Hard stucco is also prone to moisture retention. EIFS has received a lot of bad press and rightly so but there are many potential moisture hot spots in hard stucco applications as well. One of the most important hard stucco details that is often missing are kick-out flashings. These very important flashings help keep water from flowing against the stucco exterior. These flashing should be installed whenever stucco siding comes in contact with roofing materials, such as in dormer areas.

Another area that is prone to water intrusion is at penetrations. Such penetrations exist at pipe extensions, vents, utility devices, hose bibs and at other exterior attachments. All of the penetrations must be completely sealed in order to help keep water out.

Stucco should never be installed on or below the grade level. Water will weep up and make its way behind the exterior stucco and become trapped. Wood rot and mold growth are the usual result.

All areas along windows should be fully sealed and caulked in order to help avoid water penetration. Cracks in the stucco can also let water in. All cracks and voids should be properly sealed and re-coated by a stucco contractor

To help keep moisture in control you can either remove the high moisture air by ventilation or extract the moisture itself by the use of a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier works by drawing air in from the room into the unit. The air travels over a set of cold coils. Water will condense on the coils inside the unit and drip down into a holding tray. This cold but dry air then travels over another set of heated coils then is returned to the room as warm air.

A dehumidifier for home use can be mobile or be built in. The humidifier has a humidistat that will switch the unit on when the moisture content of the indoor air reaches a pre set level. When the reservoir is full, the unit will turn off to keep it from overflowing. Some dehumidifiers have an indicator to remind the occupant that the catch tray is full. When a dehumidifier is installed in a damp room it should be able to remove the excess moisture from the furniture in the room within several weeks. After that it will monitor the moisture content of the air and maintain a stabilized interior atmosphere.

A portable dehumidifier can be moved from room to room, where it can be plugged into a standard wall receptacle

Masonry chimney liners can be lined or unlined. An unlined chimney has exposed bricks on its interior. The bricks in a chimney with a liner are protected. The chimney liner can be metal, clay, or tile.

Oil fired heating equipment often do not require a liner because the exhaust gas are not that corrosive. The gases from an oil system are also much hotter and can escape the chimney very quickly before condensation forms.

Gas burns at a much lower temperature then oil thus the gases are much cooler. As the gas goes up the chimney it cools further and can form condensation.

This condensation can get trapped in the chimney brick and freeze when the heating equipment is turned off. Over time the freezing and thawing of the condensation can cause damage to the interior of the chimney. Significant damage can be done to the chimney if corrective measures are not taken such as installing a chimney liner.