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Performance of Stucco
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Stucco and Moisture Resistance (Story follows)

Stucco over concrete masonry is popular, in part, because it is very durable in high humidity environments. Although most prevalent in Florida, stucco is estimated to be used on as much as 20% of block installed in the U.S. Where this kind of finish is also subject to high winds, concern has been raised about how well it resists wind-driven rain.

Phase I test walls show wall panels with water chamber assemblies mounted on them.

The following article summarizes new research about traditional stucco over concrete masonry to determine the system’s effectiveness in resisting moisture penetration. Testing was done in a laboratory, using test periods of 28 hours and high winds (up to 180 mph) as might be expected during hurricanes. (Figure 1).

Following the 2004 hurricanes that hit Central Florida, significant moisture penetration and damage was noted on new block homes, residences constructed after 2001. To help determine what happened, the Florida Concrete & Products Association (FC&PA) contacted the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) and set up a research project under the direction of Jim Gulde, a noted stucco expert.

Objectives of the Two-Phase Study

The objectives of the project were as follows:

Generate data on water intrusion through stucco over concrete masonry

Evaluate performance based on stucco thickness and masonry workmanship

If the water penetration performance was favorable, provide information to assist marketing efforts for concrete masonry

Stucco was installed in accordance with industry practices, although thinner applications (1/8 and ¼ in.) than allowed by code were made for comparison with code- and standard-recommended thicknesses. Some joints between units were also purposely left unfilled to evaluate the effect of workmanship. (See table.)

The study was completed in two phases, the first at lower wind speeds and the second at higher speeds as shown in the table. Using 4 ft x 6 ft panels subjected to the ASTM E 514 protocol (Standard Test Method for Water Penetration and Leakage through Masonry), the moisture penetration through the walls was observed and recorded as:

area of wall surface affected and

amount of water collected on through-wall flashing.

Table: Wall Finishes and Wind Speeds in Phases I and II
Stucco thickness, in. (mm)	Phase I: wind at 62 mph for 4 hours, then 110 mph for 24 hours	Phase II: wind at 155 mph for 4 hours, then 180 mph for 24 hours	Description
None (control)	1 wall	—	Control wall, no stucco
1/8 in. (3 mm)	2 walls (1 good + 1 flawed)*	4 walls (3 good + 1 flawed)*	Skim coat of stucco
¼ in. (6 mm)	1 wall	—	One-half the code-required thickness
½ in. (13 mm)	2 walls (1 good + 1 flawed)*	4 walls (3 good + 1 flawed)*	ASTM C 926-required thickness
*An additional variable was full head and bed joints, or “good,” vs. “flawed” mortar joints, an indication of the quality of block construction.

Findings and Conclusions

Portland cement plaster over concrete masonry is an effective finish for resisting water penetration into and through the walls. It should be installed in accordance with industry practices—the proper mix at the correct thickness, followed by curing—to achieve its full potential. A complete description of industry practices is available in ASTM C 926, Standard Specification for Application of Portland Cement-Based Plaster.

Specifically:

The control wall (uncoated) after 4 hours exposure to 62 mph (100 kph) wind-driven rain.

At wind speeds of 110 mph (177 kph), all the coated walls resisted water penetration, but the uncoated wall failed early in the testing at lower wind speeds (62 mph or 100 kph).

At wind speeds exceeding 155 mph (249 kph), traditional ½ in. (13 mm) stucco provided excellent resistance to moisture penetration.

At 180 mph (290 kph), the amount of dampness on the leeward (non-wind) side of the wall was similar for both stucco material thicknesses (½ and ¼ in. or 6 and 13 mm). The thicker coating allowed much less water penetration—measured by water collected on the bottom of the cells on the flashing—than the skim coat (1/8 in. or 3 mm) at extended time and pressure.

Chart showing amount of water collected.

The ½-in. (13-mm) coating allowed much less water than the skim coat to pass through the wall over the test duration.

Reference

The complete report, Water Penetration Testing of Stucco on Concrete Masonry Construction, was issued and is available free of charge from NCMA. Find the full report under “Research Reports.”

This work was completed in May 2007, a joint program of the Florida Concrete & Products Association and the National Concrete Masonry Association Education and Research Foundation. All tests were conducted at the NCMA Laboratory in Herndon, Virginia.