I’m remodeling a bathroom in a house built in the 60’s. The exterior stucco finish was applied without any sheathing. It appears that a felt paper was applied and has a horizontal wire backing every 6″ or so. Over this is the chicken mesh and then the stucco. Has anyone seen this before? The stud cavities are deformed and bulged inwards. It’s going to be very difficult to add additional blocking and framing wor new windows and the like. Any ideas?
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Thats very common in homes built out here during that time before shear panel became common place. Our home was built this way. It was built in 64'
ML
Yep, mine was built like this too. Here's how I dealt with it:
For interior blocking, 2x3 is your friend. If you need to notch a section of the stucco, you can use a 4.5" angle grinder with a diamond grit blade.
If you need to cut through the stucco, use at least a 7" angle grinder. That stucco can be up to 1.5" deep between the studs.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
I don't feel it's healthy to keep your faults bottled up inside me.
Well, Number one don't use a hammer to bust the old stucco away. Two things will happen one you will crack more stucco than you need and second you may loose a picture off the wall in the next room not to mension get your arm exausted. To Prevent this, use a rotary hammer drill set on chipping only and use a 1" wide chisel blade. break out the stucco only as far as you need and bend the wire back. ( Don't cut the wire you need this to tie it all back in latter. If you cut into another wall cavity with no backing you will need to take the stucco back to the next stud and add a nailing stud for new paper and wire nailing.
This will help you to save the felt paper from extream damage.
If you must use a hammer use only a eswing rock hammer with a 1/2" face and a pick on the other end its about 20 oz.
Tony Czuleger
IMC Construction & Development Inc.
Edited 9/8/2008 8:50 pm ET by TonyCz
Edited 9/8/2008 8:51 pm ET by TonyCz
Thanks guys! I usually work on homes that are at least 70-80 years old and have never encountered this situation. I'm glad to know that builders in that era were idiots and never considered the possibility of remodeling. Just like those guys who are using that spray foam to fill stud bays today. I can almost hear our future brothers cursing us for that one! I took a job out in the 'burbs and everything is different, it's such a magical place......
By the way, I actually own a couple Estwing rock hammers (a rock hound here) Have you ever seen the Estwing Gem Scoop? Now that's a trippy tool!
No I have not seen that tool. I have to make a trip up to Sac soon maybe I can get with my brother and hit the gold country up there in September or October. on a trip from So cal.
Every post-war house in Southern Cal is done that way.
Tarpaper - wire - chicken wire attached with nails with little pink cardboard spacers & stucco.
You never saw one before?
Joe H
Nope, I generally work on pre war homes in the East Bay, Oakland. They were built between 1880's and 1930's. I learned the trade in Chicago, no stucco there.