Loose stucco on a chimney in Hollywood, fixed properly
Our family-owned team explains the base, the cause and the options in plain terms.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Stucco trouble you can spot from the yard
- Hollow sound when the stucco is tapped
- White powder on the stucco surface
- Stucco pulling away at a corner
- Weep screed buried under soil or paving
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Getting chimney stucco right in Hollywood
Why stucco goes on in separate coats
Stucco is built up in layers rather than one thick pass. A first coat grips the base, a second coat brings the surface level, and a thin finish coat carries the texture and color. Each layer has its own mix and its own job.
The Florida Building Code's exterior plaster section asks for more coats over lath than over masonry, and it points to the standard for plaster application. A repair should rebuild the removed coats in order. A single thick patch skips that sequence and can shrink and crack as it dries.
The leveling coat under a stucco finish
The middle coat, often called the brown coat, builds the patch out to the plane of the surrounding wall. It carries more sand than the finish and does most of the work of making the repair flat.
If this coat stops short or sits proud, the finish cannot hide it, and the patch shows as a dip or a bump in low sunlight. We check the level against the old stucco around the repair before the finish goes on. That check is quick, and it saves a repair that only looks right from straight ahead.
Filling a stable stucco crack with repair mortar
A crack that has stopped moving and is wide enough to take water is usually opened slightly and filled, rather than bridged with a coating. Opening it gives the repair mortar a clean, sound edge to bond to.
The mortar is chosen to behave like the surrounding stucco and is finished to match its surface. We keep the repair within the crack line and its immediate edges. Where the crack runs into loose plaster, the repair becomes a patch instead, and we explain that change before making it.
Protecting plants and paving during stucco work
Cutting and mixing stucco creates dust and splatter. Fresh plaster that lands on paving, glass or plants can be hard to clean once it sets.
We cover the ground below the work area, protect the surrounding surfaces and keep mixing to one contained spot. The work area is tidied at the end of each day, and debris is cleaned up and hauled away when the job is done. Mention anything fragile near the chimney before we start, so it can be moved or covered.
Each part of the stucco job, itemized
- Loose stucco area marked and measured
- Top band under the crown or cover
- Roof junction where stucco meets flashing
- Workmanship warranty on the repair
Stucco chimney repair, answered plainly
Why does the stucco near the ground keep breaking down?
The lowest part of the wall often stays wet from splashing rain, irrigation, soil piled against it or a buried weep screed. We check the base conditions and suggest changes you can make, alongside any repair we price.
How does the discount after the free inspection work?
If you approve the work within 72 hours of your own free inspection, a 10% discount applies to it. The window counts from your inspection, not from a calendar date. Ask us about any line on the estimate during that time.
What if the old stucco is soft and crumbly?
Soft, sandy stucco may be rich in lime, and a hard cement patch would not suit it. We assess its character first. The repair material is then chosen to be compatible, and we explain the choice before you approve.
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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