Merlex santa barbara finish stucco will create an excellent bond to any properly prepared portland cement based surface. Multiple hairline cracks in stucco home inspection. There are two types of stucco houses, one that is cracked and ones that are going to. It is resistant to water, cracks, and is colour fast. Colortek smoothcoat exterior stucco omega products. Certain fine or smooth textures accentuate cracks in stucco, while heavier textures tend to hide stucco cracks. Many cracks could be avoided by paying attention to control joints, proper attachment of lath, allowing. Some are quite smooth, others heavy with alternating indentations and raised areas.
Stucco problems like efflorescence, decomposition, peeling paint, rot, bugs, and mold usually happen due to. Take a look at the textures below that can be achieved using particular products and application techniques, contact us and our experienced sales force will explain which products you will need. I work for a plastering company in california and my job is to fix cracks on smooth stucco. But why does stucco cracking happen in the first place. Stucco can be installed on flat planes or it can be rounded or curved to almost any. Hairline cracks are typically around a 116 of an inch wide or smaller, if the crack is bigger than that, than chances are that some other element is the culprit. This is because of the rich, expensive look and feel of the product. Smooth stucco products can achieve a natural handapplied appearance over a properly prepared brown coat substrate. Stucco cracks stucco 101 san diego stucco, lath and. 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. Identifying various cracks in stucco the stucco guy. When the brown coat is dry then the final finish coat is applied. My goal was to smooth out the fresh mud, blend it into the existing finish, and ensure it got into all the cracks.
Popcorn vs smooth ceiling pros, cons, comparisons and costs. As you go along, trowel the patch so that it matches the surrounding stucco finish. 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. The colors are beautifully variegated due to the hard trowel application. Also if the repairs do not properly address the prevention of water intrusion into the repaired system, stucco failure is again inevitable. In 1982 the california contractors licenses board published a set of workmanship guidelines that addressed cracks in stucco finishes. The use of control joints is strongly recommended to minimize cracking. How to smooth out your stucco exterior louisa ward, robyn.
Its essentially like a trowel with a sponge attached to one end. This article will focus on the investigation of cracks and some suggested repairs. Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful. How to smooth out your stucco exterior louisa ward. Some of the most common issues with stucco occur because of moisture. Exterior stucco all about santa barbara finish color coat stucco. It is not easy to finish a building with a smooth layer of stucco, but the end result is quite appealing when done correctly. Step 2 following the manufacturers directions on the label, mix the appropriate ratio of stucco patch and water in an empty plastic 5gallon container. Plastering a new finish coat sand finish and texture, plastering tips to minimize cracking stucco duration. How to fix cracks in stucco step by step a lot of houses are built using stucco.
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. If you decide to opt for this texture, it is important to note that it can be quite difficult to patch this type of finish successfully and cracks are more common, as well. Smooth polished plaster finish the smooth polished plaster finish is similar to the marmorino stucco used extensively in northern italy during the renaissance period as an internal and external wall finish. How to apply stucco over old stucco home guides sf gate. A certain amount of cracking in stucco basecoats which has simply transferred through the finish is normal. Faqs san diego stucco, lath and plaster contractors. Seven different types of stucco textures robey inc. This type of crack is most commonly found near doors and windows. Acrylic stucco is a synthetic product made of copolymer resin.
Steps for converting rough stucco into smooth stucco. Armourcoat smooth finish resembles natural stone and consists of a natural mineral material composed of hydrated lime, crushed. These are typically so small they are not open and cant be seen from more than five feet away. Mar 20, 2007 the january 2007 article on stucco cracks dealt with myths, planning, caveats and suggested contract language when working with such systems. Rough stucco was the most used for interior and exterior surface till the late 80s. Other issues that cause cracking issues in plaster can be brought on by. Merlex santa barbara finish stucco is formulated to achieve a semismooth, irregular texture similar to the early california adobe style buildings. The result will have a natural variation of color and texture, and small cracks from the curing process and normal building movement. Unfortunately you cant stop it from cracking, so i warn the customer that cracking is unavoidable. If unacceptable cracking has taken place on a smooth finish, it can be. Though sometimes regarded as poor mans brick because of its low price, a lot of modern buildings are constructed with this material because of its ability to withstand the test of time, elements, and the constant motion of the earth. However, they can provide a pathway for moisture and water to enter into a wall system. Stucco cracks that permit the passage of water almost always lead to stucco failure. In this finish, the final coat of stucco is brushed on by hand using a tool known as a plaster float.
It is manufactured from the highestgrade portland cement, hydrated lime, graded aggregates, and specific additives. The result will have a natural variation of color and texture, and small cracks from the. When stucco cracks it does not imply that the function of the stucco assembly has been degraded. Repairing stucco cracks, why new stucco walls can crack youtube. It is integrally colored with faderesistant pigments, and is economical with low maintenance. Once moisture or water gets inside a wall, it will inevitably cause further damage. Homeowners should be told to expect minor cracks as the stucco shrinks. Why plaster and stucco finishes fail, reasons why stucco and or paint is peeling off homes duration. Mar 03, 2016 now that you know why stucco cracks, lets find out how serious a stucco crack can be. Although not all cracks are objectionable, cracks in stucco acceptable to one person might be unacceptable to another person. You might need to scrape back some of the finish coat and retexture the stucco, but matching an existing texture is a repair that. Nov 16, 2017 why plaster and stucco finishes fail, reasons why stucco and or paint is peeling off homes duration.
Fine sand finish or smooth finish textures accentuate cracks in stucco, while heavier textures tend to hide. They ranged any where from 45 feet long to the length of my garage wall 16 plus feet between the front. Merlex santa barbara finish stucco is formulated to achieve a semi smooth, irregular texture similar to the early california adobe style buildings. Cracking is inevitable when it comes to stucco, just like any type of cement based product.
If cracks exceed 332 it is unacceptable and should be repaired. Though sometimes regarded as poor mans brick because of its low price, a lot of modern buildings. Stucco cracks stucco cracking is one of the most common homeowner complaints. Also if the repairs do not properly address the prevention of water intrusion into the repaired system, stucco failure is. Fine sand finish or smooth finish textures accentuate cracks in stucco, while heavier textures tend to hide stucco cracks. Cracking in a stucco walls, stucco shrinkage cracks youtube. Ive always had cracks, and they are really obvious on the smooth santa barbara finish. Howto repair a crack on exterior stucco surface behr. Today, stucco is used mostly as an exterior wall covering and is a relatively lowmaintenance exterior finish.
This gives the surface a rough, almost popcorn finish. Hello everyone, i have a 5 year old home that had a few hair line cracks the first year. It has started to turn white in areas and crumble off the block wall first and now parts. Spread and texture the concrete patch to match the surrounding stucco wet the trowel to achieve a smooth finish. It has started to turn white in areas and crumble off the block wall first and now parts of the house. Shrinkage cracks are the ones that look like a honey comb or spider web cracking on smooth coat stucco. Diagonal cracks in your stucco siding are most likely due to your house shifting and settling into place.
The smooth polished plaster finish is similar to the marmorino stucco used extensively in northern italy during the renaissance period as an internal and external wall finish and as a background for the ornate frescoes. A popular choice for modern homes, scraped stucco surfaces have been smoothed down by hand using a trowel. When installing a smooth finish it is critical that the usual care be taken to avoid cracking, but in addition to that, in order to minimize the tendency to crack. The set up so, you have installed a cement or hard coat stucco system. 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 architectural styles. Expansion, wind and stress all play vital roles in why cracking occurs. A perfectly smooth stucco finish is considered by many to be the premier stucco finish. This will remove old stucco, paint, and other debris from the cracks and will allow the patching material to bond tightly to the damaged area. Dec 18, 2019 maybe, and maybe not foundation issues. I want to put a new finish coat over an existing hardcoat portland cement. Although not all cracks are objectionable, cracks in stucco that are acceptable to one person might be unacceptable to another person.
Rough stucco is outdated due its rough look and touch. Cracking is inevitable when it comes to stucco, just like any type of cement based. Jul 17, 2017 repair cracks in smooth to mediumtextured finish stucco by applying a fog coat of the same material. In any smooth textured stucco, structural cracking caused by normal settling, expansioncontraction and stress will be much more evident. Virtually all stucco homes these days all suffer from one thing, cracking.
Aug 16, 2018 the cost of applying a smooth stucco finish varies widely from region to region. Measurements can be taken at multiple locations across your foundation to determine if its a foundation issue. We specialize in exterior smooth trowel finish, with a large majority of our work being done on custom homes. Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful tutorial. Repairing the stucco on the outside of the house the gold hive. Repair cracks in smooth to mediumtextured finish stucco by applying a fog coat of the same material.
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. Cracks caused by plywood are distinguished by the directions they take. Most of the time, these will be relatively small and are refer to as hairline cracks. Certain fine or smooth textures accentuate cracks in stucco, while heavier textures tend to. I see a lot of cracks on the foam trim that is used on stucco houses quite often and. Read about how cracks occur in 3coat stucco systems and some of the best ways. I got smooth finish stucco added on my textured stucco house 2 yrs ago. Portland cement stucco cracks develop for many reasons. Over the last few years, stucco has become a top exterior finish choice for. Merlex santa barbara finish stucco will create an excellent. Cracking in a stucco walls, stucco shrinkage cracks.
Only when cracks are larger and excessive is there a potential problem. Below are some examples of some hairline cracks that have occurred. They are created from the continuous vibrations that are produced in these areas of the. But today rough stucco is not a preference to most of the homeowners. Now use a standard caulk gun to apply the stucco repair compound along the crack. Do cracks in my homes stucco indicate foundation issues. Stucco is a common finish material used in residential and commercial construction, both for interior and exterior settings. Our recommended tools, greeting our ambitious and faithful subscribers, as well as fellow plasterers.
Stucco over a single wythe of concrete block is widely used as wall construction in parts. Stucco cracking is an issue that homeowners ask me about all the time. It uses sand or other aggregate to achieve the look of cement stucco. Plywood installation is probably the leading cause of cracks in stucco. The cost of applying a smooth stucco finish varies widely from region to region. I do like you and tell my customers in advance, because of the cracking. Mar 31, 2017 how to fix cracks in stucco step by step a lot of houses are built using stucco. This stucco crack will run diagonally across the side of your home. Although not all cracks are objectionable, cracks in stucco acceptable to one person might be. Its versatility is best seen when stucco is applied to any flat or curved surface on. Technical bulletin 1 recommendations for smooth troweled. A fog coat is a lightly tinted coat of stucco that matches the same existing color to. Homeowners should be told to expect minor cracks as the stucco.