Conducting routine stucco inspections is a proactive way to safeguard your property’s structural integrity. Most of these checkups typically seek to uncover evidence of water ingress.
Fortunately, the signs of stucco water damage aren’t too difficult to spot. Below are ten of them.
1. Cracking Stucco
Stucco-clad walls aren’t immune from cracking.
Cracks are often caused by installation problems or the use of low-grade stucco materials. However, they could also emerge from heavy impacts, thermal expansion, gradual wear, or water damage.
The fractures resulting from stucco cracks can create a passageway for water ingress, compromising your property’s structural integrity further. Therefore, such cracks should be sealed as soon as they emerge.
The cost of sealing stucco cracks varies depending on the extent of the fractures. Be sure to learn more about stucco inspection cost to determine the actual amount you’ll pay to get stucco cracks repaired.
2. Cracking Along the Wall’s Bottom Edge
Stucco cracks don’t always emerge on the central walls. They could also develop along the bottom edge of the walls.
Cracks that appear this way are often denser and accompanied by odd bubbles, indicating water ingress. It’s prudent to call a stucco repair technician immediately as soon as these signs present themselves.
The company will assess the problem and determine whether it’s a result of a poor drainage system from your property’s plumbing installations or rainwater.
If plumbing fixtures are to blame, you’ll need to pay for plumbing services before remediating the stucco in the affected area.
3. Stucco Crumbling
Not every stucco presents visible cracks as evidence of water damage. In some cases, you may need to actually touch the walls for signs of crumbling.
Stucco that easily crumbles or breaks off when you gently touch it indicates water intrusion. That’s especially if the stucco was recently installed, which rules out gradual wear as a potential cause.
Besides moisture penetration, stucco brittleness may indicate improper workmanship or other underlying structural problems.
Engaging a stucco repair technician is the only way to get to the bottom of the problem.
4. Missing Chunks of Stucco
Stucco cracks often begin small and develop gradually as water continually penetrates your property.
If you lead a traveler’s lifestyle where you only pop up in your home haphazardly, it’s easy to miss the early warning signs of stucco cracking.
The next time you decide to inspect your property’s exterior walling, you could be dealing with missing chunks of stucco.
This is a sign that the problem of water ingress has been going on long enough, and it’s time to get it fixed to salvage your property.
5. Dampness
Stuccos are commonly applied to exterior walling. They dry fast even after heavy downpours but beware of lingering dampness.
Damp-looking stucco is a sign of water intrusion. That’s especially if the wetness persists for up to a week after a rainstorm despite the generally warm conditions.
Dampness on stucco-clad walls mostly affects small patches. However, the wetness may cover a sizable area depending on the extent of water damage.
Either way, it’s imperative to contact a stucco repair company and have the problem addressed as urgently as possible.
6. Rotting Stucco
When you postpone fixing stucco dampness long enough, you’ll soon have to deal with rotting stucco. This is an indication that things have gotten pretty bad, and any further delay spells doom for your property.
One way to spot the signs of decay is to look for discolored spots along the stucco-clad surface. Again, the patches can vary in size depending on the severity of water damage.
Dark streaks that linger for days, especially after rainstorms, are also proof of stucco decay. They indicate prolonged dampness in the affected spots.
Lastly, you could use your sense of smell to pick up evidence of stucco decay. Sniff around for musty, earthy, and damp odors as you approach stucco siding.
7. Discolored Stucco
Persistent dampness along stucco walls will ultimately lead to discolored patches. The discoloration typically results from mold growth. And unlike most symptoms of stucco water ingress, molds may grow in multiple areas around the affected spots, including on the windows and doors.
Molds lingering on your property can pose a host of health concerns. That’s regardless if it’s only present on the exterior walling.
Notably, mold presence on your stucco might trigger upper respiratory infections and allergic reactions. It’s worse for people with existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma and pneumonia.
So, getting your discolored stucco checked and subsequently fixed doesn’t only address water damage. It also helps foster a healthy living environment.
8. Damaged Caulking
Caulking is a building material commonly applied to vulnerable areas of a property.
The material is usually applied to doors and windows to seal off moisture. However, some contractors also use it on dry walls.
You may have had your stucco repaired before. In that case, the technician might have applied caulking to the problematic areas.
If moisture continues to penetrate your home, the caulking applied to the previously repaired sections may begin to break away or dry out. It’s best to engage a stucco remediation company before re-caulking the damaged stucco.
9. Softness From the Inside
When inspecting your stucco, focusing on the exterior walling is intuitive. However, evidence of water ingress can present itself on the inside of your property too.
So, after you’re done investigating the outside, check for signs of leaks inside.
The easiest way to inspect your interior walling is to feel the drywall for signs of softness. Walls that feel suspiciously soft to the touch potentially suggest water ingress.
You could also inspect your interior drywall for extreme coldness. If certain patches of the wall feel disproportionately colder than the rest, that’s another likely indication of water damage.
10. Moisture in Basement
Staying with interior inspections, it’s recommended to also check your basement for proof of moisture penetration.
Moisture in the basement can result from multiple causes, including stucco water ingress.
However, note that the basement should be the final area to investigate when getting your stucco inspected for water ingress.
In most cases, moisture in the basement indicates water penetration via other areas besides the stucco.
Wrap Up
Knowing the tell-tale signs of stucco water intrusion can help you avoid costly repairs. If evidence of moisture damage presents itself, engage a professional stucco repair and remediation company immediately.
Remember that most instances of stucco water ingress result from using substandard materials, shoddy workmanship, or a combination of both. So, you want an experienced company that guarantees high-quality, durable stucco repair services.
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