Stucco repairs that blend into chimneys in Southwest Ranches
Loose plaster is cut back to sound edges and rebuilt coat by coat, each one cured before the next.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
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- Family owned and run
Stucco warning signs on homes in Southwest Ranches
- A bulge or swelling in the plaster
- Rust spots lined up in rows
- Weep screed buried under soil or paving
- A vertical crack where chimney meets wall
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Repairing stucco and the base behind it
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.
Corroded corner bead and casing bead
Metal beads form the corners and edges of many stucco chimneys. When they corrode, the stucco along the corner can crack in a straight line, bulge or lose its edge entirely. Corners take knocks as well as weather.
A corner repair usually means cutting back the plaster on both faces, replacing the corroded bead with a corrosion-resistant one and rebuilding the coats. The corner is a visible line, so we take care over its straightness and texture. The estimate shows how far onto each face the corner repair reaches.
Ledges and bands that collect water on stucco
Decorative bands, ledges and sills on a stucco chimney can hold water on their top surfaces. The International Masonry Institute advises protecting horizontal surfaces as part of stucco maintenance.
If a ledge is cracked or has lost its slope, water sits there and soaks in. We look at each horizontal surface on the chimney and note whether it sheds water. Where one needs rebuilding with a better fall, we describe how, and it appears as its own line. Small ledges are easy to overlook from the ground, so we check them up close.
The strip of plaster just below the crown
The strip of stucco just below the crown or cover takes water first. When the crown sheds water poorly or the cover leaks, that band is where cracks, stains and loose plaster often begin. It is also the hardest part to see from the ground.
We examine it closely even when the damage looks worse lower down. Repairing the lower face while the top band stays open tends to waste the work. If both need attention, we sequence the repair from the top down and explain why that order matters.
Included in a stucco chimney assessment
- Weep screed at the base checked
- Leveling coat brought to the wall plane
- Written record of the stucco work
- Hose water test when the job needs it
Stucco repair answers for homes in Southwest Ranches
How many visits does a stucco repair usually take?
Usually more than one, because each coat needs to cure before the next goes on. The exact plan depends on the size of the repair and the weather. We set out the likely sequence in the estimate, and the curing gaps do not change the agreed price.
Can new stucco go straight over the old surface?
Only where the old stucco is sound, clean and firmly attached, and even then a new finish is a surface treatment. Loose or hollow areas have to come off first. Spreading new plaster over failing stucco usually fails with it.
Will you need to go into the attic?
Only if there is safe access and the chimney passes through it. The attic can show stains or damp sheathing that explain the outside damage. If you prefer we stay outside, tell us, and we note that the attic was not checked.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo