Stucco Without Sheathing

Without a doubt, stucco is among the most long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing external wall treatments available. It requires little upkeep, is inexpensive, and can withstand fires. It is advised to lay stucco over sheathing while installing it.

For the stucco to stick to, the sheathing is like a backing material. Is sheathing necessary when installing stucco, though? Is this really tolerable? Continue reading to find out more.

Is Sheathing Necessary to Install Stucco?

Although it is not recommended, it is possible to lay stucco without sheathing. In the 1960s, this layout was common in many houses.

However, stucco without sheathing is very seldom seen in modern homes. Refuse their offer without hesitation if the contractor you hired suggests this technique.

You will need three primary materials—interior studs felt paper, chicken mesh or lath, and stucco—to apply stucco without sheathing. Here, stucco is placed after felt paper and chicken mesh are stapled to the internal studs.

Why Isn’t Sheathing Necessary When Installing Stucco?

It is not a good idea to apply stucco without sheathing, according to expert contractors you ask. The following problems usually arise as a consequence of this.

• The Walls Aren’t Strong Enough

As an external treatment, stucco lasts a long time. However, the wall will not be structurally strong enough if it is applied without sheathing. A stucco box is not an appropriate theoretical construction to be working toward.

When applied to internal studs and laths, stucco is far more stable than when sheathed. The duration of your project is uncertain.

• Remodeling and repairs become more challenging in such a setup.

Wall repairs and remodels without sheathing under the stucco are going to be a real pain. With sheathing in place, removing, repairing, or replacing damaged stucco is a breeze.

Due to the lack of a protective backing material, repairs involving simply wire mesh and felt paper run the risk of destroying the entire wall.

Does Stucco Without Sheathing Make a Common Appearance on Houses?

This arrangement is typical of houses constructed in the 1960s. Panels made of OSB and plywood were unpopular a generation ago.

So, that’s how most houses were constructed back then. It can be novel to you if you exclusively deal with contemporary houses. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, if you’ve dealt with older homes before.

In this modern day, this is not considered proper stucco installation. I brought this up previously because it’s important to be wary of contractors that propose stucco installations without sheathing.

In spite of their guarantee, you should nevertheless prepare yourself to deal with the aforementioned issues in the road. No, it’s not worthwhile.

What to Do If Stucco Is Missing Sheathing After Installation?

Did you know that sheathing wasn’t used when installing the stucco on your home? Would you like to fix any of the damaged stucco on your walls? The best way to tackle such a situation is not always obvious.

Taking down the whole wall and putting it back up properly is the way to go here. Yet, this may necessitate a significant investment of time and money. Consequently, you should get an angle grinder, ideally one that has a diamond grit blade.

When you’re ready to replace the stucco, carefully cut through it. To prevent cutting lath or felt paper, you shouldn’t use the angle grinder to penetrate further into the stucco.

The stucco is typically 1.5 inches deep. That is something to think about when you remove the old stucco from the wall.

The temptation to just smash the old plaster off the walls is real. However, this tool is not something I suggest utilizing. When removing stucco, a hammer works wonders.

However, if you don’t use sheathing, you run the danger of damaging the drywall on the inside of your walls. Plus, stucco isn’t structurally stable until it’s sheathed. Stucco removal may wind up involving more stucco removal than you initially planned.

The only way to keep the felt paper and chicken mesh from becoming damaged is to use an angle grinder. Never forget the importance of these two materials while designing your wall. Damaging the entire stucco wall is possible if you tamper with them.

Can Stucco Without Sheathing Be Used According to Current Building Codes?

Your luck will be in the hands of the local inspectors and their level of tolerance. The construction regulations of yesteryear were lax.

Even inspections were skipped when most houses were constructed. For this reason, stucco without sheathing is a common feature of older homes.

No inspector will permit stucco installation without sheathing if you are building a wall today. Sheathing is an essential component of the approved stucco construction procedure.

While renovating your property, you may find that the stucco is not properly sheathed. Because of the manner your house was constructed, the inspector could give you the all clear.

So, it’s possible you won’t need to shell out a ton of cash to demolish the wall and put it back up to code.

How Can Water Get Past Stucco That Isn’t Sheathed?

I brought up felt paper as one of the primary materials utilized in the construction of stucco without sheathing in the 1960s.

Most of the time, it was an asphalt-impregnated substance that could block water from penetrating. The water could not get in because of this paper.

Be careful with this felt paper while fixing stucco that was placed without sheathing. Water will begin to leak through if you damage it. Additionally, wall damage caused by moisture may start to manifest. Mold will also be attracted to this.

Which sheathing material is ideal for use beneath stucco?

Stucco without sheathing is unacceptable, thus we eliminated that possibility. Finding the right materials to lay below this finish is essential if you want to apply it to outside walls.

Various kinds of stucco sheathing offer different advantages. In order to help you pick the best one, I will quickly outline a few of them.

One option is wood sheathing, which has been used for a long time. Why? Because it’s affordable and easy to get your hands on. There are two main types of wood sheathing: OSB and plywood.

OSB is the less expensive option, whereas plywood offers superior strength and water resistance. It is important to provide for expansion and contraction gaps when using wood sheathing as a substrate for stucco installation.

• Cement Board: The most effective sheathing material for stucco installations nowadays is cement board. Cement and strands of fiberglass make up this substance.

In contrast to wood, it can withstand water damage and is reasonably priced. One alternative for stucco sheathing that is very long-lasting is a cement board.

• Outside Gypsum: It’s quite similar to drywall, except it’s tougher and water-resistant. You can cut exterior gypsum quite simply.

Accordingly, setting everything up is a breeze. Gypsum for the outside is reasonably priced. Unfortunately, it’s not widely available and is best suited for commercial structures.

These three options are the best to consider for sheathing a wall before applying stucco, should you ever find yourself in that situation.