Bottom of stucco columns failing

I almost want to install weeps here but not by original design . Wondering what you think.

Bottom of stucco column failing due to lack of weeps. Same stucco column failing due to lack of weeps.

There is no doubt a weep at the bottom would have prevented this crumbling and buckling. The bottom should be a water exit. Note how the caulking is peeling and failing. I see this condition a lot. This could have been prevented by using weeps.

Drilling weep holes in casing bead (plaster stop).

We are drilling weep holes in plaster stop (casing bead). They used to make this pre-drilled and they were called weep grounds. Now, they are made out of plastic, so we drill the plaster stop ourselves.

Stucco cut off of columns to put on weeps.

We cut off the stucco and put on these weeps at the bottom of these columns. The columns were badly deteriorated due to a roof leak. We left an eighth of an inch gap at the bottom for drainage.

Bottom of stucco over patio showing drainage gap.

Here is a view of a weep on this finished patio.

You can cut off the stucco and put in weeps, but the patches will usually show.

Here is how we made decorative bands to hide the patches here....

This took a long time, but the natural color cement finish would have been impossible to match.