Rain and
moisture accumulation can create serious problems for any building cladding.
With improperly applied stucco or EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish
Systems), water that finds its way under the exterior surfaces and remains can
cause mold development, deterioration, or excessive cracking if the material
remains damp for an extended period.
Some early EIFS applications suffered from moisture buildup beneath the surface in
rainy or very humid climates and often began to show the symptoms over time.
Stucco surfaces, while made from different material than EIFS, will also absorb
moisture and certain measures must be adopted to prevent long-term damage.
Strategies to Mitigate Water Damage
In truth, all
building claddings leak or absorb water. Builders and architects have adopted
appropriate strategies to resist excessive water retention in all kinds of
claddings including EIFS, stucco, stone, granite, wood, vinyl, brick, and
precast concrete. Existing water management construction methods tend to fall
into the certain categories or combinations that include creating perfect
barriers with interior and exterior water-resistant materials, building
internal reservoir systems, or devising drainage systems within the wall
cavities.
EIFS Moisture Management
Once the
moisture problem of early EIFS construction in high-humidity areas was
identified, architects added additional protection from possible accumulated
moisture. Inserted within the energy-saving insulating layers is an additional
section with a drainage cavity bordered by a water-resistant material to prevent extended moisture
retention. The
cavity design allows the moisture to flow out at the bottom, keeping the rest
of the system relatively dry.
Most
importantly, edges, seams, and joints must be sealed as completely as possible
to resist any further penetration from the rain.
Stucco Moisture Management
Properly
applied stucco, a combination of Portland cement, sand, lime, and water also
can have the water-resistant capability in a modified reservoir and drainage
system. The stucco is applied over two
layers of building paper and metal lath that has been placed over a layer of
water-resistant gypsum board. The paper creates a drainage plane by first
absorbing moisture from the stucco, then drying and shrinking, thereby creating
a cavity between the stucco and the gypsum board. The open space allows for
evaporation and drainage of moisture that had penetrated the stucco.
Contact ProCoat Systems in Denver
For more information about cladding protection from rain or
moisture problems, contact the experts at ProCoat Systems. Phone 303-322-9009.
This post was
originally published at http://www.procoatsystems.com/protecting-stucco-eifs-rain-damage/
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