Water leakage into exterior wall construction is one of the principal causes of damage and deterioration to facade materials and underlying construction. This paper discusses the basic approaches currently used to keep water out of buildings and their relationship to several common exterior wall systems. Also discussed are some of the more common water leakage paths the authors have encountered while investigating building leakage problems, including deficiencies associated with masonry walls, siding, EIFS, windows and doors, weather-resistive barriers (WRBs), and flashing.

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