Hard coat stucco cracks fha

High winds following an application may leach moisture from the stucco, shrinking the stucco and leaving it vulnerable to cracks. There are different kinds of cracks, distinguished mainly by their size and pattern on the wall itself. When a base coat is soft there is a cause for concern. Minimal care will keep portland cement stucco looking attractive for years and with simple maintenance it will last nearly a lifetime.

It isnt too complicated if the stucco has never been painted. The mixture for the scratch coat, which can be done in a wheelbarrow or large bucket, is usually. A stucco wall weep screed is a component specified by stucco wall system manufacturers to assure that any water that penetrates the wall coating, such as at leaks around the mounts for exterior lighting or at windows or doors will be drained safely to the building exterior. Jul 17, 2017 apply a 14inch base coat of stucco to the wall using a trowel. Roofs that are at or near the end of their useful life, or in tough shape. Identifying various cracks in stucco the stucco guy. These cracks are a result of the stucco brown coat shrinking during the curing process. 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. This application of stucco is a bonding to the underlaying wire mesh and forms the base for the topcoats. While minor cracks are par for the course, large cracks are frequently an indication of a shoddy job. Certain fine or smooth textures accentuate cracks in stucco, while heavier textures tend to hide stucco cracks. A quick look at traditional hard coat stucco and what to watch out for when doing a home inspection.

Stucco companies stucco siding hard coat stucco eifs stucco. There are different kind of cracks that appear and knowing how to go about fixing them is half the battle. Hard coat stucco is a material which can be applied to flat, curved, interior, or exterior walls. 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. Stucco is designed to carry and bind the aggregate, bond in place, and get hard. Cracking is inevitable when it comes to stucco, just like any type of cement based product. There are two fundamental types of stresses that cause stucco cracksinternal and external. Expansion, wind and stress all play vital roles in why cracking occurs. Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful. While fha loans are still an incredibly good choice for many buyers, there are now. Extreme weather following application can cause stucco to crack. Complete eifs removal and replacement with european hard coat stucco system. Many homes that have stucco as an exterior coating have cracking issues, but most of them can be repaired quite easily. 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 traditional hard coat stucco exterior system is extremely strong and durable because it essentially covers your home with a layer of rock. Hardcoat stucco is instead installed over wood strips, known as lath, or over metal lath and does not use the foam underlayment. The brown coat adds strength and acts as a base for the finish coat, which can be handtroweled to create a custom surface texture. 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. Synthetic stucco installation involves the following layers. The brown coat also adds strength and thickness, and it is in large part what determines the quality of the finish. However, like any type of siding, stucco is vulnerable to impact damage and settling. 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. Repair cracks in plaster or stucco walls by plastering expert with 40 years handson training duration. The real estate agent and potential homebuyers evaluate the homes location, bed and bath count and interior color choices. There are a number of stucco systems you can find in a. When you get any cracks in stucco, the only solution is to repair and restucco that entire section of stucco. However, conventional stucco is a hard and durable system, and in most cases will outlast the structure itself. Portland cement stucco is the obvious choice for your home.

Choose your texture of choice and allow nurse stucco to give your. Its hard to say if the foundation will be an issue. Shrinkage cracks can occur very early on and cannot be seen after the finish color coat is applied. Mar 03, 2016 now that you know why stucco cracks, lets find out how serious a stucco crack can be. Wait about an hour until the stucco begins to harden, then use a plasterers rake to scratch lines in the wall. Read about how cracks occur in 3coat stucco systems and some of the best ways to. Small patches end up looking worse than the original crack. 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.

Installed at the juncture of the sill and the exterior. 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. Exterior foundation weep sill screed for hardcoat stucco, thinveneer stone and 1coat stucco over foam. Va appraisal 4 exterior problems that will halt your appraisal. Recolor coat and re stucco and stop worrying about stains, discoloration, nicks and dents and other imperfections brought about with time. Once youve fixed the stucco cracks, it might be a good time to repaint the whole exterior of your house. Stucco cracking in portland cement plaster base coats. Outside stress relief cracks tend to be longer, often from one natural break to another. I see a lot of cracks on the foam trim that is used on stucco houses quite often and. When installed to meet the building code, these systems are a minimum of 78 inch thick one or two coat, proprietary systems are also available must be approved to meet code. All types of stucco repair, hard coat or eifssynthetic. Though cracks in stucco can occur due to different factors, including wrong mix proportions, insufficient mixing, poor workmanship, seismic movement and seasonal changes, two leading causes of cracks in stucco are the house settling process and shrinkageinduced stresses, which typically occur during the drying period.

There are two types of stucco houses, one that is cracked and ones that are going to. Internal stresses are due to the natural curing and drying process of stucco. Stucco finishes lahabra colors acrylic hard coat stucco. However, they can provide a pathway for moisture and water to enter into a wall system.

Wondering if a home will meet va appraisal standards. There is something simply luxurious about the look of stucco itself, and when combined with the decorating options of stucco moldings, homes can truly stand out as gems in a. Weep screed requirements for stucco wall drainage systems. For these small cracks, get a flexible, paintable, exteriorgrade caulk. Apr 04, 2008 yes, hardcoat stucco is fine, but if you are not looking at extremely expensive homes, you will have a really hard time with resale. Blue star stucco hardcoat and eifs repairinstallation. A small crack typically isnt necessarily a problem, but that foundation crack. Repair large stucco cracks strongest caulking add sand. Oct 22, 2015 a quick look at traditional hard coat stucco and what to watch out for when doing a home inspection. If there are any areas, inside or out, where you have cracked, peeling. The thinner finish weighs from 5 to 6 pounds per square foot, compared to 9 pounds for three coat, and it is costcompetitive with traditional stucco. Twocoat stucco is used on concrete, brick, and block. I did an inspection for a property today that was built in 1957 but had some cracks on some parts of the walls, including the dining room, living room, bedrooms, and even along the ceremic tiles wainscot of the bathroom. Hard coat stucco vs synthetic stucco temmel siding.

Exterior stucco contractors best stucco contractors nyc native. Although not all cracks are objectionable, cracks in stucco acceptable to one person might be unacceptable to another person. A certain amount of cracking in stucco basecoats which has simply transferred through the finish is normal. How to repair stucco cracks on florida home dons painting. Lets look at some of the basic appraisal requirements for an fha mortgage. 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. If the stucco has never been painted, a new color coat can be put over the old finish by using an acrylic in the mortar like flexcon. If there are minor cracks in your stucco, this is a project that most san francisco homeowners can tackle if they want to. Large cracks that are more than 116 inch can cause water intrusion issues and other damage. When applied correctly, cement stucco is a tough, fireresistant material that will not fade or peel. Rotten, missing or severely cracked siding could pose a threat to the soundness of a. The question becomes, do the cracks need to be fixed. Hairline or egg shell cracking or checking in the finish color coat is also the result of a rapid dry out and most commonly occurs on hot, windy days. Masonry paint is usually latex and works on stucco, concrete, cement and.

Because of these serious risks that cracked stucco can entail, it is important to deal with it promptly. These lines help to create a textured surface to which the final coat of stucco can adhere. Though some damage is inevitable, fortunately, you can repair and seal cracks and holes in stucco. 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. Its not really hard to repair stucco cracks properly if you know what youre doing, and youre extraordinarily patient throughout the whole process. Phil clark of lutz, florida youve probably seen or heard of house hunting tv shows. Shrinkage cracksmay develop as the excess water evaporates from the drying cement mix. Cement stucco is made of sand, a small quantity of lime, portland cement and water. Hard coat stucco installation involves the following layers. Below are some examples of some hairline cracks that have occurred. All these systems apply a single base coat and a top coat with a total thickness of 28 to 12inch, compared to 78 to 1 inch for traditional three coat stucco.

Cracks that appear within the first 30 days after installation and are larger than 116 the thick. Repair large stucco cracks strongest caulking add sand finish. Achieving a uniform thickness can be particularly difficult with open frame. Mar 22, 2012 cracks can also develop at floor lines if proper expansion joints are not installed. Multiple hairline cracks in stucco hello everyone, i started this thread in february 20 although depressing i listened to your advice and took the step to hire a moisture inspector from exterior design institute the absolute best in eifs inspector training. A color coated stucco requires no maintenance other than occasional cleaning and resealing the joints, no repainting, and if properly constructed, is. This is a leveling coat that provides the flat surface for the finished wall. Cracks can also develop at floor lines if proper expansion joints are not installed. Multiple hairline cracks in stucco home inspection. Besides the obvious small cracks here and there, i didnt notice anything horrible this is a purchase transaction. Most often it is used on homes more than on commercial buildings. This prevents future cracking around your doors and windows.

Once moisture or water gets inside a wall, it will inevitably cause further damage. The typical type of cracks that occur in with traditional stucco are called hairline cracks. Feb 04, 20 repair cracks in plaster or stucco walls by plastering expert with 40 years handson training duration. Fha7 weep sill screed clarkdietrich building systems. Why are there very small cracks in my stucco finish. Its really only when something looks outoftheordinary or there is a clear trip hazard for fha. Buyers buy homes all the time with cracks especially on the exterior when there is stucco. I love the craftsmanship of correctly installed stucco but stucco is very hard to keep looking good.

San diego home recolor coat and re stucco home recolor coating and re stucco stucco provides a durable and affordable alternative for the exterior of your home. This level of maintenance is expected with stucco homes, and these cracks dont undermine the integrity of the exterior finish. The finished hard coat stucco itself should be about 58 to 34 of an inch thick. Most buyers do not understand this difference between hardcoat and synthetic stucco, and as a result, they avoid any and all stucco homes.

If the nail does not dig in but leaves a white line, the stucco is hard enough for the brown coat. It can be applied directly to a solid base like masonry or concrete walls, or to a metal a lath attached to the frame of the construction. Also if you get scuffs in the stucco finish, its tough to remove. The paint coating held up fine for the next eight years until a major hail.