Wind, rain, and accidents can damage the exterior stucco of your home or business. Once cracked, the damage can spread quickly, causing pieces of stucco to fall off. Once that happens, rain and snow can easily cause water damage to your home or commercial building.
If you notice stucco damage to your home or building, take action right away. The longer you wait, the more likely structural damage will occur.
What Is Stucco?
Stucco is made of aggregates and a binder, similar to concrete. It must be applied over a reinforcement layer of wire or plastic mesh. Some companies, like Stucco Done Right LLC, know that stucco is applied in layers using a trowel, but the final layer might be sprayed. Stucco is versatile in appearance; it can be very smooth, very rough, or imitate surfaces such as stone or wood. It's widely used for modern Spanish architecture since stucco easily imitates the look of adobe.
Typically, modern construction techniques build walls using plywood, then cover the exterior with layers of mesh and stucco. While this is economical and attractive, it's not as sturdy as masonry walls. However, walls built like this might withstand an earthquake better than a brick wall.
Commercial Stucco Repair
These days, most commercial buildings use plywood and stucco construction techniques. The local strip mall or fast food place is very likely built with plywood and stucco.
Overall, this works well. But it is subject to damage from delivery trucks and customer vehicles. Even a light tap from a delivery truck backing up to the rear of a building can damage the stucco. This type of damage needs to be addressed quickly and is most likely covered by insurance.
Residential Stucco Repair
Most modern homes are also built with plywood and stucco. If your home has a smooth exterior, and you can't see bricks or wood siding, it's stucco. Residential stucco can also be damaged by vehicles hitting it, as well as the weather. If you notice any damage to your stucco walls, you'll need residential stucco repair that can match it. It's important to be able to match the texture of the stucco, as well as the paint color. This is especially true if you live in a neighborhood with a homeowner's association.
Today, stucco walls are the norm, rather than the exception. If well-maintained, stucco can last for decades. If you notice any damage, have a professional stucco repair company fix it as soon as possible.
