Elizabeth had a smooth Level 3 finish stucco on her home in BMI’s “Cloud White” color, which was recently removed due to leaks from a guardrail. Elizabeth wants advice on matching this finish, especially since she cannot find BMI’s color charts or confirm if the company still exists. Question from Elizabeth:I am trying to match a […]
Neal and Melissa recently moved to Arizona and are concerned about bugs entering their home through the weep screed holes in their stucco walls. They believe their home has #7 angled weep screed and are seeking information about the size of the weep screed holes and where to purchase vented plugs for these holes. They’ve […]
Susan built her house over 20 years ago and is trying to match the hard coat stucco color for touch-ups. The builder noted the color was “37 Champagne,” but Susan isn’t sure of the brand or exact shade and suspects some green undertones. Despite her efforts, all attempts to match the color so far have […]
Rich is on the board of a condo association where all units have stucco exterior walls. He asked whether repainting is necessary to preserve the quality of stucco, even though the current paint looks good and was last applied 15 years ago. He also wondered how often stucco walls should be repainted. Question from Rich:Thank you […]
Tim owns a home over 100 years old and needs to insulate the exterior walls with dense-pack cellulose while maintaining the house’s historic appearance. He sent in a picture of the stucco finish, asking for details about the finish type, how it’s made, and the tools required to replicate it. Question from Tim:I own a home […]
Wes has a 40-year-old home in South Florida with a linen-colored stucco that has never been painted. He’s having trouble finding a supplier that can provide a matching stucco mix or batch and is looking for recommendations to restore the home’s original look. Question from Wes:Good day. My name is Wes. I have a house in […]
Gretchen has a 1950s house with water intrusion issues around the windows, cracks in the stucco sills, and wall cracks on the west-facing side of the home. Given the harsh Florida sun and frequent rainstorms, she’s looking for advice on repairing these issues and ensuring the home is properly sealed and protected. Question from Gretchen:Hi Ryan! […]
Dan has an older stucco garage with water pooling against the base, causing damage to the stucco. He’s also dealing with cracks in the drainage channel and is unsure of the best materials to use for repairs. Let’s tackle these concerns step by step. Question from Dan:Could I please trouble you for some advice? I have […]
Pastora wants to repaint her house a different color after 10 years and is wondering if she needs to use a primer or if pressure washing will suffice. Let’s take a look at what’s needed to get the best results. Question from Pastora:My house was painted 10 years ago, now I want to paint the house […]
Bob reached out with a concern about his stucco schedule being delayed, leaving his asphalt paper exposed for nine months. Let’s dive into the potential risks and whether the paper can be restored. Question from Bob:I have had a delay in my stucco schedule that has resulted in my paper being exposed for 9 months. What […]
Rich recently repainted areas where he had filled holes from removed shutters. Even though he used the exact same yellow paint, the spots now appear to have a greenish tint. Let’s explore why this happens and how to address it. Question from Rich:I filled some holes where shutters were and painted them the exact same yellow […]
Anna has a 70+ year-old wood frame stucco home with original double-hung wood windows. She’s noticed 3-inch wide openings under the window frames in the stucco corners and wonders if these might be weep holes. Let’s explore what they could be and how to address them. Question from Anna:I have a 70+ year-old wood frame stucco […]
Akhnaten reached out with concerns about cracking and telegraphic rust spots appearing on a stucco wall. Let’s explore potential causes, solutions, and whether a complete redo is necessary. Question from Akhnaten:Greetings. This stucco wall is experiencing cracking and also telegraphic rusting spots. While the rust spots are appearing randomly, they do somewhat appear to be uniform […]
Julie reached out with a challenging situation involving inconsistent stucco colors and a tight timeline. She’s looking for a reliable greige color and guidance on how to move forward. Question from Julie:Hi Ryan, I am reaching out because you seem to be the only person online that knows a lot about stucco (more than the stucco […]
Mike, thank you for sharing your photos! This heavy dash finish is stunning and certainly makes a bold statement. Reproducing this style is definitely possible, especially for smaller features like your outdoor fireplace and bar. Let’s talk about how you can achieve it. Question from Mike:Hi, Stucco Guy — Thank you for your informative website! My […]
Using the right type of metal flashing is critical for stucco and deck waterproofing systems. Alexi from Southern California asked about the use of “deck diato” metal in stucco repairs near decks and whether it is an appropriate choice for waterproofing.Question from Alexi:Here in Southern California, some deck contractors specify that they will use diato […]
Rainwater pooling against stucco and improper weep screed installation are common concerns for homeowners. Jasi recently noticed some potential issues after removing a planter and replacing an electrical panel. Here’s what she asked. Question from Jasi:Hi. I just moved into my house and noticed that the rain was pooling around a brick planter against the stucco […]
Older homes with open frame stucco can present unique challenges, especially when updating for earthquake retrofitting and insulation. Tony from Southern California asked for advice on how to brace the walls since there’s no sheathing. Question from Tony:Our house in Southern California was built in 1970 and has an open frame stucco job (no sheathing). I […]
Stucco cracking around vinyl windows is a common concern, especially for homeowners in climates with extreme temperature changes. Isabel reached out with a question about whether these cracks are normal and if caulking is the right solution. Question from Isabel:In the past year, I had full vinyl window replacements with a full nail fin flange install […]
Today’s question comes from Dan and the question is regarding a crack that is on an inside corner that has been repaired using caulking but keeps reappearing. This is not too common of an issue but does happen from time to time. Question from Dan:”Will installing an expansion joint at the corner resolve repeated cracking, […]