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For centuries, stucco has provided a durable and aesthetically appealing exterior finish for homes and other building structures. Its inherent natural beauty offers architects, owners and builders tremendous versatility of design.
This tough, long-lasting finish lends innovative and creative levels of artistic expression to a variety of home designs and diverse architectural styles. It can be applied to practically any vertical, flat or curved surface providing highlights, depth, and continuity. The limitless choices of color provide an endless array of aesthetic possibilities. And, stucco can be used alone or in combination with other cladding materials, such as stone, brick and wood.
"The new types of stucco products need not be limited to warm and dry climates, such as the Southwest United States," says Todd Lozier, President of Lochwood-Lozier Custom Homes, based in Kirkland, WA. "We've been successfully using stucco with an elastomeric acrylic finish here in the Northwest for 15 years."
Todd is a third generation homebuilder based in Bellevue. His company builds 10 to 12 high-end custom and custom-spec homes per year, with an average price around $3.5 million. Lozier's grandfather built his first house in Bellevue in 1958, and the company currently has over 24 employees. "Rather than using traditional stucco alone, we've been incorporating Stuc-O-Flex Finish exclusively for 15 years," Lozier states. "People really like the appearance and this elastomeric finish looks just like stucco, but doesn't crack. It flexes, expands and moves with the thermal swings and freeze/thaw conditions."
Before switching to Stuc-O-Flex, Lozier admits that the traditional cement-based stucco homes experienced a lot of cracking. Since using the elastomeric system, however, he's had absolutely no problems. "Stuc-O-Flex is a highly resilient 100-percent acrylic polymer compound that looks and feels like traditional stucco," explains Dan Johnson of Stuc-O-Flex International, based in Redmond WA. "Its thermo-plastic and elastomeric nature allows building movement, while enhancing resistance against cracks."
"Stuc-O-Flex provides color, texture and a weathering membrane for EIFS, direct-applied systems to cement board, metal, stucco, fiber-cement, block, brick, masonry, and so on," Dan explains In 1981, Stuc-O-Flex International created America's first elastomeric acrylic finish. Today, more than 500 million feet are installed world wide, subjected to every conceivable climate.
The company has also developed a new rainscreen technology for use in drainable stucco, EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems) and other siding assemblies.
PREVENT MOISTURE PROBLEMS
Besides cracking, a more serious problem with stucco and EIFS can be moisture. In 1995, stucco suffered a substantial setback when a number of EIFS covered homes experienced moisture damage. Water got trapped behind the cladding and resulted in problems ranging from mold and mildew on the interior or exterior of the home, to deteriorated substrates and framing members.
In most every case, the damage was caused by poor installation and the omission or improper installation of flashing in violation of minimum standards of construction set forth in building codes. Today's EIFS incorporate a drainage system to help keep moisture from being trapped behind the covering.
"Whether using traditional stucco or EIFS, it's important to use a good drainage system," explains Lozier. "I recommend the WaterWay Rainscreen Drainage Mats, with a 7/8-inch thick traditional cement based core, and the Stuc-O-Flex finish. This prevents moisture-related problems, and allows the system to flex and move without cracking."
Lozier points out that including a rainscreen significantly enhances the integrity of the entire system, because water should never get behind stucco. But, if it does the rainscreen allows a drain path for it to get out. He states that the new technology is almost a bullet-proof system, even in a wet climate like the Northwest.
The WaterWay Drainable Stucco Assembly is an enhanced traditional stucco that can be configured as a back ventilated, or a dead air cavity wall cladding system. Both systems drain moisture to the exterior. Over fifteen million feet is in service without a single compromise confirms the efficiencies of this design.
"The WaterWay stucco assembly is a new approach to traditional stucco," says (Johnson). "It fulfills the increasing demand for exterior claddings to enhance envelope integrity and reduce potential challenges associated with moisture penetration."
The assembly incorporates through-wall flashing details, secondary moisture barrier, WaterWay drainage mat providing a mechanism of space, traditional cement stucco, optional polymer modified base coat with reinforcing mesh, and an elastomeric acrylic finish.
INSTALLATION IS CRITICAL
Elastomeric acrylic finishes provide the beauty and performance required in an exterior cladding, while saving money and valuable time during construction. Upon completion, the finish continues to save dollars year after year by withstanding the worst weather mother nature has to offer (including wind driven rain, freezing temperatures, blazing sun, thermal swings, wind, snow, even earthquakes in many cases), while enhancing the exterior appearance over the life of the structure.
Incorporating the unlimited potential for design, a builder can easily produce arches, columns, accent bands, reveals, keystones, quoins, graphics, monuments, and other unusual surface treatments. These geometric shapes can be combined with an unlimited selection of rich colors and textures." "An elastomeric finish offers numerous benefits, but installation is critical," states Lozier. "The installers must know what they're doing. It's a great product, but it�s only as good as its application. In other words, if someone doesn't install it properly, just like any other system, it's going to fail".
Lochwood-Lozier Custom Homes has been using Andrey's Stucco and Masonry exclusively for more than 10 years. Andrey's Stucco and Masonry, based in Bellevue, WA. specializes in stucco and masonry projects.
"Stuc-O-Flex is very easy to apply over traditional stucco," says Andrey Shimchuk, president of Andrey's Stucco and Masonry. "It can be applied by trowel or appropriate spray equipment. It's critical, though, that the entire system be installed correctly." Shimchuk says the system is simple to install, looks great, doesn't discolor, and always looks new. He's used it on more than 400 projects, and has never had a callback.
"The finish dries in 12 to 14 hours, and completely cures in about two weeks," states Shimchuk. "Stuc-O-Flex is the only system we use, because it does not fail."
Construction time is important to a builder. In considering subcontractor scheduling, return on investment and getting the home to market, Stuc-O-Flex can be the least time-consuming phase of construction. Some systems can be completed, start-to-finish, in as little as two days. "The mechanical attachment of the cementitious sheathing materials or foam insulation allows the fiberglass mesh and base coat to be installed in the same day," (Johnson) explains. "After drying overnight, the finishes and sealants will finalize the vertical walls. With the exterior portion completed, the home is selling itself while the balance of construction is completed."
BENEFITS OF AN ELASTOMERIC ACRYLIC FINISH
"The integral color of Stuc-O-Flex is a great feature," says Lozier. "You can scratch it and it's the same color underneath, unlike a paint that sits on the surface. The color consistency and color retention is tremendous. And, various textures can be created in the finish for different looks." Stuc-O-Flex is available in 20 standard colors, over 8,000 computer-generated special colors, and 4 different aggregate choices. The water-based material is comprised of 100 percent acrylic polymer. It is safe, similar to water-base latex paint, and is easy to clean up while wet with soap and water. It is also class "A" fire rated.
"The finish provides great hiding power against shadowing from the substrate below," says Lozier." It's also very low maintenance after installation. Simply wash the walls with a power washer or by hand, and it will last a lifetime."
A preservative system makes the finish resistant to fading, mold and mildew growth, while providing a waterproof coating in a breathable membrane. The product is also made from calcium/marble aggregates, which are pure and white and free of foreign materials, rather than silica sand, which may contain iron, causing the finish to rust on exterior walls.
"This system is the quality alternative," says Lozier. "The entire assembly might be a little bit more expensive than a traditional stucco system, but its well worth it."
With a variety of wall cladding options, an elastomeric acrylic product can accommodate even the tightest of budgetary constraints. Comparative to standard siding materials, the cost is extremely competitive while the benefits far outweigh alternative material options. "The acrylic finish is perfect for the Northwest weather conditions," says Shimchuk. "It eliminates cracks and prevents water from getting behind the stucco, which can cause moisture damage."
Elastomeric acrylic exterior assemblies enable the architectural community and builder to offer homes with elegant appeal while maintaining a realistic budget. After all, the exterior appearance of a project is the one element that immediately reflects the quality and integrity of the home, as well as the builder and construction team involved.