![]() The Florida Building Code uses the ASTM C-926-06 specifications for the application of stucco, which refers to it by the more technically correct name of “Portland Cement-Based Plaster.” The specs are based on these five time-tested standards:ġ) THICKNESS - Stucco should be at applied in three coats, at least 7/8” thick (not including any texture) to resist cracking.Ģ) FLEXIBLE CONTROL JOINTS - Placed at regular intervals along the wall, they absorb the expansion and contraction of the stucco due to temperature changes.ģ) WEEP SCREED - A weep opening at the bottom of the wall lets any water that penetrates the stucco drain out behind it, instead of getting trapped and rotting the wall framing. When you apply a stucco surface to a wood wall, there must be built-in details to keep the differing movement of the two materials from cracking the less-flexible stucco. Stucco, on the other hand, is comparatively stable and stiff, but it expands and contracts with changes in temperature more than wood. The inherent problem with stucco on a wood frame structure is that wood moves around-expanding, shrinking, and sometimes twisting-with changes in humidity. But the trouble begins with small cracks like the ones shown below, barely visible, that let water into the wall. When buckling, ripples and stains appear in stucco, like in the photo above, homeowners get worried. So let’s look at the defects found in the third type: stucco that is applied over a paper-backed metal lath on wood frame wall construction, which was especially popular in Florida during the building boom of 2004 to 2008. Stucco over concrete block has limited problems compared to the other two, and EIFS already has well-known and documented moisture intrusion problems, along with lawsuits dating back to the mid-1990s (see What is the difference between EIFS and stucco? for more about EIFS). There are three types of stucco finish walls on Florida homes: stucco on concrete block, Exterior Insulated Finishing System or EIFS (also called synthetic stucco), and stucco on wood frame construction. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |