Leaking through stucco
Stucco has been used as a house cladding in New Zealand since the 1930s. Where a stucco house was built around the mid 1990s to the mid/late 2000s (particularly one with waterproof decks, parapets, no eaves and a complex design), engaging a registered building surveyor with experience in leaky homes is strongly recommended. DIY repairs and repairs by non-specialist builders often do not solve the problem and may result in further problems. See our Weathertight guide for more details.
Causes
Cracks in the cladding systems
No cap or saddle flashings at junctions of parapet and balcony walls
Junctions with other claddings and/or roof poorly detailed/constructed
Listed under: Exterior, adhesives and sealants, sealants, finishes, aluminium, plaster and fibrous plaster, stucco, paint, cladding, flashings, walls, windows, moisture, leaks, wall cladding, stucco wall cladding
Cause
Cracks in the cladding systems
Repair
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engage a registered building surveyor to report on the building. Any subsequent repair work to consequential damage, if required, should be fully documented and carried out by a contractor with experience in this type of work. A building consent will be required
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where there is no consequential damage identified by the building surveyor as a result of the cracks, seal the existing cracks and apply a new coating system to the plaster
Cause
Paint or sealant failure
Repair
-
engage a registered building surveyor to report on the building. Any subsequent repair work to consequential damage, if required, should be fully documented and carried out by a contractor with experience in this type of work. A building consent will be required
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where there is no consequential damage identified by the building surveyor as a result of the paint or sealant failure, the wall performance may be reinstated by the application of a new coating system to the plaster
Cause
No cap or saddle flashings at junctions of parapet and balcony walls
Repair
-
engage a registered building surveyor to report on the building. Any subsequent repair work to consequential damage, if required, should be fully documented and carried out by a contractor with experience in this type of work. A building consent will be required
-
where there is no consequential damage identified by the building surveyor as a result of the flashing failure, the wall performance may be reinstated by the installing of new flashings
Cause
Junctions with other claddings and/or roof poorly detailed/constructed
Repair
- engage a registered building surveyor to report on the building. Any subsequent repair work to consequential damage, if required, should be fully documented and carried out by a contractor with experience in this type of work. A building consent will be required
Cause
Omission of head flashings to doors/windows
Repair
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engage a registered building surveyor to report on the building. Any subsequent repair work to consequential damage, if required, should be fully documented and carried out by a contractor with experience in this type of work. A building consent will be required
-
where there is no consequential damage identified by the building surveyor as a result of the flashing failure, the wall performance may be reinstated by the installing of new flashings
Cause
Minimal jamb flange cover of aluminium windows
Repair
-
engage a registered building surveyor to report on the building. Any subsequent repair work to consequential damage, if required, should be fully documented and carried out by a contractor with experience in this type of work. A building consent will be required
-
where there is no consequential damage identified by the building surveyor as a result of the flashing failure, install 30 mm wide scribers butted and sealed to the flange or facings rebated over the flange to aluminium window jambs
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consider replacing existing aluminium windows with frames that have larger jamb flanges