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Improper Flashing at Windows in Stucco
By Edward Robinson | September 3, 2008
I was consulting with a builder on a house today and ran into a problem I frequently see with stucco installations at windows in the Houston area. Often builders here install house wrap during construction and then later install felt underlayment and consider the felt as the primary moisture barrier.Unfortunately they improperly flash the windows to the house wrap with their sill flashing tape leaving no way to flash the felt underlayment of the final stucco installation at the window sills because the sill tape is already stuck to the house wrap. Because the initial house wrap is exposed during construction it often receives significant damage and cannot reasonably be expected to perform properly. This becomes a serious issue where windows are improperly installed at locations such as over roof flashings or at second floor windows where water entry at the sill is more likely to find an entry path down the wall.
Some great resources for learning flashing at windows are:
Journal of Light Construction August 2008
Journal of Light Construction June 2005
These resources are not expensive and worth the read.
Topics: New Construction, Real Estate Inspectors |
November 4th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
A great web site that I found on window wrapping is though http://www.protectowrap.com. They will provide you with other installation material is interested.
Regards,
Paul W. Roebuck, Sr.
November 4th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I don’t like this method at the point where you cut a horizontal cut in the moisture barrier then tape it at the end near the bottom of the window. Creates a dam with the potential for water entry at the top of the window. It is better if you have a lap joint even with the bottom of the window; although, less expedient for the builder.
This does not address the real install detail for house wrap moisture barrier behind felt and stucco.