Stucco Cracks, Learn When To Repair

Florida is known for its home siding being stucco and with stucco comes maintenance. In the article, you will learn when you should repair stucco cracks. Minor stucco cracks are typical defects we find during a home inspection.

You want to repair stucco cracks to keep water out of the area so some further damage is not caused to the wall. Let’s dive into it.

What is Stucco?

1. Cement-based siding made to texture and or finish an exterior wall
2. It is a flexible material that is a cheaper option for siding a home

How is Stucco Applied?

There are different applications of the material depending on your home’s framing, is the home concrete block or wood-framed? In South Florida particularly where we are located building standard is now concrete blocks for our homes to defend against windstorms.

Concrete Block Stucco Homes

1. The stucco can adhere to the porous surface of concrete blocks.

Wood Framed Homes

1. There is underlayment placed on the wood framing
2. A metal lathe or metal netting is then placed over the underlayment
3. Then the stucco adheres to the metal lathe

When & How to Repair Stucco Cracks?

Types of Stucco Cracks

1. Hairline Cracks – normal cracking that is less than 1/8 inch wide
2. Spider Cracks – usually from poor application
3. Pattern Cracks – possible poor application for wood-framed buildings indicating an issue with the metal lathe
4. Diagonal Cracks – possible settlement or shifting with cracks wider than 1/8 inch

Repairing the hairline stucco cracks is something that can be managed by the homeowner.

1. Clean the area
2. Brush the loose dirt/algae out of the area
3. Use Elastomeric Caulking to fill the stucco crack
4. Once the caulk is dry, paint the area

If you are experiencing any of the other cracking methods besides the hairline stucco cracks, we recommend you seek a qualified stucco repair company to assess the damage.

Summary

Stucco cracks vary in size but if you are seeing hairline stucco cracks on your exterior walls then this is something a homeowner can maintain. Here is a quick video showing how to repair stucco cracks.

If the cracks are larger than hairline stucco cracks, be sure to seek a professional to assess the damage.

For additional questions or comments, be sure to comment below. GGR Home Inspections conducts home inspections in the Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami Dade county areas.

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