On wooden walls, sheathing should be installed continuously, positioning the wood boards horizontally. The builder should leave a 1/8 space between the edge of the boards to allow moisture expansion. Make sure wood sheathing has the proper moisture content and grade to prevent unnecessary cracks in the wall.
In order to understand how to stucco, it’s important to gain a good understanding of the stucco structures and the reason why it has been successfully used for so many years in residential and commercial construction. The term ‘Stucco’ is used to describe a type of exterior plaster applied as a two or three part
The scratch coat is the first coat of stucco applied to the wall. Its name comes from the fact that it’s scratched horizontally to promote both a mechanical and chemical bond between it and the brown coat, which is applied next. Prepare the scratch coat according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ensure that the proper proportions
Stucco is a cement-based product and as such requires curing, the same as any Portland cement-based product. There are requirements for cure times and there are recommendations for best results. The main intent of cure times is to allow the cement basecoat to set and shrink before proceeding with final decoration (finish coat). The cure
A drainage plane is a layer of water-resistant material that completely covers the home’s exterior. When water penetrates the exterior finish, it moves down the drainage plane and back to the exterior. The drainage plane protects sheathing and framing from getting wet and prevents moisture buildup in exterior wall cavities. In production homebuilding, housewrap is
