Pebble Dash Stucco chimney
Takoma Park area, Washington, DC

How we did it !

counter flashing for stucco

The accusing finger points to the source of the leak. The old step flashing had pulled away from the chimney. The flashing on the front was stuck on with caulk and had separated creating a water funnel. There was no counter flashing on the sides.

weep stop, or weep grounds, or weep screeds

Stucco is pulled of deteriorated bricks. Bricks are filled and stabilized with Flex-con in the mortar.

Spanish texture reminds me of California

Fortunately the back side, or the cricket side flashing was in good shape. The flashing is copper. Most old steel flashing we find has rusted out. We overlapped the edge of the flashing with mortar.Fortunately the back side, or the cricket side flashing was in good shape. The flashing is copper. Most old steel flashing we find has rusted out. We overlapped the edge of the flashing with mortar.

self furring metal lath Reston, Virginia

The left over counter flashing from Reston was used to flash the base of the chimney and sealed. The flashing is then overlapped with plaster stop (casing bead).

flashing over the windows and doors and sealed the top with tape in Reston, Virginia

The bricks are roughed up with a chipping hammer and a scratch coat applied to the whole chimney. Our method of half and half flex-con with water is used in the mortar. The flex-con here is used for a bonding admixture, but has a side benefit of making the mortar less porous.

basement level is block and the upper levels are wood framing

The top is done with white Portland and sand using a sand float finish.

weep grounds

We embedded two dollar coins for a time capsule.

casing bead with holes punched

Pebble mix is thrown on.

Tarpaper and metal lath are overlapped over the block

We used weep grounds at the bottom for drainage.

screeds

We re-did the front entrance walls also.

I was saddened to learn of Bernard Shaw's death. This is one of his houses. We worked on his other house in Takoma Park, MD. If you aren't old enough to remember Bernard Shaw, he was the news anchor on CNN back when CNN was the news, up until 2001. Bernie was super hospitable and was a big influence on me.