Performance of stucco-clad wood-frame buildings in a temperate rain forest

摘要

The use of stucco cladding on wood-frame buildings is common construction for low-rise condominiums on the southwestern coast of Canada, a mild climatic region with heavy rainfall (temperate rainforest). This paper is a case study of severe deterioration that has occurred due to water ingress and resultant fungal attack at a condominium in Vancouver. The condominium was built in 1987 and consists of 3, four-storey buildings interconnected by exterior walkways. All buildings and walkways are of wood-frame construction, and the exterior walls are clad in conventional stucco. The causes of the water ingress and the subsequent deterioration are numerous, including: poor waterproofing membrane application; improper flashing terminations; and substandard stucco application. The following key issues will be illustrated in this case study: the implications of applying elastomeric coatings to wood structures already infected by fungi; the importance of proper waterproofing details in a wet climate; the implications of using waferboard sheathing as opposed to plywood; and techniques for repairing deteriorating wood-frame structures.