5 Signs Your Home Needs Stucco Replacement Sooner Rather Than Later

October 1, 2024

As a building material, stucco is tough and a great product when installed correctly. However, stucco has gotten a bad reputation among many homeowners because of improper installation. The installation process is crucial because improper installation can lead to problems for a home down the road. These problems indicate that the stucco needs replacing. This article will explore the key signs your home needs stucco replacement.

1. Cracking and Fragmentation

Stucco cracks can vary in size, shape, and severity. Here are some common types:

Hairline Cracks: These are thin, barely noticeable cracks that resemble hair.
Spiderweb Cracks: These cracks form a web-like pattern, often radiating from a central point.
Structural Cracks: These cracks are typically broader and deeper, often showing signs of displacement.
Alligator Cracks: These cracks form a pattern resembling alligator skin, with many small, interconnected cracks.
Efflorescence Cracks: These cracks are often accompanied by white, powdery deposits (efflorescence).

Certain cracks may not look harmful to your home, but water can get right behind the stucco if the cracks are deep enough into the house.

If you do not address large cracks in the stucco when you notice them, severe moisture damage becomes a problem. When water gets through the stucco because of cracking, the wood absorbs the water, then swells, making the stucco bulge, and everything behind the stucco starts to rot out.

Photo of house before and after stucco replacement | Signs your home needs stucco replacement | Kenny Construction

2. Staining and Discoloration

Stains on your drywall may be a bigger problem than you think. When you see stains on the drywall, typically, those stains are not caused by issues inside the home. Water intrusion from the home’s exterior usually causes stains and discolored drywall. Once you see stained drywall, call a professional as soon as possible because water has already gone through all the wood materials. Now, water is absorbed into the drywall and is becoming mold, a health risk for everyone in the home.

Water damage can be a massive issue, especially once the water starts rotting out the main supports of your home. You will notice some sagging in your floors when your supports start rotting away. Once that happens, the solution is to jack the floors up and install new support beams to ensure your home is as safe as possible.

If you notice your floors sagging, there is a structural issue. We highly recommend calling a professional home inspector to address the root of the problem.

3. Bulging, Warping, or Bubbling

Another one of the signs your home needs stucco replacement is bulging, warping, or bubbling walls. When water starts getting behind the stucco and absorbed by the wood materials, the wall will bulge out. Wall bulging is a structural problem with the home, specifically the beams, which is hazardous for everyone living there. Houses rely on these beams to support their weight, so a house starts losing its structure when the beams rot out.

When you start noticing bulging, warping, or bubbling, please call a certified stucco inspector and have them perform a moisture test to determine the extent of the water damage.

4. Mold or Mildew Presence

Moisture penetration left unattended will eventually turn into mold, despite the multiple layers the moisture has to go through. Once the water starts penetrating the house, the wood materials and beams start rotting. After enough moisture gets to the interior drywall, you notice the mold comes into play.

If left unaddressed, mold can compromise your immune system and lead to respiratory problems, exposing you to many short-term and long-term health hazards. Promptly address any moisture issues to prevent these risks to your health and home.

Photos of house, before and after stucco and siding replacement | Signs your home needs stucco replacement | Kenny Construction

5. Stucco Deterioration Around Windows and Doors

Improperly installed flashing will result in more stucco issues than you previously had. The flashings in place help divert water and prevent water from seeping into a home. So obviously, when someone installs them wrong or does not install them at all, the water that was supposed to be diverted is now dumped into the walls of your home.

A fundamental way to ensure a contractor correctly installs stucco on your home is to have a third-party stucco inspector oversee the project. When you hire a third-party inspector, they will check every step of the remediation process.

What to Do If You Notice These Signs

If you notice any signs of water damage, we highly recommend calling a certified stucco inspector to identify the areas that need immediate attention. When replacing stucco, work with a qualified, experienced professional because improperly installed stucco will result in the same problem as before.

Call Kenny Construction for Stucco Replacement & Water Damage Repairs

Water damage can be very harmful because it turns into mold and rotted wood. When you see the first signs your home needs stucco replacement, call a professional immediately to get ahead of the problem and minimize the damage that needs replacing. Call us at Kenny Construction Group to receive your free estimate!