Loose stucco on a chimney in Belle Meade, fixed properly
A locally owned team repairs chimney stucco in Belle Meade with care for the finish you see.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Stucco damage worth a closer look in Belle Meade
- Cracks running through the stucco finish
- Paint peeling on one chimney face
- Dark streaks below the chimney top
- A vertical crack where chimney meets wall
Jump to
Our approach to stucco chimneys in Belle Meade
Rusting lath inside the stucco
Metal lath and nails inside stucco can rust when water reaches them. Rust takes up more room than the steel it replaces, and the National Park Service notes that this expansion can crack and spall the plaster from within.
Rust stains, bulges in a line and flaking that follows the lath pattern can all hint at this. Where it is the cause, a surface patch is not enough. The corroded lath in the repair area has to be cut out and replaced, and we include that work in the estimate.
What a surface look at stucco cannot show
Stucco hides the base, the lath, the barrier and any framing behind it. Tapping and close observation tell us a great deal about the plaster, but they do not show everything underneath.
Where the visible evidence points to damage behind the finish, the estimate states what is known and what is assumed. If an assumption turns out wrong once the plaster is open, we stop and explain the new finding. We would rather say that plainly now than promise a scope the wall may not support.
An approved opening to see behind stucco
Sometimes nothing short of a small opening will show what sits behind the stucco. We suggest one when the evidence is mixed and the answer would change the repair. It is a controlled step, planned in advance, not a demolition.
The opening is agreed with you in advance, including its location and how it will be closed. It is listed as its own item. We protect the opening while it is open and describe what we found, so you can decide on the repair with the facts in front of you.
Foam-backed finishes that only look like stucco
Some chimneys are clad in a foam-backed finish system that looks like stucco from the ground. It is a different assembly, with foam board, a reinforced base coat and a thin finish layer. Tapping it sounds and feels different from cement plaster.
Those systems have their own repair methods set by their makers, and a cement stucco patch is not the right fix. We identify which material you have during the inspection. If it is a foam-backed system, we tell you plainly and explain what that means for the repair.
What we check before pricing stucco work
- Lath and fasteners in the repair area
- Top band under the crown or cover
- Sealant at stucco transitions
- Debris cleaned up and hauled away
Stucco chimney repair, answered plainly
How do you tell stucco over block from stucco over framing?
We look at the top first, because a metal cover usually means a framed chase and a concrete crown usually means masonry. Tapping, the bottom edge and the attic view add more. Where the clues disagree, we suggest a small opening you approve.
Why not just seal stucco cracks with caulk?
Caulk weathers differently from stucco, holds dirt and often shows more than the crack did. On a fine, stable crack, a thin mineral slurry or a repair mortar suits better. A flexible sealant is kept for cracks that still move.
Is chimney parging the same thing as stucco?
On the outside of a chimney they are closely related, and people use the words loosely. Both are cement coatings over masonry, and we repair them the same way. Parging inside a smoke chamber is a separate job with different materials.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo