Jobs in progress   
                 updated December 11, 2014

Almost 16 years of jobs in progress, update #137!   I started jobs in progress in January, 1999, when I registered my domain. If you want to find out about plaster and exterior  cement
plaster, also known as stucco, you are in the right place.
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A new stucco house in Reedville, Virginia, the town that fish built. The color is from EXPO stucco in San Diego. More details here:	No flimsy foam or plastic here ! The head on this Greek revival keystone is Athena, the goddess Athens was named after.Of course, this is a REAL concrete keystone. More details here:
This is a cool sign. I had to drive by a few times before I figured out that it is just a dummy on  the ladder. Please check it out.	Unusual texture adds depth and movement to our walls. The finish coat is REAL portland cement and REAL sand. The color is from Expo stucco in San Diego. More details here:
The inside of the stud walls showing an eighth  of an inch gap was left between the sheets of OSB according to the instructions on the sheet. More about this project	Sadly enough, we rarely see anyone leave the 1/8 inch gap in the sheathing. The instructions are printed on nearly every sheet, and the space is recommended by the American Plywood Association.      More details here:
No flimsy foam here ! Window details like these jack arches are formed with one by material and filled solid with mortar. The keystone is a REAL cast concrete keystone. Please check it out.	Chamfered edge is made using a grinding wheel. The chamfer adds a nice detail to the stone. More...

EIFS replaced with REAL stucco
Graham Road shopping center
Falls Church, Virginia

Shabby looking EIFS is typical on walls that take normal abuse. More details here.	Cement mortar is bonded to the cast concrete using an acrylic bonder. More details here.
Bird infestation is common in EIFS. Once the birds learn how easy it is to poke holes with their beaks, it is all over. Photo shows pulling out one of the bird's nests. More details here.	EIFS bands are replaced with metal lath and cement mortar. White portland cement and sand were used here because it sets fast allowing fast completion. Mortar is straightened with a straight edge. More details here.

EIFS replaced with REAL stucco
Fairfax, Virginia

	Note the center is LOWER than the sides of this badly rusted chimney cap. Not logical, captain. The center should be HIGHER than the sides. Now you have pooling and rusting. All the houses in this 15 year old neighborhood are done the same way. Equally illogical is that the cap is nailed on the top instead of the sides. We corrected this cap by first painting with rust-o-leum, covering the chimney with 2 layers of tarpaper and metal lath, nailed on the sides, of course, and rounding the top with water repellent mortar. MORE DETAILS HERE...
BTW: Right behind this house is the tennis ball house we did in 2004.
	Typical of rot below the windows on an EIFS house. Click for more.
BEFORE: Preparing to Peel a Pristine  Polystyrene Palace. MORE DETAILS HERE...	The bums who put this on your house probably holler "See you later sucker !" when they peel out of the driveway.
NO FLIMSY FOAM HERE ! The window sills are formed with lumber and packed solid with cement mortar.      SEE HOW WE DID IT.	Trim details are done first with a different color. Later the details are taped off and the wall is finished. Please check it out.

The parging on the front of these townhouses looks shabby. Plus the paint peels off constantly.	After chipping the wall, and a new basecoat, the finish is colored with paint tint.

TOP: The problem is that the porch is sinking because the concrete underneath is deteriorating. TOP RIGHT: The drain is higher than the concrete, meaning the water doesn't run into the drain but under the concrete. RIGHT: Our bonding mortar is put on, sculpting the mortar higher on the sides, allowing water to run into the drain. Also, the new mortar finishes higher than the drain, and over the sides. We still do concrete coating when we can.