Using a one size fits all approach to repairing cracks will leave the exterior of your home looking like a shoots and ladder board. The rule of thumb for repairing cracks is start small. Precisely some stucco crack repair techniques which will help you to get the job done right. If its a hairline crack, then you can safely just fill it in to prevent the crack. Hairline cracks are arguably the most common type of stucco crack. Paint is intended to seal hairline cracks of this kind.
This level of maintenance is expected with stucco homes, and these cracks dont undermine the integrity of the exterior finish. Start hairline stucco crack repair by cleaning the wall. Stucco is a very strong, durable cementlike siding material but repairs are sometimes needed for cracks and holes. Stucco cracks stucco cracking is one of the most common homeowner complaints. Youll likely see staining around the corners of windows or doors, possibly dark spots where at the roofline, and even hairline cracks. For hairline and narrow cracks, the crack filler is available in tubes or bottles with thin nozzles, which makes it easy to apply. Repair cracks in plaster or stucco walls by plastering expert with 40 years handson training duration. Stucco houses crack, thats a fact because of the rigid nature of the material used and movement in one way or another. Filling small cracks in concrete keeps them from turning into big holes.
If its a diagonal crack, or a patterned crack, then youll need to do more work, or call in experts, to help you fix the problem. Most of the cracks will be cosmetic and easy to repair. They ranged any where from 45 feet long to the length of my garage wall 16 plus feet between the front windows. Take a look at some of the many different types to get a better feel for what youre up against. Wide, deep cracks could be caused from the house settling and you should consider having the foundation checked in case it is crumbling and needs to be fixed. It is the purpose of this article to define normal cracking as opposed to excessive cracking. Polyurethane based caulking is good for sealing up areas on the lath portion of the stucco process.
The methodology for repairing cracks in your stucco will depend on how the crack has come about. There are many ways to repair cracks in stucco and this can be as helpful as it is hurtful for the novicediy painter. If you have a small crack in your exterior stucco, you can patch it pretty easily and you definitely should, or you may be in for more extensive repairs down the. After you apply the caulking, it will look something like this. Most of the time, these will be relatively small and are refer to as hairline. Effective repair of cracks in masonry walls typically involves widening the crack, cleaning its contents and filling it with repair. Although cracks smaller than 116 inches usually dont undermine the integrity of exterior stucco, repairing them immediately will prevent them from escalating into something worse. Large cracks that are more than 116 inch can cause water intrusion issues and other damage. Ceramic insulcoat wall is a tough, highbuild, highperformance architectural coating. More great info and one on one support can be found by joining our community. This shrinkage, when restrained, may create hairline cracks.
Small cracks that are less than 116 inch are common and can be easily repaired with minor filling and repainting, if needed. Some will be thin hairline cracks while others could be much wider or you could have holes in the stucco. Unfortunately many of todays consumers are receiving inaccurate information regarding cracks in stucco. Virtually all stucco homes these days all suffer from one thing, cracking. Areas like windows, doors, where lath meets wood, etc. How to repair hairline cracks in stucco ai restoration. Professional stucco contractors who have a lot of experience in how to fix hairline cracks in stucco remove dirt and dust from the stucco wall before they begin filling in cracks.
Ron webber, a veteran plastering contractor in orange, calif. Quikrete has a stucco repair product that is textured to match the surrounding stucco, and can fill gaps up to 12 an inch wide. I put the builder on notice and of course the warranty has. If termites are the cause, call a local exterminator.
This article will focus on the investigation of cracks and some suggested. How should i repair cracks in stucco before painting. Most of the time these types of cracks can be fixed by homeowners with no plastering experience required, and requires minimal tools to do so. For stubborn hairline cracks a back roll application will apply a thicker coat of paint and fill in the remaining space. From time to time, even stucco manufactured and installed correctly will crack. The sma and member plastering contractors are constantly striving to improve stucco. Hairline cracks are most easily handled, sometimes with a premade stucco patch material that has elasticity. For these small cracks, get a flexible, paintable, exteriorgrade caulk.
A better approach is to repair dead hairline cracks where the stucco is stable and the cracks dont change size or reappear by dusting them with premixed, pigmented stucco. To repair a minor stucco crack, apply a highquality caulk, use a brush to. There is no dearth of stucco crack repair products for hairline stucco crack repair or land you can buy them from your nearest hardware store or online at amazon among others. We have tons of experience with exterior plaster crack repair. That brief pause before whipping out the caulk gun just saved you the hassle and potential embarrassment that would have been a sure thing by making one of the most common mistakes that happen with stucco cracks. Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful tutorial. If you have a small crack in your exterior stucco, you can patch it pretty easilyand you definitely should, or you may be in for more extensive repairs down the line. Jun 20, 2015 virtually all stucco homes these days all suffer from one thing, cracking.
How do you know you have leaks in your stucco siding. Correctly repairing stucco cracks key to long term waterproofing success the exterior walls of an occupied building should, among other things, prevent excessive air. To repair a minor stucco crack, apply a highquality caulk, use a brush to stipple the caulk while wet this will create texture to better blend let it cure, dry properly then paint the entire area. Hello everyone, i have a 5 year old home that had a few hair line cracks the first year. Unlike hairline cracks, a large stucco crack may indicate a structural. Its the nature of the medium and some minor cracking is to be expected. Stucco, like all cementitious products is susceptible to cracking. External stresses are due to the transfer of outside forces into the stucco assembly. Common stucco or plastering problems how to fix duration. Fortunately, the stucco cracks are entirely manageable, unless you ignore them and allow the problems to aggravate. The most common problem of stucco exteriors is cracking. How to fix cracks in stucco kirk giordano plastering inc. Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful. If water gets behind stucco it will soften the areas it comes in contact with, eventually causing the stucco to break away and fall off in sheets.
Stucco is one of the most durable wall surfaces available, but because of its rigid nature, stucco can develop cracks and holes over time due to settling and impact damage. In fact, repair of minor hairline cracks may be included in the cost of painting your home. Why stucco leaks and how to prevent your stucco from. Now in the winter i am seeing more and more hairline cracks and some spider cracks but still hairline. Once a crack or hole develops it is important to seal it. Homeowners should be told to expect minor cracks as the stucco shrinks. When the wall is pressurewashed beforehand, it will have a clean surface that paint adheres to easily. If you have a small crack in your exterior stucco, you can patch it pretty easilyand you definitely should, or you may be in for more extensive repairs down the. When is it time to repair stucco cracks in the walls. This technique will work for cracks smaller than 38 inch wide in the sidewalk, driveway, garage floor, basement, or. The types of containers the crack fillers are sold in also varies, depending on the width of the crack. How to repair stucco cracks on florida home dons painting. Repairing hairline stucco cracks scrub the area with a solution of 1 cup of household bleach, 1 cup of tsp and 1 gallon of warm water or power wash the wall at psi to remove mildew, dirt or any other residues that can keep the repaired area from curing properly. Correctly repairing stucco cracks key to long term.
Homeowners who know how to prevent hairline cracks from occurring and how to repair cracks that have already occurred, are in the best position to keep stucco and. If you need to paint over a repair, the paint needs to breathe, too, something indicated by a paints perm, or permeability. Depending on how wide the crack is, a repair prior to repainting can make these imperfections virtually disappear. Internal stresses are due to the natural curing and drying process of stucco. But if you ignore them, hairline cracks can become much worse. Painting companies with stucco experience will typically do both the stucco repair and painting. Both products, though resilient, may sustain hairline cracks under certain conditions. Expert diy advice on how to repair stucco siding, including tips on patching holes in stucco, and fixing cracks and stains. Can anyone suggest a simple, cheap solution for it that doesnt require painting the whole house. Alternatively, cracks often appear in stucco over stickframe walls when wooden framing naturally expands or contracts. The exterior walls on my house which is made of stucco, are starting to get hairline cracks in them. To apply the patch, cut through the walls lamina to expose a. The january 2007 article on stucco cracks dealt with myths, planning, caveats and suggested contract language when working with such systems. Two of the most common damages to synthetic stucco are termites and water damage.
Depending on your locality you may find that its feasible to spray a paint. If its a hairline crack, then you can safely just fill it in to prevent the crack from spreading. If there are minor cracks in your stucco, this is a project that most san francisco homeowners can tackle if they want to. Most of the time, these will be relatively small and are refer to as hairline cracks. If youve noticed hairline cracks on the exterior stucco wall of your property, we can predict that you will be calling your local stucco crack repair contractor or you will be using stucco crack repair caulk in the near future. Many homes that have stucco as an exterior coating have cracking issues, but most of them can be repaired quite. The stucco manufacturers association offers the following guidelines regarding stucco cracks. Repairing cracks in stucco before painting paint kings, tucson, az. As a result, the mere sight of a hairline crack causes great concern. Heres a quick guide on how to repair stucco cracks and what not to do that will help you fix the cracks without causing. In order to permanently repair the synthetic stucco, it is important to also be aware of what caused the damage in the first place. Repairing cracks in stucco before painting paint kings. Not all cracks in exterior stucco are the same, in fact you can learn a lot from analyzing where they originate from, what they look like and how large or small they are.
How to repair or fill small or hairline cracks in cement render walls. Stucco and siding house repairing hairline cracks on. Many cracks could be avoided by paying attention to control joints, proper attachment of lath, allowing. The consistency of the crack filler varies, depending on which type of crack its designed to repair. If you know how to fill small cracks in concrete, youll restore your concrete to a smooth finish.
Stucco and siding house repairing hairline cracks on stucco. Look for a local professional painting contractor familiar. This is the primary caulking that i like to use on hairline stucco cracks. Learn how to fix hairline cracks in stucco from stucco. Hairline cracks tend to result from heavy vibrations due to construction or harsh weather, especially in new homes. Addressing those cracks also becomes a question that i get quite often and i thought it was time to write about the topic so you know what the main options are. Popular topics stucco textures, a visual aid popular topics how to paint exterior stucco, some helpful tips diy repairs identifying various cracks in stucco all about lathing. Our tips will help you learn how to fix hairline cracks in stucco and to eliminate annoying and unsightly hairline stucco cracks quickly. I pour dry stucco powder into a cup, then use a dry 1inch brush to dab the powder into the cracks. A hairline crack here and there isnt cause for concern.
359 1347 1289 492 194 1202 599 1193 931 219 717 210 698 1471 1156 800 1260 1016 396 230 412 1487 357 1341 924 1238 421 943 319 608