We would like to have someone refinish the stucco by adding a smooth top coat to the existing stucco with a color added. How to paint old exterior stucco home guides sf gate. Large cracks that are more than 116 inch can cause water intrusion issues and other damage. I vertically strapped the foam after covering with typar or felt and then screwed 12 cement board to it. Just like holes in stucco, the proper way to repair cracks in stucco also depends on the size of the cracks. We have insane humidity issues here, and water can get trapped in the stucco and cause bubbles in the exterior finish or worse, mold problems. A skilled stucco contractor should always be used when considering a new look to the exterior of your home. Energy and sustainability services california 20 building energy. I do have some cracks on the parts that i actually did. Portland cement stucco is very hard and brittle and can easily crack if the base on which it is applied is not stable.
I see a lot of cracks on the foam trim that is used on stucco houses quite often and. Here, using a field report of leaks at horizontal control joints in a hard coat stucco wall system, we describe the inspection, diagnosis, repair, and proper compared with improper installation of traditional stucco building. Repairing stucco cracks, why new stucco walls can crack youtube. Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful. As with stucco, cracks can allow water infiltration and can cause damages. You can ensure that your stucco is painted properly by trusting your home to experienced stucco painters who know exactly what type of paint to use, can suggest the perfect paint colors, and consistently deliver highquality results. Hard coat stucco vs synthetic stucco temmel siding. Cracks are a common and accepted occurrence in stucco assemblies but by utilizing parex usa stucco level coat with embedded mesh over the stucco base coat provides enhanced crack resistance to the wall. Dec 17, 2018 check the existing stucco for structural integrity. Stucco is a combination of powdered limestone or cement, blended with sand and water until it reaches a mortarlike consistency.
When washing stucco, its best to divide the project up and work from section to section. Hairline cracks in this color coat are inevitable, but if the base coats are well cured, these surface cracks will not communicate water through the stucco. Although not all cracks are objectionable, cracks in stucco acceptable to one person might be unacceptable to another person. Stucco hairline cracks why would one want to violate the principles of a breathable, selfdraining wall and seal it up, risking all of the potential consequences which that entails.
Mar 03, 2016 now that you know why stucco cracks, lets find out how serious a stucco crack can be. As a building material, stucco is a durable, attractive, and weatherresistant wall covering. There are different types of stucco found on homes, synthetic eifs and traditional hard coat portland cement plaster. Basically, it is a finegrained concrete that is attached to your house using a waterproof barrier paper, galvanized wire. Because of these serious risks that cracked stucco can entail, it is important to deal with it promptly.
In 1982 the california contractors licenses board published a set of workmanship guidelines that addressed cracks in stucco finishes. How to make a concrete countertop, its easier than you think. Below are some examples of some hairline cracks that have occurred. If there are minor cracks in your stucco, this is a project that most san francisco homeowners can tackle if they want to.
Hardcoat stucco cracks, leaks, damage stucco cracks, leaks at control joints, standards. Eifs is an acronym for exterior insulation and finish systems. Once moisture or water gets inside a wall, it will inevitably cause further damage. Hardcoat stucco is typically a three layer cementitious rendering scratch coat, brown coat and top coat applied over a building paper, metal lath and sheathing photograph 2.
Hard coat stucco cracks, leaks, damage stucco cracks, leaks at control joints, standards. All cracks and chips should be patched and given enough time to dry. In the second part of this series, we will discuss the structure, installation. Additionally, stucco is pretty much maintenance free. When you put regular housepaint over stucco, you have two problems. The stucco is in fairly good condition except for some small cracks in a few places california earthquake area. Stucco is by nature hard and strong, but it is relatively thin. Hairline cracks are typically around a 116 of an inch wide or smaller, if the crack is bigger than that, than chances are that some other element is the culprit. You should let patches dry for about a week to make sure. The brown coat adds strength and acts as a base for the finish coat, which can be handtroweled to create a custom surface texture.
There are two fundamental types of stresses that cause stucco cracksinternal and external. Before you clean stucco, you must examine it closely for any flaws. Because of this, the process of restuccoing a home will be different with varying costs. Eifs usually pronounced eefs constructed homes, however, have a dark cloud surrounding themallegations of water accumulation and damage resulting in mold. Jul 23, 2008 small cracks that are less than 116 inch are common and can be easily repaired with minor filling and repainting, if needed. A color coated stucco requires no maintenance other than occasional cleaning and resealing the joints, no repainting, and if properly constructed, is. Stucco is merely a concrete coat that floats on the building paper. Cracks that appear within the first 30 days after installation and are larger than 116 the thick. This level of maintenance is expected with stucco homes, and these cracks dont undermine the integrity of the exterior finish. This is a very thin coat of portland cement, water, and pigment no sand that covers the surface like paint, adding a layer of color that bonds to the structure of the existing stucco. If cracks exceed 332 it is unacceptable and should be repaired. It was traditionally used as both an interior and exterior finish applied in one or two thin layers directly over a solid masonry, brick, or stone surface.
This minimizes the number of cracks that may come through and enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the exterior. The multicoat hard coat stucco system is an exterior stucco system and is comprised of a weatherresistant barrier, lath, base coat, and a finish coat. Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful tutorial. Homes with this exterior finish are often strikingly beautiful, offer great flexibility in home design, and provide energy savings. Apr 29, 2016 additionally, stucco is pretty much maintenance free. Portland cementbased plaster is such a material that uses portland cement as the binder. The stucco, which is an acrylic, rubber based product, is applied in one or two coats, and the final product is typically 116th to 18th inch thick.
Cleaning stucco how to pressure wash a stucco surface. Sep 24, 2019 examine the stucco for chips or cracks. Our recommended tools, greeting our ambitious and faithful subscribers, as well as fellow plasterers. Stucco contractors near you for plastering wall surfaces of your home. If a new texture is required, a thicker coat is required, and can add additional expense. Stucco wall methods and choices best practices guide. If they are greater than a 116 of an inch, they should be repaired. Hard coat stucco installation involves the following layers. Quantity includes typical waste overage, material for repair and local delivery. Cost to install stucco 2020 cost calculator customizable. If you wash damaged stucco, water can get into the cracks, causing mold and mildew to grow, among other issues.
Manufactured stone veneer is a version of hardcoat stucco where the top coat is replaced with an embedded thin stone veneer photograph 3. Scratch the surface of the coat when it becomes adequately hard using a nail or other sharp object and leave it to cure for two days. The second coat fills any cracks in the scratch coat, and the additional sand in the brown coat helps prevent new shrinkage cracks. Cement stucco is made of sand, a small quantity of lime, portland cement and water. Stucco is by nature hard and strong, but it is relatively thin and brittle and will crack when subjected to stresses that exceed its tensile strength. Cracking is a common performance issue with stucco systems, particularly hard coat stuccos. Silpro california stucco is a portland cementbased, waterresistant coating that is easy to apply and has the ability to withstand severe climatic conditions. Plaster is the general term for material that is applied to a wall surface in a thin layer.
The product is also called synthetic stucco, and it refers to a multilayered exterior finish thats been used in european construction since shortly after world war ii. Hardcoat stucco is instead installed over wood strips, known as lath, or over metal lath and does not use the foam underlayment. Stucco cracks it is the nature of stucco to experience some cracking. Applied by hand over metal wire or lath, stucco cures to a hard and.
Stucco and eifs are commonly installed on single family homes, townhomes and lowmidrise commercialresidential buildings. Today, after the inspection, we found that there was a crack under the window. It combines a great variety of textures with low maintenance cost in a permanent finish material. Connect with stucco companies in your neighborhood. By code, builders should provide at least 48 hours of curing time after the first coat is applied and wait seven days after the second coat before applying the finish. Stucco installation labor, basic basic labor to install stucco with favorable site conditions. This will provide a new look and keep with the integrity of the existing finish. Previously, we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of traditional hard coat stucco. Twocoat stucco is used on concrete, brick, and block. If you locate chips and cracks in your stucco, dont move forward with cleaning it until youve repaired the damage. Stucco cost estimate prices to stucco a house remodeling. The finish coat usually contained an integral color and was typically textured for appearance. However, they can provide a pathway for moisture and water to enter into a wall system. May 24, 2018 painting stucco on your home can offer a wide range of benefits, but only if the project is completed correctly.
Painting stucco on your home can offer a wide range of benefits, but only if the project is completed correctly. Many homes that have stucco as an exterior coating have cracking issues, but. Todays stucco manufacturers offer a very wide range of colors that can be mixed integrally in the finish coat. Though cracks in stucco can occur due to different factors, two leading. For these small cracks, get a flexible, paintable, exteriorgrade caulk. The second, or brown, coat should go on as soon as the first coat is hard enough to accept the second coat without cracking, but at least 48 hours later, according to the irc.
In the second part of this series, we will discuss the structure, installation, advantages, and disadvantages of eifs. This article is intended to discuss the primary components of onecoat and threecoat stucco systems, often referred to as hard coat systems, as both systems use portland cement as the base coat. Using stucco can be a costeffective alternative to many kinds of siding. A traditional hard coat stucco exterior system is extremely strong and durable because it essentially covers your home with a layer of rock.
Synthetic stucco is commonly referred to as exterior insulating and finish system eifs. I primed the cement board with a unico product and then we put a composite sort of mesh over the whole surface with a base coat of some sort. Stucco is a somewhat colloquial term for portland cement plaster, and. Jun 29, 2018 stucco and eifs are commonly installed on single family homes, townhomes and lowmidrise commercialresidential buildings. Jul, 2018 previously, we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of traditional hard coat stucco. Check the existing stucco for structural integrity.
Cracks are a natural part of any concretebased product, and over time all stucco installations will have cracks. Using a sprayer, dampen the 1st coat of stucco and apply a thin layer of the second coat using the same equipment used in the previous step. Synthetic stucco installation involves the following layers. If the stucco is cracked, chipped, or spalled, it needs to be repaired and then recovered with a. Repairs are made to cracks and minor imperfections in the surface and then the new coat is applied. Internal stresses are due to the natural curing and drying process of stucco. Sometimes referred to as classic, cement, or hard coat stucco, traditional stucco is. Typically its color was gray, from the innate color of most portland cement, but white portland cement is also used. Contractors found stucco to be a good repair choice for buildings damaged during the war. Eifs is not a hardcoat system and is not addressed in this article.
Youre going to need a proper detergent in order to give your stucco the shine it once had. Learn about the differences between onecoat and threecoat stucco. This type of cracking is basically a sign that the base coat did not cure properly. These cladding options are most often placed over framed walls with sheathing but can also be applied over concrete and masonry. The finished hard coat stucco itself should be about 58 to 34 of an inch thick. Small cracks that are less than 116 inch are common and can be easily repaired with minor filling and repainting, if needed. Portland cement stucco cracks develop for many reasons. Exterior insulation and finishing system eifs pronounced eefis or eefs, both are. Identifying various cracks in stucco the stucco guy. How to apply stucco over old stucco home guides sf gate. Also known to bridge hairline cracks because of its elastomeric properties. If large sections of siding need to be replaced, the cost is significantly higher, and can. Hairline cracks that develop in traditional stucco or hard coat stucco do not necessary have to be fixed if the width of the cracks are less that 116 of an inch. Dec 15, 2018 stucco is a combination of powdered limestone or cement, blended with sand and water until it reaches a mortarlike consistency.
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