Does Your Home Exterior Need Stucco Repair?

Unlike other siding materials, problems a stucco siding does not happen as often. But even with the toughest stucco, they can happen over the years. To make sure that your siding and walls get a stucco repair as soon as there is a problem, you should know how to inspect your exterior. In these tips, you will use your three senses, and learn more!

Steps To Know You Need Stucco Repair

1. Take a look at your stucco

Walk around the exterior and check for some signs of damage. The three things you should take a look at are discoloration, molds, and cracks. Take note that cracks, depending on their location, mean different things in terms of their causes.

Hairline cracks are normally caused by foundation movements and vibrations around the house. Similarly, when you find diagonal cracks, these are because of seismic shifts. Both of these issues can depend on how strong the movements are. Of course, the stronger it is, the more significant the cracks would be.

There are cracks that are also due to improper stucco installation. When you see patterned cracks, they may be horizontal or vertical cracks. These types of cracks are due to the board where the stucco was laid not being properly secured during installation. On the one hand, if you see some cracks on the foam trim, this is caused by the improper joining of two stucco pieces during the stucco installation. Lastly, spider cracks show when the stucco’s base coat did not properly cure during installation.

​If the size is quite large or cracks are so many, you need your trusted stucco contractor to professional check your stucco. Sealing may be needed to feel the minimal cracks. However, if the issue is more serious, your stucco contractor may need to do some fixes.

2. Smell your stucco

That’s right, you will smell your stucco siding. Just like rotting food, a damaged stucco is a tell-tale sign that your stucco has some issues. The main reason that your stucco has a funny smell is that mold is growing within. It is a cause of concern for stucco repair because you may not see the magnitude of the problem from the outside. Molds and mildew inside the stucco need to be addressed to minimize the damage to your home’s structure. ​

3. Feel your stucco

Stand near your stucco wall then touch it. Make sure to apply slight pressure. If it crumbles or you feel that it is brittle, this indicates there is a problem that professionals should inspect. If you also feel spots that are a bit damp, that also indicates that your stucco may be suffering from water damage. Note that if there is water damage, mold may develop, which is bad for the structure’s foundation and your family’s health.

4. Get a professional stucco inspection 

We should emphasize that your initial observations are good because this confirms if you need professional help. If you observe those mentioned above, you should call Orlando Stucco Repair Pros to help you find out what the problem is, its cause, and the right solution.