Terms that come up with cladding leaks

Weather-resistive barrier
The building wrap or paper behind the cladding that sheds water that gets past the surface.
Drainage plane or gap
A small space or textured layer that lets water behind the cladding drain down and out.
Weep screed
A metal strip at the bottom of stucco walls that lets water escape; it should not be buried in soil or mulch.
Kick-out flashing
A bent piece of flashing where a roof edge meets a wall, steering water away from the wall surface.
Adhered stone veneer
Thin manufactured or natural stone attached with mortar over a lath and barrier, rather than a full masonry wall.

Why trouble is hard to spot

Stucco and stone are durable surfaces, but neither is waterproof. Some water always gets behind them, and the wall is supposed to let that water drain away. Problems come from details: a window installed without proper flashing, a roof line that dumps water against a wall without a kick-out, stone run down into the soil so the bottom of the wall cannot drain, or a deck ledger tied into the wall without flashing.

Because the cladding is rigid, it does not show damage the way siding might. The first signs are often inside: a stain under a window, a musty smell in a closet on an exterior wall, or baseboard that feels soft. By then, the oriented strand board or plywood sheathing may be wet across a large area.

Exterior clues to walk around and look for

  • Cracks radiating from window and door corners
  • Streaks or staining below windows and at the ends of roof lines
  • Stone or stucco that meets the ground or a patio with no visible gap
  • Missing kick-out flashing where a lower roof runs into a wall
  • Sprinklers wetting the wall daily
  • Efflorescence (white crusty deposits) on stone, suggesting water moving through it

Who to call first

Building envelope specialist or stucco inspector

  • Finds where water is entering the wall
  • May use probe readings through small holes in the cladding
  • Recommends flashing, drainage and cladding repairs

Mold remediation contractor

  • Contains and removes contaminated drywall, insulation and sheathing from the interior or exterior side
  • Cleans and dries framing
  • Coordinates timing so the wall is not closed before the envelope is repaired

General information for Cherry Hills Village, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.