Here’s How to Inspect and Clean Your Stucco

Stucco is a well-known exterior finish in Orlando, FL. If you have stucco siding, we are sure that you want it to last longer and look sleek for years to come. To do so, you must take into account that there are easy ways to maintain your stucco to avoid stucco repair in no time.  Let Orlando Stucco Repair Pros guide you in the process by knowing how to inspect and clean your sidings:

How and when to clean your stucco siding

In general, you can clean your stucco once a year. This is because it is a porous material in nature. But depending on the weather conditions, you may do your cleaning as needed. For instance, after strong winds or rain, dirt may stick to your stucco walls. And so, it is best to do some cleaning after. 

You can clean your stucco walls or siding by using water from your garden hose. This works well as it does not harm the stucco. Rinse the walls from top to bottom to remove dirt and debris accumulation. For stubborn stains and dirt, you can use a nylon brush and a dishwashing liquid or soap. Be gentle in doing the scrubbing so you won’t loosen the siding. Do not use abrasive cleaning chemicals as well as power washing.

What to look for when inspecting your stucco

As years go by, you might want to do some visual inspection of your stucco to make sure that problems can be remedied earlier. Note that harsh weather conditions can subject your stucco to some harm. While it is a durable material, tough climate times can cause some issues to your stucco wall. And so, it is best to do some inspections.
When inspecting your stucco, look for the following signs of wear and tear:

• Discoloration – this can be a sign of moisture damage 
  
• Cracks on foam trim – poor installation in the area where two pieces of stucco meet
  
• Mold or mildew – moisture has entered your stucco siding
  
• Patterned cracks (horizontal or vertical) – indicates the improper installation of the board on which the stucco was laid  
  
• Spider cracks – these may be due to an improperly combined mixture of stucco, the base coat did not cure properly upon installation or the stucco dried too quickly 
  
• Nicking – caused by hailstorms
  
• Diagonal cracks – a result of normal seismic movements over time
  
• Hairline cracks, dirt accumulation – normal wear and tear
  

How to address severe damage

If you see these signs, make sure that you contact your trusted stucco contractor to ask for professional help when determining the gravity of the problem. Stucco companies know how serious these problems are. All you have to do is to report when you started noticing these changes on your stucco walls or stucco siding and whatever you have done to remedy them. Remember to choose Orlando Stucco Repair Pros when the cause is poor installation because surely, your previous contractor did not do a good job. For all your reliable and cost-effective stucco repair needs, contact Orlando Stucco Repair Pros. ​