September - 2023 - Sterling, Virginia
Who could build houses like this ?
Caulking around windows and doors.
The idea of leaving a gap between the stucco and the trim and filling with caulking, in this case, one-coat stucco, is creating rot and damage and needs to stop.
Sometimes we leave a gap with casing beads with weep holes over flashing. If casing bead isn't used a small gap usually appears naturally. Mortar doesn't bond to metal so a small crack appears after stucco application and widens with water pressure. This crack should never be filled with caulk.
A common practice that needs to stop is to terminate the edge of the stucco, or one coat stucco with a metal casing bead, leaving a wide gap that is later filled with caulk. Now there is no water exit deteriorating the stucco.
The rust stains show where water is coming out the bulge in the stucco. The bottom is bulged out over the garage door jamb.
A big wall like this absorbs a lot of water. The water drains down and damages the bottom.
This caulking isn't made to go on this thick and shrinks and cracks over time. Tell me this isn't tacky looking. There are a lot of houses in this same area done the same way and the one coat stucco is failing over the doors and windows.
Even with siding and other materials a gap is recommended over the flashing for a water exit.
News:
Danger ! Stucco popping off concrete in Clearwater, Florida.
Guess they didn't read my chapter on bonding plaster or stucco. Our method of bonding stucco to concrete is very strong and permanent.
Please click for more....
Angi and Home Advisor fined $ 7,200,000 by the Federal Trade Commission.