However, if the stucco is in good condition, you can easily paint over it. So, be extra careful not to miss this kind of stucco crack. As you go along, trowel the patch so that it matches the surrounding stucco finish. Colortek smoothcoat exterior stucco a portland cement stucco finish c olortek smoothcoat is a premium, factory blended, portland cementbased stucco finish used to create a smooth santa barbara or mission type finish. It is manufactured from the highestgrade portland cement, hydrated lime, graded aggregates, and specific additives.
If you have stucco, you need to understand how the cracks come about. If you have a smooth texture, then this will be easier to do and will only require in most cases to keep reapplying caulking until it is flush with the finish and. Smooth stucco finishes consistently crack it is normal and to be expected. A hairline crack in stucco also does not mean the stucco system will automatically leak. Many cracks could be avoided by paying attention to control joints, proper attachment of lath, allowing enough time between coats, and moist curing. Specifications crack resistant troweled finish sysytem. Additionally, if there is already stucco on your house, you cant stucco over it as the new material wont properly bond to the new paint and therefore will crack and fall off rather quickly. The main cause for this stucco crack is from the base coat not curing properly. In fact, independent testing on several stucco cement walls has demonstrated that tight hairline cracks rarely leak enough to cause a problem to the system. The cracks happen mainly due to the stress on the surface.
When is it time to repair stucco cracks in the walls. Repairing stucco cracks, why new stucco walls can crack youtube. Is smooth with smaller to larger rough areas in between as you can see in the pictures below. Stucco, like all cementitious products is susceptible to cracking. 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. These are typically so small they are not open and cant be seen from more than five feet away.
Certain fine or smooth textures accentuate cracks in stucco, while heavier textures tend to hide stucco cracks. If you have a dense texture, there are other and less expensive ways to cover these heavy finishes. Fortunately, you can smooth over rough stucco by applying a coat of another product, and finishing with tools designed to give walls a flat, glossy finish. The cost of applying a smooth stucco finish varies widely from region to region. How quickly your stucco begins to crack will depend on a few different factors. Multiple hairline cracks in stucco i truely do hate to carry this on but i feel it a must. Can be achieved using a synthetic or traditional type of stucco. After all the sanding process is completed, remove the dust and give one final finish to the wall using the smoothing trowel. Steps for converting rough stucco into smooth stucco. Cracking is one of the largest complaints from homeowners with stucco homes. Ive always had cracks, and they are really obvious on the smooth santa barbara finish.
Fine sand finish or smooth finish textures accentuate cracks in stucco, while heavier textures tend to hide stucco cracks. Find the right stucco finishes and stucco texture for your. Now use a standard caulk gun to apply the stucco repair compound along the crack. How to smooth out your stucco exterior louisa ward. For patches or cracks over 14 inch thick, youll need to apply premixed stucco patch in multiple layers. To counteract such occurrences there are minor but highly effective remedies that may not completely eliminate stucco cracks as this is without doubt quite. While stucco is a very durable surface, it will need to be repainted periodically but not often.
There are two types of stucco houses, one that is cracked and ones that are going to. Portland cement stucco finish colortek smoothcoat is a premium, factory blended, portland cementbased stucco finish used to create a smooth santa barbara or mission type finish. As you might have guessed from the name, this type of stucco crack resembles a spider web on your siding. Expansion, wind and stress all play vital roles in why cracking occurs. How to sand stucco smooth executive touch painters. Stucco presents a unique set of problems the globe and mail. Find the right stucco finishes and stucco texture for your siding.
I do like you and tell my customers in advance, because of the cracking problem i try to talk them into a sand finish, the texture finish is too tracthouselike so try to steer them away from that, the heavy dash finishes only look good on certain. Other issues that cause cracking issues in plaster can be. A certain amount of shrinkage cracking is also inevitable in stucco exteriors. Stucco wall methods and choices best practices guide. Another potential solution that works for all finishes is to use vapor permeable acrylic. Applied as a textured or smooth look, stucco should be installed by a professional to ensure correct coverage and a specialized finish. Rough stucco was a popular look for both interiors and exterior of homes in the 1970s and 80s. Repair cracks in smooth to mediumtextured finish stucco by applying a fog coat of the same material. But why does stucco cracking happen in the first place. Unfortunately you cant stop it from cracking, so i warn the customer that cracking is unavoidable. Internal stresses are due to the natural curing and drying process of stucco. All stucco cracks are the result of stucco releasing stresses placed on it by shrinkage, expansion or other movement. Stucco textures and finishes, a visual aid and insight.
It is very subtle, which can make it difficult to spot with the naked eye. Although not all cracks are objectionable, cracks in stucco acceptable to one person might be unacceptable to another person. There are two fundamental types of stresses that cause stucco cracksinternal and external. In certain parts of america, particularly in the southwest, the predominant building siding is stucco. Coarse textures in the finish will tend to hide the cracks better than smooth finishes. Although not all cracks are objectionable, cracks in stucco that are acceptable to one person might be unacceptable to another person. Repairing stucco cracks, why new stucco walls can crack. Squeeze the caulk into the crack, and use your dampened finger to smooth in the caulk, making sure it fills the gap and has contact with both sides of the crack. Some industry experts recommend that any cracks 2 inch or wider should get some type of aesthetic repair, especially in smooth finished stucco. Stucco problems like efflorescence, decomposition, peeling paint, rot, bugs, and mold usually happen due to the level of moisture that comes into contact with the stucco itself. When repairs are done to smooth stucco, the final step always involves the recoating of. More often than not, smooth stucco finishes produce the most cracking issues at stucco terminations such as window and door corners, vents, electrical outlets andor plumbing fixtures. In many cases, cracks can also occur, but often this is not related to moisture. How to apply stucco over old stucco home guides sf gate.
For some people, however, that rough look is too dated or just too rough to the touch. It is integrally colored with faderesistant pigments, and is economical with low maintenance. A fog coat is a lightly tinted coat of stucco that matches the same existing color to enhance uniformity. Cracking can also occur in stucco regardless of texture. It could be caused by the improper mixing of the materials, mistakes made during installation, or long periods of harsh weather. Most newer homes with exterior stucco have an acrylicpolymer finish, which will expand and contract with the weather. Colortek smoothcoat exterior stucco omega products. The brown coat adds strength and acts as a base for the finish coat, which can be handtroweled to create a custom surface texture. The finish coat is applied last, creating a decorative texture on the wall surface. Excessive shrinkage cracking is not acceptable and hiding it with a finish coat only delays the inevitable.
Stir quikrete premixed stucco patch using a margin trowel or putty knife. Spread and texture the concrete patch to match the surrounding stucco. Cracking is inevitable when it comes to stucco, just like any type of cement based product. Exterior stucco all about santa barbara finish color coat stucco. Fine sand finish or smooth finish textures accentuate cracks in stucco, while heavier textures tend to hide. What do you recommend to do before the 3rd finish coat is applied to fixresolve the spider crack issue. Interior veneer plastering finishes diy tips of dos and donts duration. Ive done the finish here a few times, we call it the santa barbara finish, and its quite popular, the first one i did was in 1980. As a homeowner, you may notice that your stucco walls are beginning to crack, but when is it time to repair stucco cracks. Jessee from start to finish on a relatively small paint job that grew a bit. Identifying various cracks in stucco the stucco guy.
Anyone with stucco walls will tell you that cracks seem to be a way of life for them. Stucco damage stucco 101 san diego stucco, lath and. Clean out the crack using a scraping tool and a wire brush, so that there is no loose material and the caulk has a good surface to bond to. Stucco is a common finish material used in residential and commercial construction, both for interior and exterior settings. Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful tutorial. However, conventional stucco is a hard and durable system, and in most cases will outlast the structure itself. Shrinkage cracks are the ones that look like a honey comb or spider web cracking on smooth coat stucco. People still ask and worry that they will somehow degrade the finish over time. What is the difference between acrylic finishes and portland cement based.