Manufactured Stone Siding, Cultured Stone, ACMV Stone Siding, Lick & Stick Stone Siding. It has many names, but they all spell trouble for millions of homes throughout the country. If you are experiencing water intrusion on your home, this is the best place to get information on why it’s happening.
Are you experiencing problems with water leaking in around the doors and windows of your home? Does the humidity in your home rise during and after rain events? Some houses have water that leaks in around the rim joists/sill plate of the foundation. Some houses show no sign of issues at all, until things are really bad. Most people first assume it is their windows that are the problem. While it’s certainly not impossible to have leaking windows coupled with a botched manufactured stone install, in most cases it is the manufactured stone that is causing the water leakage issue in the house. Contractors all over the country are improperly installing manufactured stone. They are not following the instructions that are readily available, and moisture is getting trapped behind the stone–causing the structure of the home to rot, mold, and fall apart. I get several calls each week from folks all over the country who find my blog and are looking for guidance on what to do next.
I’ve written a 3-part series that addresses most problems with manufactured stone. You’ll want to start by reading them, in order. Then, read the articles I’ve written on the houses that I’ve been contracted to inspect with failing manufactured stone.
If you are having problems with your home and would like to schedule an inspection on your manufactured stone, feel free to give me a call at 502.938.5190 or you can fill out this form and I’ll get back to you ASAP. I am willing to travel, and have done so for many clients. Contact Form for Manufactured Stone Inspections
This is a general overview to teach you what manufactured stone is, and how it differs from regular brick veneer. It also explains how the anatomy of a wall should break down.
This section explains the importance of flashing details around windows and doors. These are the most frequently skipped steps on manufactured stone siding installations; hence, this is where most leak points begin.
The final section goes in depth about walls and the importance of drainage. All manufactured stone needs to drain, and nearly every house I’ve seen is missing the details that will allow water to escape.
The good people over at the National Concrete Masonry Association have produced a fantastic installation guide for Manufactured Stone. It’s so good in fact, that most manufacturers of manufactured stone don’t even bother writing their own installation manual. They tell you to follow the MVMA Guide. You can download the latest edition by clicking the button to the right. Just a heads up though, it can be tough to read if you aren’t used to looking at blueprint details. The MVMA Guide is the document I use when performing an inspection on a home with manufactured stone.
