Why Does Stucco Crack and Crumble?

Historically, stucco was made of lime, sand, and water. Today, stucco is made of Portland cement, lime, sand, and water. Stucco is extremely long lasting, however, sometimes one sees some cracking and crumbling in areas, and this can be due to many different things.

In this article, we’re going to talk about what kinds of stressors can cause stucco to crack and crumble.

Settling

Buildings settle over the years. The same forces that can cause cracks in a foundation or in sheetrock can cause stucco to crack. This is not unusual, and it is not difficult to repair stucco.

Insect Damage

Insects can damage stucco just like they can damage lots of other building materials. If insects are damaging your stucco, it will be important to address the underlying problem before repairing the stucco.

Water Damage

The next main reason that we see cracking is stucco is because of a water problem. This can occur if there is a leak in the roof, water dam, or if the stucco was not applied correctly in the first place.

Again, figuring out the underlying cause will be key to addressing the problem and repairing the stucco. In assessing cracking, a stucco professional will look at the depth of the cracks and the extent of any crumbling. Surface cracks are much less serious and easier to repair than deep cracks.

Fortunately, stucco is easily repaired by professionals. If you are seeing cracking and or crumbling in your stucco, call us at (604) 614-7552, and we can give you a professional assessment.

Choice Stucco Ltd. provides quality stucco application and repair to residential, strata, and commercial properties throughout the greater-Vancouver area. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about stucco, please call us at (604) 614-7552.