New Windows and Stucco: What You Need to Know About the Replacement Process

Installing new windows is one of the best ways to make your home more energy efficient, as they help prevent heat gain and loss throughout the year. However, if you have a stucco home, installing new windows can pose several challenges. 

Fortunately, if you hire the MHX Designs team for your project, you’ll have nothing to worry about. As your local expert in stucco remediation and repairs, we’ve developed a proven process that ensures your stucco home will be protected during a window replacement. 

The Problem With Replacing Windows on a Stucco Home

Before we dive into our tried-and-true methods for this type of project, let us give you a little background on the risk of replacing windows on a stucco home. 

Underneath your stucco exterior is a waterproof layer, like black building paper, or Tyvek. You’ve probably seen this material if you’ve ever driven past a home that’s being built. This layer helps to seal the exterior envelope of your home, preventing water damage. 

When replacing your windows, an installer has to cut through this building paper, which can expose the wood frame of your home. This puts it at risk of rot, which can lead to serious structural damage down the road. 

How MHX Designs Navigates This Process

So, what does our team do to protect your home? We’ve found that taking two key steps prevents the risk of rot on your wood frame. 

Sealing the Exterior Envelope

After we remove the old window, we cover the bottom and sides of the window opening with a polythene lining, which is made with rubberized tape. Then, we place the new window into the space and fasten it to the wall. 

From there, we put an adhesive waterproof membrane over the sides and top of the window, making sure to cover the metal border that secures the window to the framework of the house. 

Replacing the Drip Flashing Above the Window

After completing that step, we remove the metal drip flash drains from the window. While this flashing helps water drain away from your windows, it’s no longer necessary thanks to the adhesive waterproof membrane that we installed. 

Why do we choose to do it this way? Well, attaching an aluminum drip cap without tearing the black building paper is very difficult. By installing the adhesive waterproof membrane instead, we can seal it to the building paper with caulk, so we don’t have to worry about ripping it. 

This gives your home added protection against moisture leaks so you can enjoy your new windows, without having to worry about water damage every time it rains. 

Trust the MHX Designs Team for Your Next Home Improvement Project

After reading through this article, we hope you have peace of mind that the MHX Designs team knows how to navigate your window replacement, even if you have stucco siding. When you’re ready to transform your home with new windows, our team is here to make the process as simple as possible. Contact us today to set up a free consultation.