Stone Siding Installation Defects

Without a doubt, the sexiest new siding being used on the front of houses is stone siding.  I say stone siding because that's what everyone calls it, but what I'm really referring to is Masonry Veneer.  This is a man-made product that's meant to look like stone siding, and is installed in a similar manner to stucco.

Masonry Veneer

While masonry veneer looks great, it's susceptible to the same moisture problems that stucco is.  Moisture testing experts in the Twin Cities agree that this product has experienced the exact same type of moisture intrusion problems as stucco.   Building science expert Dr. Joseph Lstiburek  actually calls this product "lumpy stucco," because that's essentially what it is.

While newer stucco installations are done quite well, the folks installing masonry veneer seem to have a lot of catching up to do on proper installation details.  When I inspect masonry veneer, I use the Masonry Veneer Manufacturers Association's installation guide, which you can find here - MVMA installation guide.  This guide is packed with diagrams showing how to install the material, based on generally accepted methods.

I find the same installation shortcomings over and over.  To help illustrate these issues, I've taken several installation diagrams from MVMA's guide and edited them down to more clearly illustrate where the installations went wrong.  As a home inspector, I don't get to see all the different layers of materials that get installed behind the masonry veneer; my inspection is limited to what I can see on the surface, and that's what I report on.  To make the installation diagrams easier to understand, I've removed the labels of all the components that aren't visible during the course of a home inspection.

Too close to grade or hard surfaces

Masonry veneer should be kept at least 2" above hard surfaces, such as concrete, and 4" above the soil.

ACMV - required height above grade or paving

When the material is buried in dirt, water can wick up in to the material and cause rotting at the wall.

ACMV - too close to grade

There should also be a 2" gap to paving, but this is rarely done – especially on columns.

ACMV - too close to concrete

Of course, leaving a 4" gap at the ground isn't the prettiest looking thing in the world, but there is a solution; simply have the weep screed terminated at least 4" above the ground, and have another layer of masonry veneer installed below it, as shown in the diagram below.

ACMV - Alternative finish at grade

The photo below shows this detail done properly.

ACMV - Alternative finish to grade photo 1

Here's a close up – note the weep screed.

ACMV - Alternative finish to grade photo 2

Improper Vertical Transitions

When masonry veneer has a vertical transition to something like wood trim, windows, or other siding materials, it should have a 3/8" gap left between the two different materials.  This gap needs to have a foam backer rod pushed behind it, and then filled with sealant to help prevent water intrusion.  This is rarely done.

ACMV - Vertical transition requirements

ACMV - too close to different siding

ACMV - Window transition requirements

ACMV - too close to window

Clearance to roof coverings

Masonry veneer needs to be kept 2" above roof surfaces to help prevent water from wicking up in to the wall.  The photo below shows a common deviation, where the masonry veneer actually touches the shingles.  This is just asking for trouble.

ACMV - required clearance above roof covering

ACMV - too close to shingles

Improper Vent Penetrations

Dryer vents, kitchen exhaust vents, bath fan vents, and other similar vent terminals should be pushed up against a bed of sealant, but they're often buried in masonry.  What happens when the vent cover gets broken and needs to be replaced?

ACMV - Dryer Vent Penetration

ACMV - dryer duct buried

Improper Sillcock Installations

Just like dryer vents, exterior sillcocks (aka – faucets or hose bibs) need to be embedded in sealant on the surface of the masonry veneer, not buried behind the veneer.  What happens when the faucet needs to be replaced?

ACMV - Pipe Penetration

How many bloody knuckles will this installation cause?

ACMV - buried sillcock

The nice thing about the installation shown above is that they got the vertical transition correct – check out that thick bead of caulk.

Of course, this is only a partial list of the things that can go wrong on a masonry veneer installation.  If you're planning to have this material installed on your home, make sure the MVMA's installation instructions are followed to help lower the potential for water intrusion.  If you're buying a home with masonry veneer already installed, treat it the same way you would stucco – consider having invasive moisture testing done.

Reuben Saltzman, Structure Tech Home Inspections

        

Written By

Reuben is a second-generation home inspector with a passion for his work. He grew up remodeling homes and learning about carpentry since he was old enough to hold a hammer. Reuben grew up thinking he was going to be a school teacher because he enjoyed teaching others so much. In a sense, that’s a lot of what home inspections are about, so Reuben truly does what he loves. Sharlene has worked with Structure Tech since 2000 and Reuben has been contributing to her blog since 2008.

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Stone Siding Installation Defects

🖨 Print Article This post was originally published in 2012. This is an updated version of that post. Stone siding might be the most problematic siding that we come across...

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