Spanish style stucco house in Reston, Virginia

How we did it !

counter flashing for stucco

A profile of the counter flashing we made. The stucco stop, or ledge is made 1 inch wide. This is to hide irregularities in the wall. Our plaster stop is 3/4" so if there is a bump or dip in the wall and the plaster stop sticks out past the stop on the flashing, you'll see it a mile away. A 1/4" reveal makes the wall look straight.

weep stop, or weep grounds, or weep screeds

After the flashing is sealed with tape, we put on our weep stop, or weep grounds. A small gap allows water to weep out of the wall. If you are wondering, we cut off the kick on the flashing to accommodate the ridge vent on the roof.

Spanish texture reminds me of California

Fast forward to the finished wall. The gap allows water out of the wall. I love this Spanish texture. It reminds me of California.

self furring metal lath Reston, Virginia

But OF COURSE, we use self furring metal lath. The dimples on the lath hold the lath out from the wall to allow plenty of mortar to get behind the lath for good support and reinforcement.

flashing over the windows and doors and sealed the top with tape in Reston, Virginia

We put on flashing over the windows and doors and sealed the top with tape. This isn't Tyvek tape, but tape.

basement level is block and the upper
            levels are wood framing

The basement level is block and the upper levels are wood framing. We used our chipping and bonding method to bond the new stucco on. This is a very solid, permanent bond.

weep grounds

We used weep grounds everywhere.

casing bead with holes punched

These weep grounds are great. All they are is casing bead with holes punched in them.

Tarpaper and metal lath are overlapped over the block

(Looking up)Tarpaper and metal lath are overlapped over the block.

rodded off with a 6 foot rod

Walls are the filled in and rodded off with a 6 foot rod.

walls straight

Are these walls straight ? I promise

easier to cover up than to clean up

It is a lot easier to cover up than to clean up.

back side of the house is finished first

The back side of the house is finished first.

Where's Waldo ?

Where's Waldo ?

Here's Waldo, to the right

Here's Waldo, to the right of the mortar box.

peace symbol, hidden in the texture

My peace symbol, hidden in the texture.

peace symbol

You could walk by a hundred times and never notice my peace symbol. I told you where Waldo is, so I'll tell you where my peace symbol is.

heart hidden in the texture

A heart hidden in the texture.

finish coat is White Portland cement, lime and white sand for a true natural color

A view of the side. The finish coat is White Portland cement, lime and white sand for a true natural color.