Stucco Crack Repairs

  • Stucco crack repairs.
  • Can cement base stucco system be crack free?
  • When are cracks in the stucco considered a problem, when should they be considered something that needs to be fixed?
  • Isolated stucco crack vs. random stucco cracking.
  • Cement base stucco systems are prone to cracking.
  • Stucco crack repairs usually require the entire stucco wall effected by the work to be refinished in order to conceal the repair.
  • Elastomeric paints applied over stucco cracks will fail, the cracks WILL telegraph through the paint.  Check that paint warranty, it doesn’t warranty cracks coming through the paint from the stucco system.
  • Caulking over stucco cracks won’t work,  looks horrible, and gets progressively ugly as the sealant picks up dirt.
  • Applying stucco finish over cracks will not keep the cracks away
  • Applying new stucco finish over cracks in the stucco will not keep the cracks from telegraphing through stucco finish in a few weeks or months.
Stucco cracks cannot be repairs by caulking over them, apply stucco finish over them, applying a elastomeric paint, or even applying a stucco skim coat and new stucco color coat over the cracks.  The types of repairs will allow the cracks in the base coat to telegraph back through as the stucco system continues to move.
This picture shows where stucco finish was applied over the cracks in the stucco. Numerous mistakes here, the problem causing the cracks has not been fixed, the stucco were covered up with stucco finish, this will not keep the cracks from coming back, the stucco color match is horrible.

This picture shows where the cracks in the stucco were covered with new stucco finish.  Numerous mistakes here, the problem causing the cracks has not been fixed, the stucco finish applied over the cracks will not keep the cracks from moving and telegraphing back through the new stucco finish, the stucco color match is horrible.

The ONLY way to eliminate stucco cracks is to reinforce them with a fiberglass mesh and cementitious adhesive that spans past each side of the crack at least 3 inches.  This work is very obtrusive and will require the entire wall to be recoated in order to hide the repair effects.
To reinforce a crack in the stucco, this mesh has to go past each side of the crack 3 inches. The mesh then has to be completed covered with the adhesive.

To reinforce a crack in a stucco system, this mesh has to go past each side of the crack 3 inches, the mesh then has to be completed covered with the cement based adhesive.

To repair stucco cracks properly, so they don't come back, is obtrusive and usually requires the entire wall to recoated to conceal the stucco crack reinforcement work.

To repair stucco cracks properly, so they don’t come back, is obtrusive and usually requires the entire wall to recoated to conceal the stucco crack reinforcement work.

To repair stucco cracks properly, so they don't come back, is obtrusive and usually requires the entire wall to recoated to conceal the stucco crack reinforcement work.

To repair stucco cracks properly, so they don’t come back, is obtrusive and usually requires the entire wall to recoated to conceal the stucco crack reinforcement work.

  • Stucco crack prevention

Cement base stucco systems are prone to cracking.  However there are steps that contractors can take to reduce that likely hood and even eliminate it.  During the installation of the new stucco system the base coat needs to be cured correctly.  In the summer if allow to dry too fast the base coat will shrink too quickly from the water evaporating out and will crack.  In the winter if the stucco is not keep above freezing while it is curing it will not reach its require PSI and tinsel strength, will move easily, and crack.  Not letting the base coat cure long enough prior to the application of the stucco finish coat makes the stucco more prone to cracking.

  • Crack Free cement base stucco system

All Exteriors Utah, offers a guaranteed crack free cement base stucco system, it takes a few extra steps and some additional costs but there will not be cracks in your stucco system!