Are these windows installed correctly? Stucco prep.

[K C]

After doing tons of research on the internet on window and stucco installations over the past couple days, I decided to post here for input since I have concerns about this garage addition on my house and will be starting the 3-coat stucco this week. I'm a modern/contemporary architecture enthusiast and am really focused on the details here. The contractors I am working with are experienced with traditional jobs and are starting to get annoyed with how particular I am with the project. I am located in the southeastern PA region. All the pics are shown in the photobucket link at the bottom.

The windows are Andersen 400 Awnings and we used the leftover ice shield on the bottom of the rough openings as pictured before installing the windows. There is nothing else around the rough opening and research tells me otherwise. The pics show the steps.

As for the stucco, I have four concerns, starting with the drainage plane. The stucco guy plans on using a weather resistant barrier with two or three layers of either felt or grade d paper. In theory, the outer layer of felt paper is supposed to wrinkle after the scratch coat is applied, causing a "drainage plane" and I wanted to get thoughts on using this method versus an actual rainscreen system.

The rest of my concerns are purely aesthetic, starting with the window head flashing, which I takes away from the contemporary/minimalist look I am trying to accomplish. If head flashing is necessary, is there any way to blend it in with the windows? The stucco guy is using trim coil that matches the windows but told me he wants to install the flashing with a small overhang as seen in the pics of his work on another home, which I'm not a fan of.

Because the garage is 8' block with wood framing above, stucco guy wants to use a weep screed where the wood meets the block. Makes sense since this would allow moisture to drain and would allow for an expansion gap between the wood and block. However, I don't like how this would cause a line in the middle of the wall, once again, taking away from the clean look I am trying to achieve. Would it be possible to install a rainscreen product that would cushion the wood/block expansions such as Waterways or Delta-Dry and relocate the weep screed to near ground level while preventing cracks? Also, the weep screed he wants to use does not have an insect screen on it, which I think would pose problems.

Another product the stucco guy wants to use is EZ-Bead, which replaces the backing rod that goes around the window. While the EZ bead website claims to provide a cleaner solution (no visible signs of the EZ-Bead are visible in the website pics after the final stucco coat) you can see the ez bead in the last job the stucco guy did in the pics below. I'm not too crazy about how he did the windows.

Stucco would be a smooth coat to match the rest of the house, but the contractor and the stucco guy are afraid the smooth coat over the wood framing would show some imperfections. I feel that a good stucco guy sould be able to attain a smooth finish with very minimal noticeable imperfections. I wouldn't blame you if you've had enough already, so I appreciate your inputs since that requires time and effort. I've been a lurker on this great site for some time now, so this is my first post. Will post pics of the garage soon!

http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/KoreyConstable/library/Windows and Stucco

EDIT: Garage is officially finished! http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5348884#post5348884

 

[readhead]

I would not flash the windows that way.
Did you make all these details known to the contractors at the beginning of the job?
If not then expect to pay more. I know you deserve to get what you want but this should all have been worked out a long time ago.

 

[K C]

I had no idea about the weep screed and ez bead until last week when the stucco guy came to check out the site. There were so many details in this project which were covered, but the above just didn't occur to me. The contractor knows I'm a stickler for detail. How would you flash the windows?

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

http://www.eima.com/pdf/EIFS-Standards-Banner-2009.pdf

From that list and a lot of digging you should be able to find the information you need.

First- Be sure you're on the same page. There's a difference between "Stucco" and "EIFS". And by your thought process(es) it sounds like you maybe mixing the two together.

Second- On the window installation, flange installed windows don't require a drip edge- the flange itself acts as the flashing/drip edge. On a professional/personal note, I don't like vinyl windows AND EIFS/stucco together. Vinyl expands and contracts more than other materials used for window frames. When doing so it's a good idea to add a "cushion" between the window frame and the finish veneer.

 

[K C]

They are doing 3-coat stucco. I didn't think it needed a drip edge so your input was helpful.

 

[readhead]

The windows don't require head flashing. With stucco and those windows you will have a perpetual leak. The stucco will not bond to the vinyl. Some kind of stucco trim spaced away from the window and then caulked would be the best practice.
Notice I said that I would not flash the windows that way. It seems that every week now someone comes up with "the right way" to flash windows and doors. I am not throwing my hat into the ring. You will have 50 posts on the right way, trust me.

 

[K C]

The Ez-Bead is what they are using around the windows, which is cushioned like Kledgebldr described.

 

[readhead]

The ez-bead looks like the way to go. Haven't seen that product around here. Who will do the caulking and with what product? And the windows still need more flashing.

 

[K C]

Stucco guy plans on caulking. I will need to remind him to keep things neat. What areas would you install flashing?

 

[readhead]

To start, the bottom strip should be under the nail flange and over the felt. All the flashing and felt should be installed shingle style from bottom to top.

 

[ilovevocs]

My .02 cents. Don't skimp on sealant. For general use I like Dow Corning 795. If your particular hire a good caulker and learn what a good bridge seal constitutes and how to test it. Make sure your sub understands your expectations. You should review the manufactures cut sheets from the exterior plaster system for compatibility but it's likely an acceptable product.

 

[tms0425]

I'd take a look at what Gene Summy at www.tlslabs.com has to say. I asked him for advice via email and he responded within a day to my many questions, actually recommending against his own products. He suggested DuPont liquid applied flashing and wrb for my windows, which are inset in 8" CMU/block. I'm looking into it now, but really appreciated his expertise and forthrightness. He's done a gazillion repairs on these gone bad in the Southwest.

 

[K C]

This is similar to how we did it minus the bottom caulk and the step around 2:40

but utilizing the ice shield. I am more confused now than ever. Wonder if we would be ok with flashing over the ice shield or if we should remove the ice shield on the outside and replace it with the proper flashing, or start over altogether.

 

[readhead]

I sent you a PM. I watched the video and I'm pretty sure it will leak behind the house wrap. This dependence now on peel and stick products instead of simply lapping all the layers is problematic.

 

[K C]

Now I think I understand why I was confused with some of the replies regarding the ice shield in the pictures- the large piece on under the windows is actually a single large piece that goes all the way up to the windows (the top part of that piece looks like a separate piece but it is not). The side ones overlap this large piece, followed by the top. Isn't this considered shingle style? The WRB is supposed to lay on top of these followed by two layers of felt or grade D paper. Does this clarify things?

Readhead- I appreciate you taking the time to talk to us over the phone yesterday. It is a small world that you knew my friend, Chip, who was one of my best friends. He was an awesome and very generous individual. I'm going to send you a PM shortly regarding the weep screed.