When small cracks or flakes appear on your stucco, having a professional inspect the material is a good idea. This will help you catch any issues before they become more serious problems requiring an expensive repair. If the damage results from water intrusion, it’s often best to treat this with a professional contractor. This will ensure a permanent fix preventing moisture from entering your home again.
If you notice any of these signs of stucco damage, it is important to address the issue as soon as possible to prevent further damage and ensure the safety and integrity of your home. Stucco Repair Philadelphia can assess the damage and recommend the best action, including patching, sealing, or even complete stucco replacement.
Typically running about a 1/16th of an inch wide or smaller, stucco hairline cracks are a common result of improper mud mixture, new home settlement (from drying timber/framing), or foundation problems. A hairline crack that is wider than 1/16 may indicate more serious issues that a professional foundation repair specialist should address.
Stucco is a durable exterior material but can be vulnerable to impact damage, poor workmanship issues, foundation problems, and stucco cement expansion. Understanding the causes of these cracks is important so you can determine the best course of action for your home.
Stucco is a durable material, but over time, it can develop cracks. These are not always a sign of structural damage, but can lead to water intrusion and other problems.
A good way to detect small hairline cracks is to look obliquely from the top or bottom of the wall. Often they appear at window and door openings, but can run across the middle of the wall too.
Repairing these cracks is relatively easy, especially if they’re less than a dime wide. Just use a sanded acrylic exterior caulk to fill them in and make sure to smooth it on with your finger.
Stucco is a combination of different materials and if one or more of the components are not the correct proportions, it may crack or fail. This is especially true if work was not done within the proper temperature ranges for mixing, application and curing.
A common problem with stucco is moisture intrusion. Moisture can damage the lathing and lath fasteners. It can also cause rot and damage to the substrates that support the stucco.
If you have a structural issue causing your stucco cracking, it is best to address this first before you start patching the cracks. Otherwise, the cracks are likely to come back in the future. If you are not sure if the cracks are due to a structural issue, it is best to have a qualified structural engineer check it out.
If your stucco has developed cracks around the foam trim that are part of the base coat, these may be caused by a failure in the adhesive that was used. The adhesive may have been applied too wet, too hot or too cold or it may have not been properly mixed according to the manufactures instructions.
Typically, these will be very shallow and thin, with some of the cracks only being 1/16th of an inch across or less. These types of cracks can be easily patched so that they do not expand further or allow moisture to get trapped under the stucco, causing future damage.
If your stucco has developed a pattern of vertical and horizontal cracks, this is an indicator that the lath that holds up the stucco underneath the mud was not properly installed during the construction of your home. These type of cracks can be repaired by removing the damaged lath and reinstalling it correctly.
If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, stucco repair is an easy DIY project that can help bring many stucco surfaces back to good condition. There are a few different types of caulks you can use for small hairline cracks and larger repairs, so choose the right one depending on your needs.
The first thing you should do is determine what caused the damage. If the stucco is deteriorating due to mold or other issues, you may need to do some remediation.
If the cracks are less than a quarter inch wide, you can simply apply exterior latex paintable caulk to fix them. However, if they’re larger than that, it’s best to call a professional for the job.