If you have a little crack in your outside stucco, it is rather straightforward to repair; nevertheless, you should do so right away since failure to do so may result in future expensive repairs.
Q: The original stucco on my 64-year-old house still exists. There is a minor fracture on one exterior wall, with paint peeling away on both sides. Is it feasible to repair the stucco quickly and effectively before the rains come, and can I do this myself?
A: Good news: based on your description, your crack is not the consequence of the foundation sinking. If you had detected larger cracks and other danger signs, such as sticky doors and windows, I would have encouraged you to visit a foundation specialist. As is, any do-it-yourselfer may do this work. You were right to be careful since the assignment is critical. If rain gets under the stucco, you can have a bigger problem.
Several commercially available products may be used to repair stucco. Some are designed to fix larger gouges and holes, while others are designed to mend cracks, as you describe. Quikrete, for example, makes a practical and simple-to-apply textured acrylic caulk.
It may seem counterintuitive to begin by expanding the crack with a cold chisel and hammer to at least a quarter inch. The crack’s edges should be chiseled parallel to the wall. Backcut the crack, so its base is wider than its top. Then, remove any leftover loose particles from the crack using a wire brush.
Using a standard caulking gun, immediately apply the stucco repair compound along the crack. As you go, trowel the repair to match the look of the surrounding stucco. After the patch has dried for 24 hours, paint it with water-based paint, preferably in the color of the house’s exterior.
Even after curing, the finished product is still malleable to the touch. In reality, such pliability demonstrates how robust the repair is. If the wall slightly shifts in the future, the repair will adapt rather than fall undone. You may be sure that precipitation will not be able to penetrate behind the stucco now that the crack has been thoroughly repaired.
Professional stucco repair is recommended to maintain proper sealing and to avoid future damage.
