Remedying a leak on stucco

Q: I have an above-ground deck half over my garage and half over the driveway. The deck has a torch down covering with stamped concrete on top.

The problem is that the deck leaks at the seam where it meets the stucco side of the house.

It is a slow leak, but I do not want to end up having damage to the stucco.

I have put caulking along the seam; it sticks well to the stucco, but not the concrete. Is there a better product I can use?

A: It sounds as though the contractor did not install a metal counter flashing when the deck was built.

A 90-degree metal counter flashing could have been cut into the stucco and placed under the concrete decking to give the best water seal.

You might still be able to have a flashing installed by a professional service trade.

In the meantime, you may want to try a polyurethane caulking, which will stick to both types of surfaces. LePage Quad-max would be a good choice.

(Note: Do not use torch down roofing membrane under concrete; always use Duradek Tiledek.)

Q: We live in a rancher that has tongue and groove soffits. It seems that they have been coated with a clear product. I do not know what product was used, but I have noticed some water damage on the cedar.

Is there any way to get rid of the water damage and apply a product to the cedar soffits to give a good-looking protective finish?

A: To repair the damage, use an exterior stain remover. Once you have removed the stain, wash the areas well with an exterior cleaning formula, rinse well and allow to dry thoroughly. Apply two coats of an exterior clear wood finish.

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