Fixing chimney stucco and its water source in Melrose Manors
Debris is cleaned up and hauled away, and the work is backed by our workmanship warranty.
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Clues hidden in a cracked stucco finish
- Pieces of stucco found near the base
- Rust marks bleeding through the finish
- Rust spots lined up in rows
- Weep screed buried under soil or paving
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Chimney stucco work explained step by step
When a bonding agent helps a stucco patch
A well-cleaned and dampened base usually bonds to new stucco without extra products. Preservation guidance notes that a bonding agent is generally unnecessary when the repair area is properly prepared.
There are exceptions. Dense stone or brick, previously painted surfaces and other bases that offer a poor grip may benefit from one. We decide based on the surface we find and name the product in the estimate if we plan to use it. It is an addition to proper cleaning, not a substitute for it.
Preparing the surface before new stucco
New plaster only bonds to a clean, sound surface. Debris, plant growth, dirt, loose paint and oil are among the things to remove from a repair area before patching.
We brush and clean the area inside the cut boundary, remove loose paint at the edges and check that the base is firm. Where earlier repairs used an incompatible material, that may need to come out as well. The preparation is described in the estimate, so the scope is clear from the start.
Rust spots in rows on chimney stucco
Small rust spots arranged in rows can mark the heads of fasteners holding the lath. When water reaches them, they corrode and stain through the finish. The pattern often repeats across a face.
Spots like these suggest the lath fasteners are wet, which raises questions about the barrier and the water source. We note the pattern and whether the plaster around it sounds hollow. A repair may involve new fasteners and lath in that zone, not only a coat of stain-blocking paint.
Unlike metals inside coastal stucco
Where unlike metals touch in salty, damp air, one of them corrodes faster than it would on its own. A small part against a large surface of a different metal fares worst.
In a stucco repair near the coast, that can mean new lath fastened with mismatched screws, or a bead touching copper flashing. We match metals where we can and keep them apart where we cannot. The written record lists the metals used, so a later repair can follow the same approach.
Stucco items written into your estimate
- Sounding survey of each accessible face
- Top band under the crown or cover
- Roof junction where stucco meets flashing
- Written record of the stucco work
What people ask about chimney stucco
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.
Will the repaired stucco match the rest of the chimney?
Texture can usually be matched closely. Color is harder on unpainted stucco, because the old surface has weathered. We explain the likely result before you approve, and we can make small samples so you can judge the match yourself.
Can you repair the stucco if the chimney top also leaks?
We can, but the top should be dealt with first or at the same time. A patch below a leaking top tends to fail early. The top repair is listed separately, and we explain the order before you approve anything.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo