Stucco Siding (part 2)
Today we continue our conversation about cement stucco and EIFS, also referred to as synthetic stucco. As with all siding, moisture is the enemy and the number one culprit of failure is poor craftsmanship therefore it’s important that you are aware of some of the hot spots in stucco – where things can go wrong.
Typically in all stucco houses we like to see visible caulk joints around all windows and doors; anywhere the stucco meets a non-stucco surface such as the window trim. A proper caulk joint will keep moisture from penetrating behind the stucco.
Specific to cement stucco siding we like to see expansion joints above and below all windows or every 100 to 144 square feet of stucco siding. Cracking in stucco is not necessarily unusual however some types of cracks could indicate swelling inside the wall structure and could very well indicate a problem. Also, anytime anything is attached to the outside of the stucco such as electrical boxes, flag holders or hose reels, those areas need to be properly sealed to keep moisture out of the screw holes that were drilled to install the item.
There are a variety of different ways to inspection stucco both cement stucco and synthetic stucco including visual inspections, moisture probe inspections and even thermal imaging.
So if you own a home with stucco or if you plan to buy one it’s probably important that you ask an expert.
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