Loose stucco on a chimney in North Lauderdale, fixed properly
Framing damage behind the stucco is shown to you and priced as its own separate item.
- 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
- Cracks running through the stucco finish
- Pieces of stucco found near the base
- Damp marks indoors beside the chimney
- Gaps where stucco meets the roof
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Planning a stucco chimney repair in North Lauderdale
Soft framing found behind chimney stucco
Stucco over a framed chase can crack because the wood behind it has softened. Patching the plaster in that case covers the symptom and leaves the cause in place. The new patch tends to crack again along the same line.
When we find soft sheathing or framing, the wood repair is written up as chimney chase repair, a separate item with its own scope. The stucco work follows once the support is sound. You approve each part on its own, so you can see what the plaster work covers and what it leaves out.
The water barrier behind stucco on a chase
Stucco on a framed chase needs a water-resistive barrier behind it. Over wood sheathing, the code asks for a barrier that performs at least like a double layer of building paper. Each layer forms its own continuous plane.
When a repair opens the stucco down to the sheathing, the barrier in that area is repaired or replaced and lapped so water drains down and out. A patch that skips the barrier can look right and still let water into the framing. We note the barrier's condition in the written record of the work.
The weep screed at the base of framed stucco
Stucco on a framed wall should end at a weep screed, a metal or plastic strip that lets water behind the plaster drain out at the bottom. The code requires it on exterior stud walls and sets how the barrier and lath lap onto it.
A buried, blocked or missing screed can trap water at the base of the chase. We check the bottom edge of the stucco during the inspection. If the screed needs work, we explain what is involved, because the lowest part of the plaster may need cutting back to reach it.
Why the hardest patch is not the strongest repair
It is tempting to assume that the strongest cement makes the longest-lasting patch. For stucco, the opposite can be true. A rigid, dense patch set into softer plaster can concentrate stress and moisture at its edges.
Both the National Park Service and the International Masonry Institute warn that an overly strong repair can cause early failure in the stucco around it. If an earlier patch on your chimney is much harder than the rest, we point it out. Removing it may be part of a lasting repair.
Included in a stucco chimney assessment
- Removal of failed stucco and old patches
- Lath and fasteners in the repair area
- Debris cleaned up and hauled away
- Water source listed as its own item
Stucco chimney repair, answered plainly
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.
Can you restucco a chimney that has many layers of paint?
Yes, but the paint layers matter. Loose paint has to come off, and a heavily painted surface may need a bonding agent or full removal before new stucco can grip. We test the surface and explain the approach in the estimate.
What should I mention when I call about stucco damage?
Tell us which face is damaged, how large the area looks, whether pieces have fallen and whether there are damp marks inside. Mention any earlier patches. You can reach us by phone to arrange the free inspection.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo