Stucco weep screed & ground clearance — WRB laps the flange, ≥4″ above grade
Stucco ends at a weep screed, not at the ground: the WRB laps over its flange, the lath stops on it, and weep holes drain the wall — kept ≥4″ above earth (2″ above paved) so it can’t wick water into the framing.
What this diagram shows
A base-of-wall cross-section showing how stucco terminates at a galvanized weep screed. The weather-resistive barrier laps over the screed’s attachment flange so water sheds outward, the metal lath stops on the screed, and weep holes let water that gets behind the stucco drain out at the bottom. The screed must sit at least 4 inches above earth or 2 inches above paved surfaces. Running stucco down to grade wicks ground water into the framing and rots the sill plate.
Stucco Calculator
3-coat / 2-coat / 1-coat stucco take-off — bags per coat, lath, weep screed, casing, control joints. Per IRC R703.7 / ASTM C926. Free.
Related diagrams
Masonry, Stucco & HardscapeBrick bond patterns compared — running, ⅓ running, stack, common, English, and Flemish
Masonry, Stucco & HardscapeWhere bricks-per-square-foot comes from — the nominal brick-plus-joint cell
Masonry, Stucco & HardscapeAnchored brick-veneer wall section — air space, WRB, ties, flashing, and weep holes
Masonry, Stucco & HardscapeWhat goes under pavers — compacted base, bedding sand, joint sand, and edge restraint
Masonry, Stucco & HardscapePaver laying patterns — running bond, herringbone, basketweave, and waste factors
Masonry, Stucco & HardscapeWhy pavers need edge restraint — the perimeter creeps and unravels without it