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Home Stucco Care and Maintenance

Posted by Nolan Painting on April 30, 2012
Stucco Repair

By Jim Falk, Estimator

Curb appeal matters. It affects how you see your home and how proud you are to call it your own, and it definitely matters when it comes time for resale. Over the years, stucco has become a very familiar and popular choice for finishing the exterior of homes throughout our region. Stucco can last the lifetime of a home if properly maintained and cared for. It has long been a very common misconception that stucco is a relatively maintenance-free finish. Unfortunately, this is typically not the case for several reasons — which is why you always need a good source for stucco care in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

Stucco is extremely porous, and will absorb rain and moisture very easily. This can cause deterioration, unsightly mildew, moss and mold growth and cracking during freeze-thaw weather conditions. (Cracking happens when the moisture that the stucco absorbed expands as it freezes.) For this reason, stucco requires additional maintenance tasks that aren’t required with siding, brick, stone and other exterior materials. Stucco has its own benefits too, but it does require more maintenance than some of your other façade options.

Cracking can also be caused by general settlement of new homes. Of course, when cracking occurs, this allows more moisture penetration, and can only exacerbate the problem. In severe cases, stucco can actually “bow”, or pull from the surface. As well, when stucco wicks moisture, this can cause rotting of adjacent wood surfaces such as Tudor trim, window frames and doorframes. The moisture enters the backside of the wood and causes rotting from the inside out. Again, because damage and deterioration to stucco can spread, it’s particularly important to perform stucco maintenance in Philadelphia and nearby areas.

By performing some maintenance, these problems can be avoided and the life of stucco greatly increases. When you extend the usable lifespan of your stucco façade, you are saving money and creating value.

Stucco can and should be sealed properly to prevent moisture intrusion. If new, stucco can be sealed with a clear concrete/ masonry sealer, which will penetrate into the stucco and stop moisture entrance. These are typically silicone type sealers. While effective, these finishes will usually need to be redone every 4-5 years. Redoing sealing on a regular basis is what prevents deterioration and damage, which can lead to the need for full replacement.

If the stucco is older and has already developed cracking, an elastomeric coating would be a best choice. These finishes are waterproof, seal hairline cracks, and are extremely pliable and flexible. If cracks develop below these coatings, the finish will stretch and bridge the crack, and help keep waterproof. As importantly, these finishes are microporous; they will breath to allow moisture vapor behind it to properly escape without bubbling and blistering. When properly done, elastomeric coatings can easily last 10 or more years.

Of course, after the execution of elastomeric coatings, the best way to get the most value out of such an installation is to stay on top of your stucco maintenance in Philadelphia, regularly performing the tasks required to keep your stucco in top condition.

Certainly proper cleaning via power washing, preparation and crack and delamination repair is necessary to achieve a properly painted and sealed surface. At Nolan Painting, stucco care in Philadelphia is one of our core services. We bring experience and knowledge to each job, as well as a deep commitment to exceeding your expectations and delivering outstanding results. We know how important our customers’ homes are, which is why we treat them with the utmost respect. When you need specialized home stucco maintenance in Philadelphia that will make your home look great and extend the lifespan of your façade, count on the team at Nolan Painting.

Help is only a click or phone call away. When you’re ready to discuss stucco maintenance in Philadelphia, we can provide expert guidance, and we can even give you a full estimate before work begins. Call us at (610) 572-2806 and we will be happy to meet with you to assess the best strategy for your home.