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Please don't leave a gap around the window.

Reggie

We just had our porch redone and windows installed in place of screens. We live in Florida and water was coming in through the screen windows and seeping between the stucco walls which began to bow and crack. We decided to redo the porch with glass windows and removed all the old stucco and wood. Once the porch was rebuilt and windows installed we had the stucco guy come over. The stucco has been applied with a raised trim around the exterior windows. The problem is we are not sure if they put the stucco on right. We have a wood frame porch.

This is terrible. First of all there is a gap between the back of the stucco and the house. Any water that runs down the window will run right into the house. Caulking won't do much. Caulking this heavy will shrink and crack real bad within a couple years. Check out my Youtube video below:

Note the water trapped on the top of the window. It was a hot day when we did this, and it hadn't rained in days. and still there was water trapped on top of the window. This is one coat stucco, but still water penetrates the stucco and accumulates at the top of the window. Also, with no flashing, water is angled back towards the wall, instead of down and away from the wall. I have seen a lot of rot lately on houses that I went out to estimate repairs.

This was probably started by EIFS people. It makes no sense to me. First of all, if you are relying on caulk to prevent water infiltration, you are relying on faith. Secondly, who wants a nasty looking glob of caulk around their windows.