Stucco is one of many types of siding options today. Stucco can be very durable and resilient when applied well and requires very little maintenance. However, sometimes stucco can fail and lead to water damage or mold that can also affect the interior of your home. When stucco fails, you have two options for fixing it — stucco repair and stucco remediation.

Here, we will illustrate the differences between stucco repair and remediation and address how you can tell which solution you may need for fixing your stucco damage.

Signs Your Stucco is Failing

There are a few easy-to-spot signs you can keep an eye out for when it comes to maintaining your stucco siding. For example, if you notice cracks or chips in your stucco siding, that indicates something is wrong. These cracks could be small or large, and they may indicate a moisture problem in your stucco siding.

Another sign you might notice if your stucco is failing is staining. Staining can be another sign of a moisture problem or a problem that is far more severe — such as water damage or mold.

What to Do When Your Stucco Is Damaged?

If your stucco siding has become damaged, you have two options for fixing it. These are stucco repair and stucco remediation. While both of these solutions help to solve the damage problems in your stucco, they are extremely different processes.

In simple terms, stucco repair is usually more of a temporary, surface-level fix. On the other hand, Stucco remediation is a more expensive process that fixes the root of the damage. That said, there is a time and place for each of these solutions. The one that is right for you will depend on your situation.

Stucco Repair

Stucco repair is a process that refers to fixing the stucco damage on a surface level. Most of the time, stucco repairs are best suited for situations where damage to your stucco has occurred due to external forces — such as something striking your home and breaking the material.

Benefits

There are two primary benefits to stucco repair when compared to stucco remediation. The first benefit is that it is much quicker than stucco remediation because it does not require the replacement of the entire stucco siding.

The second benefit is that it is less expensive than stucco remediation. This is because, again, it does not require the complete replacement of the entire stucco siding; it replaces only a section of the stucco.

When to Repair

You should opt for stucco repair only when your stucco damage is on a surface level. If you try to repair stucco that has been damaged due to internal issues — such as moisture retention or mold — you will have to get another repair soon when the new stucco becomes damaged again.

If your stucco is relatively new, there are only small cracks, and there is no mold or moisture present, stucco repair may be all you need to do.

Stucco Remediation

Stucco remediation is a process that refers to the complete repair and replastering of the entire stucco siding. This repair fixes the underlying issue causing the stucco to become damaged. Stucco remediation is much more in-depth and requires more experienced and skilled workers to complete.

Most of the time, the underlying cause of stucco damage is moisture getting into the space between the outer layer of the stucco and the inner framework of your home’s walls. This can happen when stucco installation is done poorly or becomes so old that it no longer holds up to the weather.

Benefits

The most significant benefit of stucco remediation is that it is a permanent fix. Unlike stucco repair, stucco remediation solves the problem of the damage at the source because it replaces the entire stucco siding.

An additional benefit of stucco remediation is that it helps to protect the rest of your home from damage effectively. This is because stucco damage due to interior moisture often means that the interior of your home is also affected by this problem. Therefore, fixing the stucco completely can help to prevent this moisture damage from getting worse and affecting the inside of your home.

When to Remediate

You will want to opt for stucco remediation any time a severe underlying problem is the cause of your stucco damage. Remediation is more expensive than a simple stucco repair, but if your home is experiencing underlying damage, no more minor stucco repairs will solve the problem.

How Do You Know If You Need Stucco Repair or Remediation?

Before choosing between stucco repair and stucco remediation, you should conduct a stucco inspection. You can do a basic stucco inspection by walking around your home and noting any cracking, bulging, or rotting areas. If you note several places with this problem or very bad cases of these issues, you may want to opt for stucco remediation because there is likely an underlying problem.

If you are unsure of the level of damage or simply want a second opinion, you can contact a professional to conduct an inspection.

Check for Mold or Water Damage Behind Your Stucco

When it comes to stucco damage, the most important things to look out for are signs of potential water damage or mold. These types of issues can lead to more damage to not only your stucco siding but your home’s interior as well.

So, if you are inspecting your home’s stucco siding, you will want to keep an eye out for these issues that may be signs of water damage behind your stucco.

• Dark spots that do not go away after a week of nice weather.
• Bubbling along the bottom of your siding.
• Cracking or chipping in your stucco siding.
• Soft drywall (inside your home) along the bottoms of the windows of the walls you think are damaged.
• A moldy or musty smell coming from your walls (inside or outside).

Conclusion

Determining whether your stucco needs repair or remediation can be challenging for many homeowners. If you are unsure what type of solution you need to fix your stucco, you can contact a professional stucco repair service to help you assess the damage. Unfortunately, in many cases, stucco repair will simply not be enough to protect your home from future damage. So, if you are noticing signs of potential water damage or mold in your home, reach out to Volpe Enterprises, Inc. to discuss your available options.