Stucco is a traditional exterior material for many Spanish-style homes in the southwest. It’s durable and attractive, but it does have some issues that can make homeowners wish they had gone with siding or another option. This article will cover common problems along with some tips for Philadelphia stucco repair.
Tips For Stucco Repair
- Inspect carefully for signs of damage or problems before working around your home. It takes just a little more effort to keep moisture out, but if it means avoiding devastating repair bills in the future, it’s well worth taking precautions early on!
- Know how much time and money you’re willing to invest into repairing an issue instead of going cheap and getting bad results (or worse yet, having to pay twice). Sometimes projects take longer than expected, and you should be able to plan accordingly.
- Take your time and repair right the first time. If there’s one thing you don’t want, it’s a repeat visit from a professional! Learn from other people’s mistakes by reading online reviews, talking with friends, or asking professionals for advice before starting any stucco project yourself.
Remember these three simple rules when working on your home: inspect, take care of problems quickly, and invest in quality work. With that said, let us look at the common problems!
- Cracking
You should examine the foundation to determine if there is a problem with the footings or other structural issues before you begin thinking about repairing cracks in your stucco wall.
There could also just be changes occurring due to age that can no longer support some of the load being placed on it from heavy rains or pooling water.
- Blistering
This often occurs when moisture gets trapped between coats of paint while painting over old latex paints without using an oil-based primer first.
Instead, use an acrylic-based primer followed up with two topcoats of exterior grade latex paint for best results. It’s important not to use water-based paint on top of oil-based paints, or it will cause blistering.
- Melting
A common problem in warmer climates, melting can be caused by improper installation with too much insulation or vapor barriers, caulking that is not weatherproof, or painting over stucco that has not fully dried.
If you notice this problem, have an energy audit done to find out where the extra heat is coming from and take corrective action. You may also need to add more ventilation to your home.
- Peeling Paint and Flaking Stucco Caused by Wind Damage
The most common repair for this type of damage is retexturing and repainting the area. It’s important to remove all loose paint, fill in any cracks or holes, and then apply an acrylic-latex primer before painting with high-quality exterior latex paint.
Covering the area up with plastic can help speed the moisture evaporation, making removing old peeling paint easier.
Avoid using water-based paints when repairing your stucco home as they will wash away quickly during heavy rains and not adhere well to new coats of oil-based primer/paint that need time to cure fully.
Conclusion
Remember that there are different types of stucco, and each one has its own complications. If you have a problem with stucco, the best thing to do is contact a professional.
