# Covered Weep Screeds: The Stucco Mistake That Invites Termites

- Link: https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/covered-weep-screed-stucco-termites/
- Published: 2026-10-24T09:29:03+00:00
- Author: homeinspectordan

Here’s a small detail that leads to big problems: covered or badly installed weep
screeds. It’s one of the most common things I find on stucco homes in Arizona, and
one of the easiest for homeowners to check themselves.

## What is a weep screed?

A weep screed is the metal strip along the bottom edge of a stucco wall. Stucco 
isn’t waterproof. Water that gets behind it runs down the wall and needs a way out,
and the weep screed is that exit. It also gives you a visible gap between the stucco
and the foundation.

## What goes wrong

 * **Buried by landscaping:** rock, soil or mulch piled up over the screed.
 * **Sealed over:** stucco, paint or caulk covering the drainage edge.
 * **Skipped entirely:** I even find it missing on some new builds.

Blocking the screed traps moisture inside the wall. That creates the perfect setup
for mold, rot and termites. It also hides the bottom of the wall, so you can’t see
termite mud tubes coming up from the soil.

## How to check your home

 * Walk around the house and look at the bottom of the stucco. You should see the
   metal edge and a few inches of foundation below it.
 * Pull back rock and soil so they sit below the screed, and slope the ground away
   from the house.
 * Keep sprinklers and drip lines from soaking that area.
 * Don’t let painters or stucco crews seal the bottom edge shut.

A quick visual check now can save you costly repairs later. For more warning signs,
read [how to spot termites in your Arizona home](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/how-to-spot-termites-arizona-home/).
Every home inspection I do includes a [termite inspection](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/termite-inspection/).

## Watch the video

See what a good and a buried weep screed look like in the video above, or [watch it on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBwENkxI0Pw).
[Book your inspection online](https://app.spectora.com/home-inspectors/my-inspection-company-f8d6dbae4e/schedule)
or call [623-399-0079](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/covered-weep-screed-stucco-termites/6233990079).

Property Inspections Plus is a [Gilbert, AZ home inspection](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/)
company led by Certified Master Inspector Dan Pierce. We inspect homes across the
East Valley, the Phoenix metro and the rest of Arizona. See all of our [service areas](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/service-areas/).