Stucco is an exceptional building material when used properly. However, just like any other building material, it can get damaged with time. You can fix some of these issues on your own but some of them require a professional’s touch.
In this post, we’ll highlight numerous issues that you can fix along with others that need expert help. We’ll also provide you with some tips to keep your stucco in optimal condition.
Let’s have a detailed look at it.
Common Issues With Stucco Installations
Before we differentiate the issues, it is important to know about them. We’ll go over every issue one by one for your peace of mind. Let’s check them out.
Cracks
Minor and major cracks can happen to any building material. Stucco is no exception. These cracks can appear due to various environmental reasons. Changes in weather, temperature, and extended moisture exposure are some of these factors.
Some of these cracks are only on the top surface while some delve deeper into the stucco. Without proper attention, these cracks impact your entire installation including the substrate.
Crumbles
Stucco installations also suffer from crumbling issues. One sign of this deteriorating stucco. Even your hand’s touch can scrape it off from the wall. This happens due to water damage or improper installation.
While it doesn’t impact the underlayment and the substrate, it can lead to an exposed top surface. Without immediate repairs, you can end up in a tight financial spot.
Mold Growth
Any damp surface can lead to moss and mold growth. Stucco surfaces are notorious for holding enough moisture to propagate the growth of mold. General negligence, inadequate ventilation, and lack of drainage are the main causes of it.
While mold isn’t detrimental to the stucco itself, the health risks it poses aren’t dismissible. It can impact your pets, kids, and elderly in the home.
Stains
When your stucco is stained, it is an indication of a nearby issue. Stucco can change colors due to mineral deposition, extensive water exposure, and more. These minerals can dissolve your stucco in tandem with moisture.
Removal of stucco stains requires specialized acidic compounds for effective results.
Soft Spots & Dents
If you find soft spots or indentations on your stucco, it is related to two factors. Either your stucco has underlying water damage or the installation isn’t filled properly. Both of these conditions can provide to be catastrophic to your stucco installation.
Soft spots, especially, indicate the presence of water damage. You need to rectify such a situation immediately to protect the integrity of your stucco.
Impact Damage
In some situations, stucco can suffer structural damage due to an impact. Such a situation can result in chipping, crumbling, cracking, and more. Impacts can significantly reduce the structural integrity of your stucco installation.
Immediate solutions are required to maintain the external integrity. Otherwise, these issues can spread to the underlayment.
Stucco Issues: DIY Solutions vs Professional Help
Now that you are aware of some of the stucco issues, let’s check if you can fix them on your own or not.
Stucco Cracking
As we have already mentioned, stucco cracks appear in minor and major forms. Minor cracks are like hairline fractures. They are only visible from close inspection. Such cracks are only present on the topmost surface of the stucco.
You can easily fix minor cracks with a stucco repair kit. However, it is crucial to follow the repair instructions on the kit.
On the other hand, major cracks with visible openings need professional help. Even if you are experienced with stucco, it is important to take a professional’s help.
Otherwise, you can end up damaging your previous stucco installation.
Stucco Crumbling
The crumbling of your stucco should be left for a professional to fix. The solution for such a condition involves the removal of stucco sections and the installation of new materials. The entire removal and installation process requires years of expertise.
A professional has all the tools necessary for such a task. Without these tools, it is quite hard to get desirable results that tackle the crumbling issue.
Stucco Mold Growth
Mold shouldn’t be treated lightly. One wrong move can spread it all across your property. Since mold spreads through microscopic spores, only an expert can effectively remove it from your residence.
Moreover, professionals have tools to test the effectiveness of their efforts. They might have to remove entire sections of your stucco to prevent the spread of mold.
On the other hand, you can remove moss on your own. Just make sure that you use protective gear to keep yourself safe. On top of that, find the source of dampness and remove it from the equation.
These sources can be in the form of leaky pipes, lack of sunlight, and more. You can also prevent moss growth with regular cleaning with stucco-friendly materials.
Stucco Stains
Removal of stucco stains is arguably the easiest DIY stucco repair on our list. For brownish stains that indicate the presence of minerals, you’ll need something acidic.
Gently apply it over the surface, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then rinse it with fresh water. This will remove all the minerals present on your stucco.
Whereas for greenish stains, you’ll need a bleach solution for long-lasting results. You can use the bleach solution to dissolve organic materials present on your stucco surface.
Not only that but you can also use pressure washing. However, make sure that your water pressure isn’t high to damage your stucco surface.
Stucco Dents & Soft Spots
For such repairs, you’ll need the help of a highly experienced stucco damage repair professional. Soft spots and dents are often related to issues with the substrate or the underlayment.
You might have to remove huge chunks of stucco to deal with such problems. Without proper tools and expertise, it is impossible to get rid of dents and soft spots.
We highly recommend that you find stucco professionals with a solid background in exterior stucco repair. Otherwise, you’ll have to replace the entire installation.
Stucco Impact Damage
For impact damage, you can either do it yourself or hire a team of repairmen. If the impacts only have visible chips and minor cracks, simply use a repair kit.
However, if there are dents, major cracks, or crumbling, it is wise to get in touch with a stucco repair contractor. In some cases, these damages can penetrate the top surface.
Without a keen eye, it can be hard to detect such problems.
Stucco Moisture Damage
Lastly, we strongly recommend that you hire experts to deal with stucco moisture damage. Moisture is tough to pinpoint and requires solid diligence to achieve satisfactory results.
A stucco repair professional can protect your installation without a hassle. Moreover, they can also locate the source of moisture exposure and eliminate it.
Tips to Keep Stucco in Optimal Condition
Let’s have a look at some of the tips to keep your stucco in a perfect state. Here they are:
Do regular checks and maintenance. We suggest that you overview your stucco structures at least once a week. This way, you can eliminate problems like moss and moisture exposure.
Clean your installation with stucco-friendly materials. Many compounds can destroy stucco installations. This is why, it is necessary to get the right materials for cleaning proposes
Keep sources of water away from your stucco. Water vapers can collect on your stucco surfaces and seep into the substrate.
Conclusion
With this, we come to the end of our post on DIY and professional stucco repair solutions. Stucco repairs should always be handled with care. It is a sensitive material especially when damaged. We suggest that you educate yourself on various aspects of a stucco installation. You can fix minor repairs but leave the expert task for the professionals to handle.
We hope this information helps you make a well-guided decision. Let us know about your experience with stucco professionals.
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