Home » Posts tagged 'Stucco Replacement'
Tag Archives: Stucco Replacement
Stucco Repair – The Basics
Stucco is a material that is used extensively in the construction industry for waterproofing structures. Generally, here is how water damage slowly creeps into a system: Water enters through a crack, causing small chips and sometimes soft spots on the exterior. Over time, as the water continues to erode the barrier, cracks may appear in the material, hairline fissures may appear in the structure, and eventually, stucco repair is necessary. A qualified stucco contractor (yes, it exists) would charge up to $800 to repair an exterior of a 1,000-square-foot home.

So, what can you do about stucco repair? If you live in an area with mild to moderate climates, your home improvement project shouldn’t be too expensive. You may want to skip stucco repair altogether and use brick siding for your home’s exterior. For starters, the materials are available at your local Home Depot.
If your home suffers significant water damage, including extensive mold growth and structural integrity issues, however, stucco remediation may not be sufficient for your situation. In that case, you should take additional steps. In most cases, these steps involve hiring a contractor who specializes in structural fiber-reinforced building materials. (There are other methods for addressing the issue of water damage; however, they are not considered to be cost-effective.)
Even if your home improvement project uses materials that make repairs more accessible, you still must address moisture issues surrounding the damaged areas. One way to do this is to install a vapor barrier between the house and surrounding walls. The vapor barrier will serve as a physical barrier that keeps water from reaching the inside of the house. Another option for moisture control is to improve your home’s ventilation by placing vents where necessary or using high-efficiency appliances, such as air conditioners. (Don’t forget to vent in the laundry room!)
If your home improvement project involves a crack or other visible damage, you may need a stucco patch. A stucco repair is only possible when the damage isn’t visible from the outside of the home. If it is, you don’t have much choice – repairing it before it becomes worse will increase the cost of your project. There are several options for patching a damaged stucco surface. Some of the better-known methods include: injecting resin into the crack; injecting concrete or padding into the gap; filling the crack with a mixture of epoxy resin and cement; or leaving the crack untreated and replacing portions of the damaged stucco with stucco fabric, leaving only the edges of the repair intact. Regardless of which of these approaches you choose, always remember to avoid the “ceramic patch” technique as it can lead to long-term damage.
The corners of doors and windows are also prime candidates for stucco repair. Most of these areas develop small cracks due to lifting heavy doors or windows. These tiny cracks, coupled with expansion and contraction as the weight of the window or door falls on the house, can create gaps in the siding. Over time, these gaps allow moisture to seep into the interior walls and cause the wood to swell. A professional stucco repair professional can fill any cracks and restore your home’s siding to its original beauty.
One primary concern with stucco repair is the handling of faulty stucco siding. Because this is an amateurish technique, most homeowners let their siding shrink before attempting to repair it. If this occurs, the repair job becomes more difficult because the homeowner may have to sand down the surrounding house structure to get an even surface before he or she starts working on the siding. However, by following a few simple steps, homeowners can repair faulty stucco siding with ease.
First, homeowners should ensure that the stucco has entirely dried since most repair workers like to work with freshly applied stucco. Second, using a high-pressure water jet or water-based cleaners like hydrated lime, homeowners should carefully scrub away any excess concrete, mortar, or sand from the area surrounding the crack or tiny gaps. Once the area is clean and dry, a final rinsing of the hydrated lime should take care of any residue.
If you want a professional stucco company to repair, you can visit our website at https://www.stuccorepairhouston.net and we can offer you a free estimate in every service you need. Once the repair has been completed, we can also provide a free stucco replacement as part of our service.