Page 34 - CodeWatcher Spring 2017 Issue

Better Than Code

Are Stucco's Days Numbered?

Building officials should familiarize themselves

with this alternative to three-coat stucco.

BY NICK OVERMANN

HE TRADITIONAL STUCCO look remains hydration cycling required for the proper application of
popular in a variety of housing styles, and traditional stucco scratch and brown coats, which would
now a new substrate and textured acrylic add time to the installation process.)
finish system makes that look a whole lot “Three-coat stucco can take several weeks for installation,
easier for builders to achieve while adding but the LP ArmorStrand system can be installed in just three
other desirable features. An independent to four days,” points out David Josey, segment manager,
Tevaluation by product research and Single Family New Construction, Siding, LP Building
development company, IBACOS, has attested that a substrate Products. “The system typically incurs lower material costs
and textured acrylic finish system has the potential for and has shorter cure times.”
improved labor savings over traditional three-coat stucco.
IBACOS conducted both in-field and off-site evaluations Water and Energy Performance
of LP ArmorStrand featuring Dryvit TAFS 3 and found that A life-cycle load test per ASTM E233 criteria subjected the
the system clearly has positive economic value compared surface condition of the wall to 10 specific load weights. The
to three-coat stucco, while meeting all necessary durability test panel showed no visible signs of surface cracking, thus
requirements to combat (natural) elements. meeting the established criteria.
A water penetration test per ASTM E331 criteria attempted
Time and Motion Study to draw water through any breaches of the wall surface to
Table 1 shows the tasks and time associated with installing the framing under stress according to ASTM E72 guidelines,
both traditional three-coat stucco and the ArmorStrand adapted with framing and window installation. The test
system. These comparisons were based on a 12-foot-by- sample showed no visible water penetration within the wall
10-foot standard wall with a window assembly installed in cavities, thus meeting the established criteria.
the center of the wall. (The analysis does not include any In terms of energy performance, the system can be applied to

Traditional Three-Coat Stucco

OSB, Drainage Plane, Window Installation 72 minutes Drainage Plane, Window Installation 48 minutes
Bond Break 20 minutes LP ArmorStrand with Trim 47 minutes
Casing Bead/Lath 37 minutes AquaFlash® Tape/Joint Compound 39 minutes
Casing Bead/Lath (continued) 47 minutes Prime 33 minutes
Scratch Coat 66 minutes Finish 41 minutes
Curing Time/Hydration Not included TOTAL 3 hours 28 minutes
Brown Coat 91 minutes
Curing Time/Hydration Not included
Finish Coat (assumed same as Dryvit) 41 minutes
TOTAL (not including Hydration/Cure Time) 6 hours 14 minutes

Table 1

34 CodeWatcher / Spring 2017 www.codewatcher.us