When stucco installation is done perfectly, it can certainly help make the home more fire retardant, less prone to noise pollution and more energy efficient. Nonetheless, if it is not properly maintained or is poorly installed, countless stucco issues can arise which can eventually severely damage your home.
What Causes Stucco Issues?
Often times stucco related issues are related to water. In most cases, they usually have to do with extra moisture being trapped in your house.
Here are the most common stucco problems and how to fix them:
1. Staining
If your stucco remains untreated, rainfall can surely take a toll on your home’s exterior. Rain brings with it an array of contaminants that can become absorbed in to the stucco and result in stains. Rainwater can also wash contaminants from the windows and roof into your stucco. Ultimately, this can lead to huge deposits of contaminants on your stucco. This leads to the overall deterioration of the substance.
Solution: You should contact a stucco remediation team that will utilize environmentally friendly products to get rid of the contaminants. After this, the professionals will then utilize a low-pressure water spray in order to effectively clean the stucco. Lastly, the experts will apply a water-resistant sealer that prevents similar problems from recurring in future.
2. Mold
Mold is constantly a concern every time you deal with issues of excess water retention and moisture. Mold issues are very serious compared to others. This is because they can hurt both your home and family.
Solution: The primary step is to establish and exterminate the main source of the cornered water. Secondly, the stucco affected by the surplus moisture needs to be removed. After this, you need to identify the potential structural causes and remove the rotten wood. Lastly, a professional will install another stucco system coupled with a high-end water management system to prevent recurrence of similar issues.
3. Cracking
Two types of cracking problems exist in stucco homes – the more comprehensive ones and the localized issues.
Normally, water damage underneath the surface is the main cause of localized cracking. General cracking might be as result of shoddy workmanship during the stucco installation.
Solution for localized cracking: A professional repair team will work to handle joint work as well as install a coating system that greatly strengthens the stucco system without changing its look.
Solution for the comprehensive cracking: If the cracking is because of more serious flaws as a result of poor
installation, then it is highly recommendable to conduct a complete stucco replacement.
Preventing Future Issues
If you own a stucco home and are struggling with issues related to moisture, then there is some great news. After you have identified the stucco problem (s) affecting your home, you can always contact a professional to help you address them.
The good thing about talking to an expert is that you do not get a surface level solution. Instead, you work with him/her to get to the root cause of the specific issue (s). From there, the two of you work together and give the stucco system a total overhaul with high quality craftsmanship. This way, you are able to prevent any future issues from taking place.