Buying a house with stucco on the outside is a big decision.
You’ve probably seen or heard of TV shows about looking for a new home. The real estate agent and potential buyers look at where the home is, how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has, and what colors are used inside. But the house’s siding gets little attention. As a contractor, this worries me because siding is one of the most important parts of a home’s curb appeal. It also protects the house from the weather. Stucco siding requires careful consideration. What you need to know is below!
Stucco installation
As with any home improvement material, the quality of stucco depends a lot on how it was put up. Because stucco comprises several layers, it is easy for an inexperienced contractor to mess up when putting it on. Flashing wrong is one of the most common installation mistakes. This leads to water getting in, which can cause expensive damage.
When stucco sand mixes with the soil around the house, cracks can happen. Even though cracks can be fixed, the homeowner usually has to pay for them. Even worse, many installation problems only show up for a few years after they were put in.
Because each person has to do stucco differently, be careful who you hire.
Water damage
To keep its shape, stucco must be kept dry. It’s essential to set up gutters and downspouts so that water flows away from the house. There must be extra care to make sure that doors and windows are tightly sealed so that water can’t get into the stucco.
Paint color commitment
If you choose stucco for your home siding, you need to think ahead because it can last for over 50 years. To change the color, the stucco needs to be sandblasted first. If you skip this step, you may have problems with moisture in the future.
Stucco siding marketability
For many reasons, buyers in humid or wet climates often hesitate to commit to a home with stucco siding. The result is that homes with stucco siding usually stay on the market longer than if they had a different type of siding. This is why it’s important to have a reliable stucco inspector working with your real estate agent to make sure you don’t have to pay a lot for repairs down the road.
