Stucco is wellknown as a durable, versatile and costeffective exterior finish for homes. Multiple hairline cracks in stucco inspection news. Because stucco is a rigid material, it doesnt flex or shift as your house ages. If you have stucco, you need to understand how the cracks come about, and when youll need to repair them. I put the builder on notice and of course the warranty has. They ranged any where from 45 feet long to the length of my garage wall 16 plus feet between the front windows. Hello everyone, i have a 5 year old home that had a few hair line cracks the first year. The set up so, you have installed a cement or hard coat stucco system. The same crew applied the stucco to his home as mine but they did other. Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful. When this happens, it increases the risk the risk of structural damage to the home.
Since a new vapor barrier and new metal lath are often needed when repairing a hole or wide. And indeed, when installed correctly, it holds up well. According to almost home, stairstep cracks in cinder block foundation walls usually found in unfinished basements are a result of soil settling beneath the center of. How to determine if the cracks in walls are serious home.
How to recognize a problematic foundation crack and what to do about it top tip. Yes i have heard stucco cracks but the amount of cracks is my concern. Today, after the inspection, we found that there was a crack under the window. Repairing stucco cracks, why new stucco walls can crack. Large cracks that are more than 116 inch can cause water intrusion issues and other damage.
Glass, concrete, and stucco usually dont flex much, they instead shatter or crack with all movement and or vibrations. Stucco is one of the more longlasting options as a siding for your home. It is normal for plaster to crack from movement and stress, especially in a new home. If you have a small crack in your exterior stucco, you can patch it pretty easilyand you definitely should, or you may be in for more extensive repairs down the line. The january 2007 article on stucco cracks dealt with myths, planning, caveats and. Cracking is one of the largest complaints from homeowners with stucco homes. Most of the time, these will be relatively small and are refer to as hairline cracks. The wood dries, the vibrations from the construction equipment and other. Identifying various cracks in stucco the stucco guy. 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.
Multiple hairline cracks in stucco home inspection. Small cracks that are less than 116 inch are common and can be easily repaired with minor filling and repainting, if needed. In regions where the soil moved, causing house foundations to settle, cracks appeared in the stucco that allowed rain to penetrate and loosen the siding from its sheathing. After reading a similar thread with a home that was older and seeing his pictures i wanted to post this picture of one side of the home. Anyone with stucco walls will tell you that cracks seem to be a way of life for them. The stucco exterior of my 100yearold house is cracked in several places. My stucco sub wants to patch them with plastic stucco cement and. If the crack gets any wider than that, it can become a deep crack.
Though cracks in stucco can occur due to different factors, two leading causes of cracks are the house settling process and shrinkageinduced. More great info and one on one support can be found by joining our community. All stucco cracks are the result of stucco releasing stresses placed on it by shrinkage, expansion or other movement. The wood dries, the vibrations from the construction equipment and other factors play a significant role in this for a brand new home. When the older homes were constructed, the studs used were 2x4inches not the reduced size now used, and they were kilndried.
As seasonal changes cause small expansion and contracting in the materials that compose your home, the stucco is put under pressure in new ways. I used blue tape to show the cracks and again this is only one side. Additionally, a home can settle over time, sinking tiny amounts here and there. Unlike hairline cracks, a large stucco crack may indicate a structural problem. New homes are plagued with shrinkage cracks because the wood framing is shrinking as it looses water. Most stucco walls just crack somewhat vertically and at a slight angle at all doors. This level of maintenance is to be expected with all stucco homes. Multiple cracks in stucco new construction home inspection. This level of maintenance is expected with stucco homes, and these cracks dont undermine the integrity of the exterior finish. When is it time to repair stucco cracks in the walls.
Virtually all stucco homes these days all suffer from one thing, cracking. Repairing stucco cracks, why new stucco walls can crack youtube. The stucco siding on my clients recently remodeled home has developed some small cracks. Understanding house settling cracks ask the builder. Often, large cracks develop at the intersection of vertical walls, at the upper corners of window and door frames, or at joints between wood framing and concretebrick masonry. If you have cracked stucco, that moisture can seep in and cause several types of damage. I have found this throughout the exterior of the home and its only 1 year old. This kind of stucco crack is about 116 of an inch wide. If you feel you have a true settlement crack, the best person to. On floridas west coast, wood frames are typically constructed on the second floor of a home, over a first floor of. When stucco cracks, it can allow water in, which can lead to rotting wood. Hairline cracks tend to result from heavy vibrations due to construction or harsh weather, especially in new homes. If you can squeeze the edge of a dime into the crack, get it checked.
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