A majority of the homes in the Sacramento Area are built with stucco exteriors.
Unfortunately, some of these homes develop water leaks, especially around window openings. When water enters the wall cavity it can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Finding the source of the water leak and repairing it quickly and correctly is the key to preventing further damage and more expensive repairs.
To start with, why does stucco leak? Isn’t it waterproof?
Actually, stucco is not “waterproof". The water-resistant barrier is under the stucco and consists of some type of building paper and flashing, which doubles as a drainage plane to weep water down and out of the system. When this paper or flashing is installed incorrectly or becomes damaged, water can enter the wall cavity and the interior of the home.
Leaks can go on for years before it is evident on the inside of the home. It usually takes a strong wind-driven rain to force the water inside the home. But regular rains can still leak into the wall cavity unnoticed which eventually leads to dry-rot, compromising the structural integrity of the framing.
If the building paper or flashing is installed incorrectly when the home was built, water leaks will eventually occur. This is not as uncommon as you may think. There have been numerous class action lawsuits against major home builders regarding this issue.
There are also numerous ways for the integrity of the building paper and flashing to become compromised over time. Some common causes are improper window installation, defective windows, improper flashing on ledger boards for decks and patio covers, previous repairs done incorrectly, cable or other wires installed over stucco, compromised roof flashing and gutters installed improperly.
The paper and flashing under all stucco homes will become compromised at some point in the future. When this happens will be different for every home depending on several factors: quality of workmanship, quality of materials, amount of exposure to weather and maintenance performed over the years.
Hiring the right company to successfully diagnose and repair water leaks is not an easy task for homeowners. There are very few contractors that specialize in performing all of the trades involved in a typical repair which usually includes demolition, stucco, windows, painting, carpentry and sheetrock. HomePRO can expertly handle all of these tasks with our team of home professionals and help you with any stucco leaks in your home.
HomePRO also helps homeowners beautify and protect their stucco homes with Tex-Cote, a permanent coating formulated to defend against water and harsh climates. This water-resistant coating is one of the best ways to protect your home from water infiltration and all the damage that can bring.
There are pictures of these types of repairs in the Stucco Solutions Picture Gallery. If your home has a stucco/window leak please contact us today for a free consultation.