OK, the scaffolding been’s up for a year now and the stucco guy’s getting a little anxious. The brown coat was finished about two months ago, so there’s been plenty of time for curing and, under normal conditions, the finish coat should be going on now.
The problem is that the drywall hasn’t been hung yet and the stucco contractor doesn’t want to finish coat until after it’s all hung. We all understand that the reason for this is the potential for cracking stucco from the occasional hammer banging from drywall hangers to tack up sheets and finish driving those few framing nails that would pop the drywall. Otherwise, the drywall is fastened with screws.
The obvious answer is: “get the drywall done now”. Well, I’m the hold up here. I’m doing the electrical, low voltage, and heat ducts myself, so it’s taking time.
Anyone with experience working out of sequence like this? Are we really asking for major trouble finishing the stucco now?
It should also be noted that the entire house was sheathed with 1/2 structural ply and most of it heavily nailed for shear nailing. In addition to that, the framing is pretty substantial with 3X’s and 4X’s everywhere (typical excess in So. California)
Thanks!!
Replies
The stucco guy is correct to wait. It isn't worth redoing at this stage, so wait for the drywall. Or you could maybe knock the frame nails flush, sign a waiver, then insist the drywallers use no nails, only screws. Good luck.
Bill
I've got two questions:
a) stucco is weak enough to crack from a few hammer hits?
b) people hang drywall using hand-driven nails?
yup and yup...
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Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
We have a stucco house. I'd have to take a sledgehammer to the outside to break this stuff up. I dunno...won't someone in the future hammer in a nail to hang up a photo? This seems like a silly argument for not finishing up the stucco or really weak/fragile stucco.
I haven't heard it in a while because most rock is screwed on these days, but it used to be common rule that stucco doesn't go on 'till rock is nailed off 'cause fresh stucco will crack or separate from the lath. Mike
Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.
darrel,
To answer your questions:
1) I do not believe that 3-coat stucco is so weak that it would crack from a few nail-setting, or driving hammer blows, bu it's what everyone uses as the reason.
2) Drywall is fastened with screws, but they'll use a nail here and there to initially tack a sheet up.
IMERC said it.Nails are still very much used in drywalling, especially when the rock is being glued. They are used to initially set the boards in place, then you go around and screw off the 'field'.Green stucco is fragile.
Before the days of shearwalls, the problem encountered was the drywall finish was wavey if the stucco was done first. With shear walls, I see no problem scratching and browning the stucco.
Thanks for the replies, but if you read my post, you'll see that the scratch and brown are done, it's the finish coat that's still needed.
I'm also of the opinion that the shear panels contribute greatly to my cause, plus, the scratch and brown have been up for some time now and are fully cured.
At the rate I'm going, I don't expect the drywall to go up for at least 8-10 weeks, so that should be adequate time for the finish to cure as well.
Thanks everyone!