Stucco, which is composed of cement, sand and lime, is one of the many materials that can help enhance the beauty of your home’s exterior. However, unlike its siding counterparts like vinyl and fiber cement, its composition makes it a porous material, which means it retains moisture. If not properly installed, stucco is more likely to crack, leading to issues that can detract from your home’s curb appeal and compromise the structural integrity of the exterior.
Several factors can cause stucco siding to fail, including the way the components are mixed, poor installation, and temperature fluctuations. The source of these problems, however, is the lack of systems necessary to protect the material against moisture infiltration. Precision #1 Contractors, one of the top siding and roofing contractors in the area, takes a closer look at the most common causes of stucco siding failure.
Cracks and other signs of deterioration on the stucco siding may appear if there is missing or improperly installed flashing between vertical walls and roof ends, near fascia boards where gutters are located. A reputable contractor would first inspect for problems before working on applying the stucco siding. Although they can even notify the roofer about any inadequate flashing, the stucco pros often take charge of installing flashings around areas where the walls meet the roof.
Problems on stucco siding may arise if a door or window is not installed properly. Water won’t run off your home effectively when this happens. Without a barrier to protect the stucco from moisture, water will instead find its way to the wall cavity and get trapped in it, resulting in not just cracks and structural damage but also the appearance of mold.
As is the case with windows and doors, moisture can also penetrate the stucco near dryer vents, electric outlets, piping, and light fixtures. If these are properly installed, expect the material to crack and eventually fail. To combat this problem, stucco installers usually install a piece of trim around these potential moisture entry paints before sealing it from the inside out.
Deck installers must make sure additional components such as barrier membranes, rain screens, and ledger board drip cap flashing are present to protect the rim joists and anything below them—stucco included—from moisture. The absence of any or all of these water management systems during deck installation can also lead to stucco failure.
The proper transition between stucco and other materials like stone, concrete, non-stucco siding and brick is of great importance during construction. However, it becomes a problem if the joints separating the two are not sealed properly to protect against expansion and contraction or are not flashed to provide adequate water drainage. This can cause cracking and water infiltration on the stucco.
Stucco damage can be fixed via two options. One is stucco repair, which involves finding damaged areas and replacing or reapplying them with added stucco. This is usually done if the damage is purely cosmetic or the cracks and deterioration are still in their minor stages. It is cheaper than the latter, but it doesn’t truly address the underlying problems that are causing the damage.
The other is stucco remediation, which is a more comprehensive solution where all the issues that are causing the failure are solved before performing the fix on the home’s exterior. It can either be one of two things: removing the old stucco and applying a new one or replacing the stucco with a better siding option, like fiber cement siding and vinyl.
Precision #1 Contractors specializes in stucco remediation. In addition to applying new stucco to replace the old one, we also offer cost-effective siding options that are better suited for your home. You can count on us to install high-quality vinyl and James Hardie® fiber cement siding—both are proven to withstand the climate, virtually maintenance-free, and provide a look of elegance for your home’s curb appeal. With these, you won’t have to worry about the problems associated with stucco.
Schedule your free consultation today by calling (215) 364-5115 or filling out our contact form.
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