Step 7 – Home Exterior - Stucco and Veneer
We are putting on the stucco! Our wooden structure will finally start looking like a real home! Putting Stucco on a house consists of a series of steps.
First is the lath. Lath is a latticework used as a backing for plaster or stucco. When we lath a home, we have three layers including Tyvek moisture barrier, black paper and wire.
The wood framed home is protected from moisture damage by applying a vapor-permeable, water-resistant weather barrier. The Tyvek® HomeWrap™ that we use is like a windbreaker, helping to keep air and water out. The weather barrier must not only protect the framing from rain and moisture, but at the same time allow the free passage of any water vapor generated inside the building to escape through the wall. With Tyvek®, walls stay dry inside, preventing moisture buildup, mold and potential structural damage. The following pictures show the process of wrapping a house with Tyvek.
After the moisture barrier is applied to the frame, a black paper backing is applied over the wrap and then wire mesh is nailed or screwed into to the paper. The wire mesh lath acts as a matrix over which stucco is applied. The key element of the lath is the openings or gaps in the wire mesh that allow stucco to ooze behind and form a stronger bond to the lath itself and helps to resist movement cracking.
The stucco itself is applied in three layers.
The first layer of plaster or stucco is called a "scratch coat," consisting of plastic cement and sand. A brush is used to scratch the surface horizontally or in a crisscross pattern to provide a key for the second layer. The first coat is allowed to dry (cure) before the second layer is applied.
The final, exterior layer is the "finish coat" or Color Coat. This is a colored sand, cement, and lime mixed finish and is typically 3 mm (0.12 in) thick. It is applied over the brown coat and can be floated with water for a sandy finish or textured over with a trowel to create various styles of finishes.
Many of our homes use a Stone Veneer as a beautiful decorative covering for exterior walls. The veneer is typically 1 inch thick and must weigh less than 15 lbs per square foot so that no additional structural supports will be required. Clients have the option of stone veneer made from natural stone or manufactured stone. Often we use Eldorado stone which is beautifully manufactured to replicate the look of natural stone but is more affordable and easier to work with.
We are putting on the stucco! Our wooden structure will finally start looking like a real home! Putting Stucco on a house consists of a series of steps.
First is the lath. Lath is a latticework used as a backing for plaster or stucco. When we lath a home, we have three layers including Tyvek moisture barrier, black paper and wire.
The wood framed home is protected from moisture damage by applying a vapor-permeable, water-resistant weather barrier. The Tyvek® HomeWrap™ that we use is like a windbreaker, helping to keep air and water out. The weather barrier must not only protect the framing from rain and moisture, but at the same time allow the free passage of any water vapor generated inside the building to escape through the wall. With Tyvek®, walls stay dry inside, preventing moisture buildup, mold and potential structural damage. The following pictures show the process of wrapping a house with Tyvek.
The first layer of plaster or stucco is called a "scratch coat," consisting of plastic cement and sand. A brush is used to scratch the surface horizontally or in a crisscross pattern to provide a key for the second layer. The first coat is allowed to dry (cure) before the second layer is applied.
The next layer is called the "brown coat" or leveling coat. It also consists of sand, cement, and lime. It is leveled, scraped smooth, and floated to provide a smooth, even surface onto which the finish coat is applied. It is then allowed to dry (cure) for 7–10 days minimum to allow "checking" (shrinkage) and cracking to take place.
The final, exterior layer is the "finish coat" or Color Coat. This is a colored sand, cement, and lime mixed finish and is typically 3 mm (0.12 in) thick. It is applied over the brown coat and can be floated with water for a sandy finish or textured over with a trowel to create various styles of finishes.
In some of our newer developments we have plans to introduce Hardi plank siding (Hardy planks/Hardie planks) giving the homes a quaint east-coast feel!
With color coated stucco and stone veneer, our houses are beginning to look like home!
For more information on building a home with McCullough Design Development, visit our website at http://www.mddhomes.com/.
With color coated stucco and stone veneer, our houses are beginning to look like home!
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