Many homeowners choose stucco to decorate their homes. It is a plaster made of binder, aggregates, and water. Stuccoing homes is quite popular since it is durable, fire-resistant, long-lasting, and requires little maintenance. It also adds some pattern and texture that greatly enhances the style of your home.
Over time, due to exposure to outside elements, you made wrong mix proportions, improper curing time, or others. There are lots of possible factors that may affect your stucco, but once you see a crack, what you have to do is to fix it.
It is not much of a problem as it is commonly shallow and won’t affect the integrity of your home. If you want to be sure and consult an expert, you may call a foundation specialist. However, it might be a bother since it does not look flattering. To help you get rid of them, here is how to repair your stucco wall.
Step 1
Use a chisel and hammer to widen the crack to 1/4 inch. You should make the edges either perpendicular to the wall or make the base slightly wider than the top. After that, you have to clean up all the debris from the crack.
Step 2
A caulk gun will be best for cracks. Cut the tip of your caulk at an angle, so you will have more control and let it fill the spaces.
Step 3
Use your fingers to spread the caulking. Be careful and avoid gaps. Make sure that you do not spread it all over the wall.
Step 4
Get a sponge or a rag, then wet it a bit with water. Use it to clean up the excess caulk because it might cause discoloration when you paint over it. You may use a patch to imitate the surface and make the repair blend better.
If you only have caulk, you may use it to imitate the textured surface. Experiment with it on a piece of cardboard or some scrap material. You may use some tools like a brush, to get the finish you want. However, you can only do this after the first bead dries up.
Step 5
Let it cure for 24 hours, then you may apply paint, preferably, the same one as your wall’s color. If you think that it looks too obvious, you may recolor the whole wall.
You might notice that the caulking may feel flexible. That is because when the wall moves again, or is affected by motion, it will adjust rather than break the connection.
When you notice cracks in your stucco, it requires your immediate attention. You have to repair it before rainwater can penetrate it, as it might cause other problems. It is best to fix it when the temperature is cool, especially early in the morning, so cracks will be visible and can easily be filled.
Maintaining your stucco is important even if it does not have to be too often. Just look out for cracks and other problems and immediately address them.