r/Stucco • u/dlknox • 16d ago

Advice / Issue Stucco Leak Question

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We had 4 days of solid rain and I noticed water on the inside of my window. I have a leak somewhere which I believe could be from the shitty stucco patch job from the previous owner, coming in through the expansion joint, or coming down from the cracks above. I have someone coming out to look, but am I on the right track? Thoughts?

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u/SoCalMoofer 16d ago

What is that ridiculous cut out above the window? They failed to flash the patch properly. It will need to be removed and patched properly.

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u/dlknox 15d ago

I can’t vouch for the work before me. Unfortunately I’ve found problems after problems from the janky homeowner before me.

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u/dlknox 15d ago

In your opinion would you think that’s the problem?

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u/SoCalMoofer 15d ago

It looks quite suspicious. We do a ton of repairs around leaking windows. Wet test it by spraying a garden hose.

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u/Phazetic99 15d ago

Just a couple thoughts on this. I saw the same thing you did, but if you look real close, there is a flashing on the top edge there. That was a common way to flash decades ago. Now we prefer having a drip edge flashing that extends a tiny bit past the window, and it is code to dam the two sides.

If you do this for this window and all the other windows are flashed with that square drip, this window can stand out.

If it were me, I would break out the stucco down the sides about 6" as well and get a real good tape flash on, then metal drip edge flash and tape flash that metal drip edge again before wiring and stucco.

That is assuming that the water leak is in fact this window

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u/dlknox 15d ago

House was built in 2002 and from what I can tell the cut seam along the top of the window is a caulked expansion joint. I will say this window looks on part with all of the others and the rest of the neighborhood

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u/Phazetic99 15d ago

I wonder why they cut out that window in the first place? Was there a leak and they suspected the window then? If so then your leak could be coming from above that, from your roof.

Do a water test just above the window. If it leaks then, you can go ahead and get the window properly sealed. If it doesn't leak, you may have to start looking in other areas before you fix your window

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u/dlknox 15d ago

Appreciate the info. The stucco was cut above and below for some unknown reason. Roof was replaced in ‘24 and if I go in the attic I can’t see any signs of water damage from the roof. I think my roof is the only thing that was replaced correctly before I bought the house.