Altamont

When houses are finished, they are coated with paint in order to make it look on the outside as well as inside. Also, they use aggregates of materials as decorative coating on the walls and ceilings which is known as stucco. When it incurs damage, it needs stucco repair in Santa Cruz.

To repair this, you need to examine the cracks first and the direction it flows to. That will determine the cause of the problem. For instance, when you see vertical cracks, such as floor to windows or to ceiling, then the cause is the instability of house foundation

Next, fill in the small cracks with caulks and press it down the bottom. This ensures that you have filled these fully making it easier to paint it over later. Afterwards, clean that with a damp cloth. Later, clean the wide cracks with cold chisels and then soaked thoroughly in the new mortar.

Those are only the few first steps in doing the repairs. Now, we are going to tackle the main point which is how to fix holes and cracks by the detail. There are three typical damages that the stucco siding incurs over the course of its life.

First are the larger holes. To do this, you have to remove the whole stucco first. Place a wire mesh over it and spray water over that area. Apply the initial coat with a quarter of an inch thick and then cure for two days. Do the same with the second and final coat. However, for the final one let it cure for four days.

Second are the smaller holes. Clean the hole with a stiff brush or when it is smaller, an awl. Once done, apply a patch of stucco there and fill the hole to the brim. Wait until this is stiff before applying the top coat. Do note that a putty knife is best suited tool for applying the compound to ensure that it blends well.

Third are the cracks in stucco. This is the most common damage here. This is because the compound is cement base which can still be prone for wear and tear. This happens because the house has been there for a long time or it experienced earthquakes. In this damage, it has three types of cracks.

Hairline cracks are easy to repair since this is just a tiny and very fine in terms of lines. You should check if this either is really thin or a little wide in its crevices. If it is the former, you can just paint over it using acrylic latex paints. If it is the latter, then use high quality caulks and leave it to dry. After, you can now paint it with the same kind of paint.

Wide cracks need an all purpose filler that is intended to repair stucco. These are premixed compounds which can best patch the cracks. When this dries, it can be resistant to sanding for finish. There are different brands of these in the market so you have to read its instructions carefully.

Stained stucco occurs when the surface looks dirty or weathered after a period of time. This happens when generic house paints are used. In this case, you need a contractor to redash it. The reason lies in allowing the compound to breathe to prevent moisture to gather there. If that happens, the paint will peel off easily.