joints of facing materials at the level of flashing, to permit the escape of moisture, or openings in retaining walls to permit water to escape. '

What do you put under stucco?

Because stucco is porous, the base—typically plywood or oriented-strand board sheathing—must have at least one layer of weather-resistant, vapor-permeable asphalt-impregnated building paper (“felt”) or plastic-based building wraps or stucco wraps.