Originally Posted by
John Stephenson
It is hardcoat stucco on wood frame. Not EIFS. The stucco runs from the very top to the slab. I'm not sure what the bands are made of, probably a 2x4 with stucco applied on it.
I'll issue my addendum in the morning.
When you do, also tell them that the stucco is not designed to be applied on horizontal frame surfaces with only a drainage plane behind the stucco. Water will go through the stucco and down through any penetrations (screws, nails, staples, tears, etc.) to the frame, which then rots out.
Think of the top of the band as the top of a parapet wall.
Would you wrap stucco up and over the top of that parapet wall? Or would you install a parapet wall cap flashing (coping)?
I've got video of a second floor with its walls rotted out after just a few years because the idiot builder ran the paper backed metal lath up, over, and down the other side of the parapet walls. rotted the studs out (totally gone for the first couple of feet) and the plywood sheathing behind the stucco was gone too.
Stucco on frame IS ONLY FOR vertical surfaces. Water drains downhill, let it drain downhill. Gravity will always win. Builders will always lose out to gravity, no matter how smart they think they are, if they insist on installing on the horizontal products made to go vertically.
Know why you beer belly hangs over your belt and not up at your chin? Gravity.
