PORTLAND CEMENT STUCCO IN NEW ENGLAND

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wayne_yancey Post Number: 426 Registered: 01-2008 Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 - 01:37 pm:    Is there an association in NE similar to the Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau in the PNW that provides recommendations for detailing, workmanship and installation of 3-coat stucco over gypsum sheathing: 1-water-resistive barrier 2-cavity drainage Project in New Haven CT Thanks Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 1116 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 - 01:49 pm:    I've done stucco in NE and used the details and recommendations of the NW Wall and Ceiling Bureau. New England has greater degree of freeze/thaw, but the climate isn't any more extreme than say... Spokane but with salt water. The only other "plaster bureau" that seems comparable to the NW is the one in Southern California/Nevada. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1299 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 - 01:50 pm:    None that I've ever encountered, in part because stucco is relatively uncommon here. I think there was a period, probably early 20th century, where stucco was used on homes, but I've never seen it used here in modern construction. You might consider the difficulty in finding the mechanics to apply it properly for a project in New Haven. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1300 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 - 01:52 pm:    We may not have greater freeze thaw than Spokane because temperatures just stay cold for much of the winter. We do have about 40 inches of rain, some every month, though. Jeffrey Wilson CSI CCS Senior Member Username: wilsonconsulting Post Number: 44 Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 - 03:14 pm:    Not specific to New England, but the Portland Cement Association still publishes a stucco manual: http://www.cement.org/stucco/ I have a version from 1980, which does not have region-specific recommendations. Assume the current one would likely address contemporary issues such as moisture management. I'm in Pennsylvania, where stucco is used. For improved performance, I usually suggest that my clients look at engineered systems like Sto Powerwall if they're considering stucco. Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 1117 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 01:07 pm:    in the northwest, the stucco recommendations are pretty standard now, and they work. 1) have a drainage plane behind the stucco 2) reinforce with fiberglass rovings 1/2", 1 to 2 pounds per sack of cement; and keep panels to less than 120 square feet; 3) use 100% acrylic coating for the top coat. All three things are important because they reinforce each other in terms of making sure there is good drainage; the panels are reasonably sized, and the fiberglass reduces cracking; the acrylic bridges minor cracking. I would add to that, that the backup construction has to be reasonably stiff enough as well -- and that number (L/whatever) will change depending on how large the window area is and what the wind loads are. Calculate the deflection including the glazing panels, but reinforce the walls with additional stiffness until the walls are fully glazed. Tim Werbstein, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: tim_werbstein Post Number: 36 Registered: 09-2006 Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 07:44 am:    There's no organization of that sort in the Baltimore/Washington area... In fact, as of about 6 years ago, there was ony 1 (one) guy who did (genuine) stucco at all, and that's a 2-coat stucco. Ususaly they SAY they do stucco; but their description is of an old EIFS without a drainage mat. Most also apply what I consider a "remedial" top coating. (If I wanted textured paint, I would specify textured paint.) Also, there's no availability of deep-red-colored, out-of-the-box stucco. All the colors are pastel, Southern California colors! However, I found the, yes, "California Stucco Company" in New Jersey, which makes a deep red, that exactly matched the brick nearby, which is what I wanted. The 2-coat-stucco guy was concerned that the stucco would not be uniform (think textured paint), but that's what I wanted, The brick has a range too. The final result is still getting compliments. Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap Senior Member Username: lgoodrob Post Number: 123 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 09:39 am:    In New England, I have a couple clients doing high end residential work with true stucco exteriors. Seems like the $10 million house market is recession-proof. I think the most important recommendations are having a good subcontractor, mock-up panels, and control joints. The Architects who don't understand control joints at interior GWB are not likely to do this properly at the exterior 3-coat stucco. Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wayne_yancey Post Number: 427 Registered: 01-2008 Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 09:54 am:    Thanks to all respondents. I will use Ann's assembly. Thanks Wayne