How to inspect your weep screed drainage

What you'll learn

• What weep screed is and where to find it
• How to check whether the drainage gap is open
• Signs that the weep screed has corroded and needs replacement
• How to clear minor debris from the drainage path

Step by step

1. Locate the weep screed Walk the perimeter of your home and look at the bottom edge of the stucco, where it terminates above the foundation or the concrete slab. You should see a thin metal strip with small perforations along its bottom edge and a gap between the strip's bottom edge and whatever is below it. That gap is where water exits the stucco system.
2. Check the drainage gap The gap between the bottom of the weep screed and the surface below should be clear: no soil, mulch, rock, or concrete poured against it. Probe the gap lightly with a thin screwdriver. If it slides in freely for an inch or more, the drainage path is open. If it hits a hard stop immediately, the gap may be blocked or absent.
3. Look for rust staining Rust-colored staining on the stucco surface directly above or below the weep screed indicates corrosion. In coastal San Diego communities, even a small amount of orange staining at the foundation line is a sign that the galvanized coating on the screed has broken down.
4. Check for soil or hardscape contact Soil, planters, raised beds, or hardscape materials that touch the stucco above the weep screed short-circuit the moisture management system. The stucco needs a visible gap between its bottom edge and any soil or hardscape, with the weep screed exposed in that gap. Your crew confirms the clearance the code requires for your assembly.
5. Clear minor debris Use a small stiff brush or compressed air to clear leaves, dirt, and spider webs from the weep screed drainage slots and the gap below. Do not use water pressure directly into the gap. If the screed is corroded or the gap has been filled with hardscape or poured concrete, call a stucco contractor.