When it comes to exterior home maintenance. home owners as well as home buyers are facing many harsh realities. The poor building practices and short cuts, which have been taken for decades, are beginning to catch up with all of us. While each type of exterior cladding had it\’s own problems, there are some consistencies among all exterior systems. The biggest problem with any building envelope is moisture intrusion and moisture control. How do we keep water out? Why do I have water stains inside? Why is there moisture in my window? Are mushrooms supposed to grow there? Stucco in particular has been under great scrutiny in this department. Moisture intrusion continues to be a hot topic with any and every stucco property.

For a stucco contractor the phones ring off the hook in the spring as the snow melts and the rain begins to fall. The little leaks here and there, mold, mildew, even mushrooms growing in and around windows. Dirt stains, water stains, general discoloration beneath the gutters, all of them are legitimate concerns for the homeowner. What is the cause? Who is at fault? What should I do?

The culprit is most likely the absence of a little piece of metal or plastic known as kick out or diverter flashing. Kick out flashing is drainage edging that is applied to roofs where it meets the exterior wall. Kick out flashing is shaped so that two sides rest against the wall and a curved side goes against the roof. The flashing is about 6 inches long and is closed along two sides. Once installed, the flashing is slated downward and directed towards the gutter. The flashing covers the opening between the roof and wall, preventing any seepage. Any water in the area is \”kicked out\” and directed to the gutter.

So who is to blame for not having these installed on your home? First the roofer is responsible and simply put he should have extended his final piece of step flashing and bend it out so that it is long enough to reach past the end of the gutter that it does not touch the stucco. If that does not happen, and the roofers are gone, then the second place of blame goes to the stucco installers. The stucco installers should know to install the missing flashing before proceeding. If both failed, then it is up to the general contractor, builder or home inspector to point the missing kick out flashing. Leaving it undone should simply never be an option.

Getting someone who really knows how to install kick out flashing properly into an existing system is critical. While it is not terribly complex, there are many procedures to follow to ensure it is done correctly. It can be expensive to have it done after the fact mainly for two reasons. One, there are many steps involved and depending which type of system you have (hard coat or EIFS) and how many steps can be performed with each visit. The other reason is where there is one missing kick out flashing there are usually many more on the home that the owner may not have noticed. To further educate yourself about the proper details of what a typical kick out flashing looks like, exactly where it goes, and how the details looks as far as putting it all together, you can visit a trusted manufacturer\’s website like Senergy, Sto or Dryvit.

Bethany works for a private stucco contractor in Denver, CO. For more information on kick out flashing and images of water damage check out http://www.kick-out-flashing.com and www.topnotchplastering.com

Bethany works for a private stucco contractor in Denver, CO. For more information on kick out flashing and images of water damage check out http://www.kick-out-flashing.com and http://topnotchplastering.com

Author Bio: Bethany works for a private stucco contractor in Denver, CO. For more information on kick out flashing and images of water damage check out http://www.kick-out-flashing.com and www.topnotchplastering.com

Category: Home Management
Keywords: kick out flashing, diverter flashing, water damage, stucco, rain diverters