Ive had a window leak for a while. It only leaks in a heavy or wind driven rain and the leak is above the window, which is on the first floor. I had a roofer/remodeler out and he said the roof looks fine (and ive never had water in the attic or anywhere in the walls). He said the stucco doesnt look like it was done correctly, its looks as though someone just put a skim coat directly over the cinder block and then painted it. Its not thick enough and he doubts there is any waterproofing material under the stucco. You can even slightly see the grout (?) lines along the block through the paint in places. His suggestion was to waterproof the current stucco with 2 coats of elastomeric paint/sealant. He believes water is seeping through the thin skim coat and throught the block and going down the wall and out above the window. So heres my question, has anyone had expirience with this type of paint or sealant? And i was also thinking if I decide to go this route will it actually work? Should i have him check the flashing on the 3 windows along this wall before the painting is done...i honeslty dont know if they are flashed properly, if at all. im still waiting on my estimate and Im working on getting estimates from other masons/plaster companies before I decide which route to go...but any opinions? thanks!

I am putting in a couple short retaining walls(1-2 feet in height), they will be 4x4 posts every 4 to 5 feet with 2x8's for the actual walls attached horizontally. I am in the upper midwest so we see lots freezing but I am under the assumption that the wall should move with the ground. That being the case am I ok just using the posts set in dirt or do I still need to set them in concrete? I wall have them angled back towards the high part of the ground as well. Thanks!