March- 2025 - Glen Echo, Maryland
Glen Echo
Amazing stucco work at Glen Echo Park
Administration and popcorn buildings were built around 1940. Buildings were rebuilt in the 2000's.
Glen Echo amusement park was closed in 1968. The National Park service now owns the park and is restoring the buildings. The park is used for events.
More about Glen Echo here...
How not to stucco a garage.
1. Staples are upholstery or paper type staples, not roofing staples. Roofing staples are obsolete, roofing nails shot with coil nailers are used these days. The point is these staples will not carry the load. They are OK for tyvek or tar paper, but aren't designed to carry the weight of the stucco. We don't even use staples for tar paper. A strong wind can come along and blow the paper off before we can get the lath on.
2. Lath isn't overlapped. The requirement on lath overlap is at least one inch, we usually overlap 3 inches.
3. Lath isn't self furring, but flat. There is no furring or method to allow mortar to get behind the lath for good support or reinforcement. This can lead to stucco failure. Stucco can be seen pulling away from the wall. Another symptom of lath put on like this is raised cracks, caused from lack of key of the mortar into the lath. We find this condition on some of our stucco repair.
4. Housewrap is ripped up and doesn't even cover the edge. Tar paper is preferred for stucco over house wrap, but if you use house wrap, why not do a good job ?