Excessive cracking in stucco

Excessive cracking, warping and delamination of portland cement plaster stucco can be caused by structural movement, inadequate application, improper curing or inadequate proportioning of the plaster mix. Mar 20, 2007 this can also happen to cement stucco applied over absorbent masonrytype surfaces. Because of these serious risks that cracked stucco can entail, it is important to deal with it promptly. Multiple hairline cracks in stucco inspectionnews home inspection. Mar 03, 2016 consisting of portland cement, sand, lime and water, stucco is a longlasting, lowmaintenance siding option. Cracking in stucco can also indicate water intrusion.

Therefore, when faced with an allegation that stucco cracking is a construction defect, the pertinent inquiry should be whether the cracking is excessive. Stucco wall cracks defects construction defect attorney. Professional home inspectors focusing on stucco know what to look for and where to look for it. Technical bulletin 1 recommendations for smooth troweled. To ensure full satisfaction with the stucco assembly, reasonable expectations should be established with respect to cracking prior to selection of the stucco assembly and plastering contractor. Jul 23, 2008 cracking is one of the largest complaints from homeowners with stucco homes.

For these small cracks, get a flexible, paintable, exteriorgrade caulk. Vulnerable to excessive cracking details are well developed. Most of the time, these will be relatively small and are refer to as hairline cracks. The jobs we did that had excessive cracking all had tyvek. Now in the winter i am seeing more and more hairline cracks and some spider cracks but still hairline. It is not recommended to use pressure washers on stucco siding as this can cause additional damage to the stucco. The brown coat should be flat and held consistently about 18 inch below the surrounding finish coat. Excessive cracking, however, usually means something was done improperly for example, the mix may have been too rich too much cement, the stucco layers may have been too thick, or the walls may not have been allowed to cure properly. Stucco crack repair explained by professional stucco.

Aug 15, 2017 as you might have guessed from the name, this type of stucco crack resembles a spider web on your siding. Conventional stucco is a hard and durable system and in most cases will outlast the structure itself. Professional residential and commercial stucco inspection. All by your favorite plaster geek,me, and jason, my son, the. It is the purpose of this article to define normal cracking as opposed to excessive cracking.

The plastering contractor thinks the walls were subjected to excessive moisture,rain penetrating to the osb then baked by the sun, then expanded and contracted to crack the stucco. It is very subtle, which can make it difficult to spot with the naked eye. Stucco is used worldwide in all climates on all types of structures over a wide variety of substrates. We have excessive cracking in a 3 coat stucco system placed over osb shear panel. Stucco is an attractive covering for homes and is found all over the tampa bay area. These cracks frequently occur at locations where the. Most stucco cracks develop as a result of excessive evaporation of water from the stucco. What causes stucco to crack, crumble or come loose. The northwest walls and ceiling bureau stucco resource guide available here is a great resource for more information. This is caused by either drying too quickly, too muck water in the mix, or mixed. Cant i just power wash the stucco instead of getting an inspection.

Figure 1 view of excessive cracking with ine cracks. Isolated cracking includes individual cracks or widely spaced cracks within an. This article will focus on the investigation of cracks and some suggested repairs. Cracking is inevitable when it comes to stucco, just like any type of cement based product. Other common problems with performance of tile include discoloration and cracking.

If structural problems or installation defects are suspected, have an engineer take a look. Professional property inspection provides inspection and evaluation of residential and commercial stucco systems. Consisting of portland cement, sand, lime and water, stucco is a longlasting, low maintenance siding option. 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. Proper furring is critical because the lath must be fully embedded in the stucco for it the lath to function properly. Too much wind can suck the moisture out of your stucco, causing it to shrink and crack, while extreme heat and rain over time can cause the stucco to deteriorate. I have never guaranteed stucco against cracks, although in the last couple of years i have cut the cracks down to none or very few by using plasticizers in the mortar. When painted too soon, the stucco does not reach the proper hardness and will remain that wayfor the life of the stucco. Jason and i have over 850 original, educational, and free youtube videos. Once moisture or water gets inside a wall, it will inevitably cause further damage. An excessive number or wide cracks in stucco should be investigated by persons qualified to investigate stucco assemblies. Spalling sometimes incorrectly called spaulding or spalding is the result of water entering brick, concrete, or natural stone. Identifying various cracks in stucco the stucco guy.

For example, vertical cracks above and below wall openings suggest building settlement, whereas repetitive vertical cracks across the wall on 16 or 24inch intervals suggest a siding issue. However, they can provide a pathway for moisture and water to enter into a wall system. Now that you know why stucco cracks, lets find out how serious a stucco crack can be. Hot weather hot weather is defined as ambient temperature exceeding 100 degrees fahrenheit 37. Expansion joints in stucco stucco newsinfo on stucco. Stucco is a very durable finish material with a typical life span of 5080 years or more. The clay absorbs excessive moisture and in turns shrinks more. Lack of crackcontrol joints, improperly spaced crackcontrol joints, andor improperly installed joints can also result in excessive cracking in stucco. However, the degrees to which stucco cracks do vary and should be dealt with according to how serious the cracks are. If you experience a stucco crack that exceeds the specifications in the standards of performance 18, your new home warranty covers a onetime repair during your homes first year. Choosing the right stucco repair materials for the job is critical. Keep in mind that water can enter the building through cracking stucco so maintaining the health of the system is key to protecting your asset. Remember that the lath acts as a structural support for the stucco during the application and curing process of the stucco, and should be located in the lower third.

Sand with excessive fine materials, clay or too much dirt can all lead to volume loss of material shrinkage stress. Expansion, wind and stress all play vital roles in why cracking occurs. Dec 18, 2017 professional stucco repair contractor can always recognize stucco cracking originated by plywood because of the different crack directions. Cracking is one of the largest complaints from homeowners with stucco homes. Observing a certain cracking pattern and relating it to its likely causes can be a challenging exercise. It is occuring mostly on 2 sides exposed to the sun.

As you might have guessed from the name, this type of stucco crack resembles a spider web on your siding. Pulte homes reaches settlement in faulty stucco issues. Stucco wall cracks defects construction defect attorney in. As stucco dries, it shrinks, and microcracks can occur, making the finish relatively porous. The settlement directs pulte to repair the homes and compensate homeowners who have been affected by the poor stucco work and any damages caused. Spalling happens in concrete because of moisture in the concrete. All stucco cracks are the result of stucco releasing stresses placed on it by shrinkage, expansion or other movement. Other construction defects found in stucco walls include. All stucco walls and ceilings are susceptible to cracking, no matter how good the structure, the design.

Colorado ranks in the top two states for stucco failures from water intrusion and freezethaw damage. Nearby construction construction sites down the road, loud explosions and even a close flying plane can cause your home to shake which may give way to stucco cracks. Successful stucco and lath application over structural panel. Control joints should be installed per stucco system manufacturer recommendations and per the specific system icces report with all components properly integrated. Quikrete makes some good products for stucco repairs.

Contrary to popular belief, this is completely normal. Fowc 05 field of wall cracking at stucco thickness variations lath line wires at open stud framing. We repair, replace or install exterior stucco to restore beauty and performance to your home exterior. Stucco cracking in portland cement plaster base coats. It just seems excessive and something else is going on under neath that is causing all the cracks. The excessive shrinkage puts too much stress on the coat, leading to deep cracks on the surface of the wall. Hot and cold helpful tips for placing plasterstucco.

Figure 1 or wider pattern cracks as shown in figure 2. A too rich mix almost always results in cracking, especially when the coat is applied too thick. These joints and beads are open in the back and can allow water to seep behind the stucco. Go over the exterior with a light pressure wash to clean the surface and remove dust and cobwebs. Inadequate attachment of the wire lath to the studs. Often this cracking is a result of a complex combination of events. There will be excessive cracking and lack of strength if not cured properly. So what the sam hill is going on with all of these newer stucco applications that are reportedly failing.

Repairing stucco cracks, why new stucco walls can crack youtube. Do not apply pressurized water at areas where there is substantial cracking in the stucco surface. Stucco crack repair explained by professional stucco contractors. If excessive cracking does occur, the application particularly floating procedure may not have provided adequate bond of plaster to concrete masonry.

Put on the scratch coat one day, let it cure overnight, then put on the brown coat. Although control joints are typically used during construction to minimize stucco cracking and to accommodate. There are quite a few reasons why each of these different types of cracks happen. This system is designed to mitigate surface cracking in the new and existing plaster systems by integrating woven fiberglass mesh into a polymer modified base coat prior to applying the finish. Stucco remediation faqs precision contracting services. Many contractors simply use the cheapest materials that are unsuitable for our unique climate conditions. As a result, the mere sight of a hairline crack causes great concern. Control joints are installed to mitigate excessive cracking, and lattices and corner beads are used to bind stucco around windows and corners. Excessive or fast evaporation of water from the cement plaster will cause shrinkage cracks and also deprive the cement in the stucco of adequate hydration. Stucco manufacturers and plastering contractors are both constantly striving to. It is the nature of stucco to experience some cracking. At the end of the day, we throw away the left over mortar by putting on an empty cement bag, piece of plastic, or whatever. However, like any type of siding, stucco is vulnerable to impact damage and settling. For instance, floridas summer high temperatures can cause water to evaporate faster from the stucco, leading to drying shrinkage and hairline cracks.

Cracks normally occur in the base coats and simply transfer through the finish. Stucco, like all cementitious products is susceptible to cracking. Hello everyone, i have a 5 year old home that had a few hair line cracks the first year. The exterior walls of an occupied building should, among other things, prevent excessive air and water from entering to the interior. Stucco which is made from a mixture of sand, cement, water and lime is another option. Each year hundreds of colorado homes are diagnosed with stucco failures. Construction defects that affect stucco include siding that is too thin, has excessive cracking, is discolored or stained, or is missing vapor barriers. Craze cracks crazing is an excessive amount of surface shrinkage cracking which can result from an overlywet plaster mix, from excessive calcium chloride set accelerator added to the mix, from the adding of excessive water while troweling, or from excessive drying of the plaster before the pool is filled.

Though cracks in stucco can occur due to different factors, including wrong mix proportions, insufficient mixing, poor workmanship. So, be extra careful not to miss this kind of stucco crack. Pulte will repair brand new homes up to two years as of july 1, 2018 with a 116inch or greater excessive stucco cracking and. It forces the surface to peel, pop out, or flake off. We place particular emphasis on vulnerabilities in the stucco system, construction details, and the. Its also known as flaking, especially in limestone. The cracking pattern on stucco may suggest whether the movement is structural or just a siding issue. Learn reasons for stucco crack repair, why does stucco crack, types of stucco cracks, misconceptions cracks and how to keep your stucco from cracking. Any confirmed problems like excessive structural movement, a bad stucco mix or installation defects are serious and should be remedied. This system needs to be moist cured for several days. Unfortunately many of todays consumers are receiving inaccurate information regarding cracks in stucco. Portland cement plaster shall be protected from uneven and excessive evaporation during dry weather and from strong blast of dry air. Other issues that cause cracking issues in plaster can be brought on by improper installation of lath, improper mixing procedures and a couple of other variables.

But just like any other construction material that includes portland cement, stucco is prone to cracking. For these small cracks, get a flexible, paintable, exteriorgrade. All stucco walls and ceilings are susceptible to cracking, no matter how good the structure, the design, engineering, mix, application, and site supervision. If there are minor cracks in your stucco, this is a project that most san francisco homeowners can tackle if they want to. For instance, roofs should be fully loaded, interior drywall should be installed, and the brown coat should be given at least seven days to cure 14 days is recommended to find its equilibrium prior to the application of the finish coat of plaster. Like virtually all materials used to finish the exterior of homes, stucco can experience cracks throughout its life cycle. Depending on size, cracks can run the gauntlet from invisible to unsightly to the cause of major water intrusion, if they arent addressed in a timely.

To repair excessive stucco cracking on existing walls, the aplc recommends the application of a base and mesh system also known as a lamina system. Incorrect stucco mix proportions improper gradation of sand poor curing delamination between stucco coats. For exteriors, plaster shall be applied when the ambient temperature is higher then 40 degrees, unless the work area is enclosed and heat is provided. Excessive water used in mixing the plaster affects the cements ability to bond and bind the aggregate. Fine sand finish or smooth finish textures accentuate cracks in stucco, while. They ranged any where from 45 feet long to the length of my garage wall 16 plus feet between the front windows. Professional stucco repair contractor can always recognize stucco cracking originated by plywood because of the different crack directions. The result is excessive cracking, crumbling, and water damage. The main cause for this stucco crack is from the base coat not curing properly. Helpful tips for placing plasterstucco materials in hot and cold conditions. Normally, cracking will not occur in plaster applied to uncracked masonry bases if the plaster bonds tightly to the base structure. 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. Correctly repairing stucco cracks key to long term.

When stucco is not hydrated correctly it will lead to excessive cracking. Inspect the finished surface annually for excessive cracking. However, we maintain our reputation for excellence by properly installing stucco systems per manufactures recommendations. The january 2007 article on stucco cracks dealt with myths, planning, caveats and suggested contract language when working with such systems. Most of the time these types of cracks can be fixed by homeowners with no plastering experience required, and requires minimal tools to do so. Stucco cracking in portland cement plaster base coats parex. This type of cracking is basically a sign that the base coat did not cure properly. An inspector will first walk completely around your home and look for telltale signs of moisture mostly staining, cracks, improper flashing, and stucco running below grade. Virtually all stucco homes these days all suffer from one thing, cracking. How to repair stucco cracks on florida home dons painting. There are two types of stucco houses, one that is cracked and ones that are going to. In florida, stucco is a common choice for exterior wall cladding, but after time, cracking can become a problem. Irregularites in the brown coat will cause the finish coat to dry unevenly, and produce a mottled color as well as excessive cracking. Made from cement, sand, lime, and water, its a durable, energyefficient exterior that helps keep homes looking beautiful.