Stucco is a stunning siding material that’s wildly popular among homeowners in Southern California. It creates a warm, inviting appearance that matches common architectural styles in the Southwest, like Mission and Mediterranean homes.
However, despite its beauty, stucco is not immune to developing underlying issues, like cracking, water damage, mold growth, and rotting. Usually, these costly problems develop due to improper installation.
Why Does Stucco Siding Fail?
Stucco is a durable, energy-efficient, long-lasting exterior material—when it’s installed correctly. Unfortunately, the following installation errors from shoddy contractors can jeopardize the performance of your home’s stucco exterior.
1. Faulty Window and Door Installation
You may not realize that your door or window installation can impact your home’s exterior—however, this is the most common reason for stucco failure.
If your windows and doors don’t include a water-resistant material underneath the windowsill or doorframe, water can become trapped inside these crevices, leading to water damage, mold growth, and structural damage beneath your stucco exterior.
2. Inadequate Flashing Installation
When your stucco house was built, the construction team should have installed flashing where your roofing system meets your exterior walls. If they didn’t, your home has exposed gaps and cracks that allow water to seep behind your stucco, allowing moisture-related damage.
3. Material Transition Problems
If you have a stucco exterior and stone, brick, concrete, or other decorative features, it’s crucial to create a seamless transition between these materials and your stucco.
If the joints between these materials aren’t sealed correctly to guard against water infiltration, they can allow moisture damage to occur behind your stucco. Your exterior may also experience expansion and contraction, which can cause cracking.
4. Poor-Quality Deck Installation
Do you have a deck? If so, your contractor should have installed several water management systems, such as drip-cap flashing, barrier membranes, and rain screens, when you deck was built. Without these features, stucco is more prone to water damage, which can lead to stucco failure.
5. Improper Seals
Just like with door frames and window sills, water can penetrate piping, outlets, light fixtures, outlets, and other features on your stucco exterior if they aren’t sealed properly.
It’s crucial to add the correct water management systems to protect your stucco from water damage. If they’re not present, your exterior will crack and eventually experience stucco failure.
Stucco Remediation: The Solution to Stucco Problems
It’s easy to see how stucco problems can compound quickly. While many homeowners love the look and feel of stucco, ultimately the problems associated with stucco siding lead many to seach for another solution. Stucco remediation is the process of removing your damaged stucco and replacing it with another more durable siding product like James Hardie fiber cement.
Invest in Stucco Remediation for Your Southern California Home with Approved Contractor
If your home exterior is experiencing the frustrating effects of stucco failure, and you’re ready to restore it to a safe, dry, durable state, look no further than our stucco remediation service from Approved Contractor.
We don’t cut corners and follow manufacturer requirements to a tee, so you can rest assured your fiber cement siding won’t suffer from costly problems like your faulty stucco. You can also be confident you’ll enjoy the full benefits of your long-lasting warranty!
Contact our team to get a free estimate for stucco remediation, so you can begin enjoying the valuable benefits of beautiful, durable James Hardie fiber cement siding.
