QUESTION

I'm in the process of buying a vacation home. The outside second floor balcony has tile. The edge of plywood around the perimiter below the tile was stuccoed over. The stucco is falling off exposing the plywood. The owners have a 10 year warranty, the builder is telling them the home built in 2006 was built per code at that time. I'm concerned about water intrusion through the exposed plywood. Shouldn't there be a metal drip edge covering the plywood ?

ANSWER

ANSWER - The tile nor the stucco should be installed directly over plywood.  The plywood will expand and warp when exposed to moisture.

The balcony should be fully waterproof with a slope to drain.  If it is being drained over the outer edge of the balcony then they should have a drip edge that directs the water into a rain gutter.