Is Your Stucco Prepared?
May 21, 2010
Everything in life eventually fails. Given enough time, it's inevitable. Your lawnmower, your coveted 1969 Mustang, hell, that thing you called a 'relationship' with your ex-wife, whatever. It's all going to end up as dust in the wind.
Thankfully, however, with a little bit of maintenance, awareness and love, we can all add a little life to the things that we need to help keep us safe, secure and happy -- and the stucco exterior on your home is certainly no exception.
Left untreated and ill prepared on your residence, stucco can decay and eventually fail over time, resulting in costly repairs -- and potentially even worse, mold issues. This can bring the average homeowner to his knees with frustration and concern.
But, according to Doug Waddell, owner-and-operator of OutWest Stucco Ltd., a Calgary-based company which has been specializing in applying the crusty-but-lovely goop we call 'stucco' to the exteriors of residential and commercial properties for the last 13-plus years, there are a number of things that the average homeowner can look for to avoid costly repairs in terms of repairing faulty, leaking facades. And speaking with a qualified professional is usually the best way to go about business.
"Details around windows, exterior plugs and vents are most commonly what we run into when we're inspecting these types of stucco failures," Waddell said. "The procedures and materials to properly seal a house can be expensive and time consuming, and cost-cutting and unqualified tradespeople have led to many contractors not applying the minimum code requirement. But the bottom-line is, when installed properly, (especially) the first time, your stucco finish should last a lifetime.
Waddell said that working with a qualified and experienced stucco contractor may cost a bit more up front, but will almost assuredly save thousands in potential future repairs.
"Stucco is a finish product," he said. "Often the problem lies deeper than the finish coat of stucco. A skilled stucco contractor will notice these slight defects and remedy them before they become a problem."
Waddell added that the easiest way to ensure you're hiring a qualified professional is to treat the hiring of a contractor just like any other household purchase. In other words, simply do your homework before making any major decisions.
"You should always check references. And don't be afraid to ask for some previous job addresses that you can visit to see their work," Waddell said. "Check their warranty and service work agreement, and remember that price isn't everything.
"There's usually a reason for every dollar saved and those same reasons will become obvious in the future."
For more information, visit Doug Waddell’s profile on TradeFinder at: http://outweststucco.tradefinder.com
- Stan Siegenberg and Mike Gouveia - Tradefinder.com President
Thankfully, however, with a little bit of maintenance, awareness and love, we can all add a little life to the things that we need to help keep us safe, secure and happy -- and the stucco exterior on your home is certainly no exception.
Left untreated and ill prepared on your residence, stucco can decay and eventually fail over time, resulting in costly repairs -- and potentially even worse, mold issues. This can bring the average homeowner to his knees with frustration and concern.
But, according to Doug Waddell, owner-and-operator of OutWest Stucco Ltd., a Calgary-based company which has been specializing in applying the crusty-but-lovely goop we call 'stucco' to the exteriors of residential and commercial properties for the last 13-plus years, there are a number of things that the average homeowner can look for to avoid costly repairs in terms of repairing faulty, leaking facades. And speaking with a qualified professional is usually the best way to go about business.
"Details around windows, exterior plugs and vents are most commonly what we run into when we're inspecting these types of stucco failures," Waddell said. "The procedures and materials to properly seal a house can be expensive and time consuming, and cost-cutting and unqualified tradespeople have led to many contractors not applying the minimum code requirement. But the bottom-line is, when installed properly, (especially) the first time, your stucco finish should last a lifetime.
Waddell said that working with a qualified and experienced stucco contractor may cost a bit more up front, but will almost assuredly save thousands in potential future repairs.
"Stucco is a finish product," he said. "Often the problem lies deeper than the finish coat of stucco. A skilled stucco contractor will notice these slight defects and remedy them before they become a problem."
Waddell added that the easiest way to ensure you're hiring a qualified professional is to treat the hiring of a contractor just like any other household purchase. In other words, simply do your homework before making any major decisions.
"You should always check references. And don't be afraid to ask for some previous job addresses that you can visit to see their work," Waddell said. "Check their warranty and service work agreement, and remember that price isn't everything.
"There's usually a reason for every dollar saved and those same reasons will become obvious in the future."
For more information, visit Doug Waddell’s profile on TradeFinder at: http://outweststucco.tradefinder.com
- Stan Siegenberg and Mike Gouveia - Tradefinder.com President
ShareThisMold and stucco. Should you be concerned?
April 30, 2010
In recent studies completed by the CMHC it was observed as few as 15 per cent of Alberta's stucco homes were completed up to the standards set by the ABC (Alberta Building Code) and the industries moisture control program.
Should you be concerned? In short, 85 per cent of you are nodding your head yes. Last year the average cost to remove, remediate and repair a single wall of the average house was over $50,000.00.
A major contributor to failing building envelopes (the separation between the interior and the exterior environments) is the continual advancement of today's facades. Each minor detail installed including widows, batons, jogs in walls and architectural bands poses a potential risk to the building envelope integrity.
Another more commonly recited problem is the lack of proper training within the stucco industry. Although a moisture control program was put in place to train these individuals of the importance of following the proper guidelines, to date only a small percentage of companies and individual trades people have completed it.
Alberta is a tough climate to build in. With numerous freeze thaw cycles each year in Calgary, building envelope systems are constantly being put to the test. It is for this reason that when choosing a stucco contractor you should look carefully into their educational background and warranty programs. The typical costs of a new stucco job have lead many homeowners and builders hiring under qualified contractors. Remember that trying to save a buck here can lead to costly repairs down the road.
This Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 I will be speaking to an industry specialist in the Calgary area who is going to inform us all of the warning signs of mould, and the qualifications that you should seek in a professional stucco contractor. I look forward to hearing his view of "where it all went wrong" and how his company has taken the proper steps to insure building envelope integrity with every project.
Mike Gouveia
TradeFinder.com
Should you be concerned? In short, 85 per cent of you are nodding your head yes. Last year the average cost to remove, remediate and repair a single wall of the average house was over $50,000.00.
A major contributor to failing building envelopes (the separation between the interior and the exterior environments) is the continual advancement of today's facades. Each minor detail installed including widows, batons, jogs in walls and architectural bands poses a potential risk to the building envelope integrity.
Another more commonly recited problem is the lack of proper training within the stucco industry. Although a moisture control program was put in place to train these individuals of the importance of following the proper guidelines, to date only a small percentage of companies and individual trades people have completed it.
Alberta is a tough climate to build in. With numerous freeze thaw cycles each year in Calgary, building envelope systems are constantly being put to the test. It is for this reason that when choosing a stucco contractor you should look carefully into their educational background and warranty programs. The typical costs of a new stucco job have lead many homeowners and builders hiring under qualified contractors. Remember that trying to save a buck here can lead to costly repairs down the road.
This Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 I will be speaking to an industry specialist in the Calgary area who is going to inform us all of the warning signs of mould, and the qualifications that you should seek in a professional stucco contractor. I look forward to hearing his view of "where it all went wrong" and how his company has taken the proper steps to insure building envelope integrity with every project.
Mike Gouveia
TradeFinder.com
How to properly remove a wall. Don't believe everything you read!
April 13, 2010
There is some seriously flawed advice on the internet when it comes to removing a wall in your house. Let me say first "never remove a wall without consulting a professional". I could dive into tips on how to check your trusses or send you blindly into your attic space to look for loading points, but at the end of the day there are some issues that shouldn't be counseled over the internet.
I ran across a blog the other day prepared by a handyman titled "cracks in my ceiling" that advised people to remove their walls with no consequence. It was a long post so here is the part that worried me enough to comment.
He said:
"Trusses structurally span the entire width of the house, there for they require no load-bearing wall in the center. The center wall that divides your rooms is a non-load bearing wall; the lower cords of the trusses simply pass over the wall."
So I replied:
I sure hope that no one has followed your advice and removed the center walls in their house assuming it was not load bearing! You comment "Trusses structurally span the entire width of the house, there for they require no load-bearing wall in the center. The center wall that divides your rooms is a non-load bearing wall; the lower cords of the trusses simply pass over the wall" is preposterous.
This was a newer house, so I can agree that engineered trusses were most likely used. However if I were uninformed like most readers asking these questions I might assume that I could remove the wall. It doesn't take a genius to know what happens next and if you're still alive, good luck with the insurance claim. You should seriously consider the possible damages you could cause when dolling out structural advice!
Readers, if you are considering removing any walls in your house you should always have a professional make the proper inspections before you start! Always!
-Michael Gouveia
I ran across a blog the other day prepared by a handyman titled "cracks in my ceiling" that advised people to remove their walls with no consequence. It was a long post so here is the part that worried me enough to comment.
He said:
"Trusses structurally span the entire width of the house, there for they require no load-bearing wall in the center. The center wall that divides your rooms is a non-load bearing wall; the lower cords of the trusses simply pass over the wall."
So I replied:
I sure hope that no one has followed your advice and removed the center walls in their house assuming it was not load bearing! You comment "Trusses structurally span the entire width of the house, there for they require no load-bearing wall in the center. The center wall that divides your rooms is a non-load bearing wall; the lower cords of the trusses simply pass over the wall" is preposterous.
This was a newer house, so I can agree that engineered trusses were most likely used. However if I were uninformed like most readers asking these questions I might assume that I could remove the wall. It doesn't take a genius to know what happens next and if you're still alive, good luck with the insurance claim. You should seriously consider the possible damages you could cause when dolling out structural advice!
Readers, if you are considering removing any walls in your house you should always have a professional make the proper inspections before you start! Always!
-Michael Gouveia
The hockey puck and the Hole. The easiest way to repair a medium sized hole in your drywall.
April 8, 2010
So you've taught your kid how to shoot the puck; that's great! Only problem is that now you've got a bunch of holes in your drywall. If you're anything like me it was at this point where you realized you should have done this outside!
This trick should only be used on holes smaller than 6" x 6". If your hole is bigger you should consider using backing in combination.
I was taught this trick many years ago by my mentor Rick. He called it the "Chicago patch", but I have also heard it called "butterfly patch".
1. Use a knife or saw to make the hole uniform (square or rectangular)
2. Clean the loose debris off the wall
3. Cut a piece of drywall 4" bigger than your hole in both directions
4. Flip the drywall over so that you are looking at the brown or back side
5. Center the drywall on the hole and mark the edges of the hole on to your piece.
6. Cut the backside paper only from top to bottom and side to side leaving the center the shape of your hole.
7. Carefully snap the drywall one side at a time, pulling the drywall off of the front paper.
8. You should be left with a piece of paper 4" bigger than you hole with a chunk of drywall the size of your hole stuck on the center of the back of your piece. This is the "patch"
9. Apply mud (drywall compound) around the hole and cover the back side of your patch.
10. Fit the patch to the hole and smooth out the excess mud working from the center of the patch to the outside edges.
11. Let dry for at least an hour (use a fan to speed up the process)
12. Scrape off any loose mud
13. Coat with mud and let dry. (repeat until satisfied)
14. Sand and paint for a strong finish
Remember that even a pro will coat this patch at least 2 times so don't get frustrated if it doesn't look perfect after your first coat. Each coat gets easier as you go.
Now that you've got the hole fixed your probably wondering; now how am I going to retrieve the puck? Ooops!
- Michael Gouveia
This trick should only be used on holes smaller than 6" x 6". If your hole is bigger you should consider using backing in combination.
I was taught this trick many years ago by my mentor Rick. He called it the "Chicago patch", but I have also heard it called "butterfly patch".
1. Use a knife or saw to make the hole uniform (square or rectangular)
2. Clean the loose debris off the wall
3. Cut a piece of drywall 4" bigger than your hole in both directions
4. Flip the drywall over so that you are looking at the brown or back side
5. Center the drywall on the hole and mark the edges of the hole on to your piece.
6. Cut the backside paper only from top to bottom and side to side leaving the center the shape of your hole.
7. Carefully snap the drywall one side at a time, pulling the drywall off of the front paper.
8. You should be left with a piece of paper 4" bigger than you hole with a chunk of drywall the size of your hole stuck on the center of the back of your piece. This is the "patch"
9. Apply mud (drywall compound) around the hole and cover the back side of your patch.
10. Fit the patch to the hole and smooth out the excess mud working from the center of the patch to the outside edges.
11. Let dry for at least an hour (use a fan to speed up the process)
12. Scrape off any loose mud
13. Coat with mud and let dry. (repeat until satisfied)
14. Sand and paint for a strong finish
Remember that even a pro will coat this patch at least 2 times so don't get frustrated if it doesn't look perfect after your first coat. Each coat gets easier as you go.
Now that you've got the hole fixed your probably wondering; now how am I going to retrieve the puck? Ooops!
- Michael Gouveia
