How Long Does Stucco Last?

Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibility and areas of maintenance to be concerned about. One of those areas that homeowners typically neglect is the exterior surface. Regardless of the type of exterior surface you have on your home, it is highly likely that painting the home should happen every five years. Additionally, you should be looking to update or repair the exterior of your home. It is a good idea to read up on how long your exterior lasts. This way you can compare the pros and cons. If you have stucco it could last longer than wood. How long does stucco last? Typically, it can last between 50 and 80 years or longer. As long as you maintain the stucco, it will last.

Let’s take a look below at some more details regarding this type of home exterior.

What Is Stucco?

For homeowners that live in the Northwest part of the United States, Florida, Texas, and other parts of the southern United States, you typically see homes with stucco exteriors. Stucco is a type of plaster siding material that provides a decorative look to the home’s exterior walls. It is made up of water, aggregates, and a binder material. Also, it looks amazing once it is painted after it dries.

How Do I Keep It Looking Nice?

Believe it or not, there are some easy ways to keep your stucco looking good and lasting a very long time. Let’s take a look below at some of the recommended stucco maintenance tips.

• Remove mold – The moment that you notice mold growing on the exterior walls, you will want to pressure wash it or scrub it off. Use a sponge first to see if the mold comes right off. If not, continue to use a mold-removing solution until it is all gone.
• Wash and rinse – Washing the exterior at least twice a year will ensure that dust and dirt are removed and not building up on your walls. Try the garden hose first and then power wash if needed.
• Check for hairline cracks – When you are out in the yard and walking around your home, check for any cracks and crevices that might have started to form. This would be a good time to seal them and paint over the sealant.
• Check the exterior at different times of the year – Stucco will respond to the various elements during the year differently. So, inspecting it when it is both hot and cold, or dry and wet is important.
• Reapply paint – As the stucco paint approaches five years, you will want to paint it again. The original paint has likely faded and it is time to update the color and look of your home. Use acrylic latex paint for the best results.
• Paint only when conditions are good – Never paint it during hot and damp weather. Also, do not paint over it when it is windy, humid, cold, extremely hot, or dirty.

How Much Does It Cost?

To get your home stuccoed you are looking at paying between $8 and $12 per square foot for labor and materials. Additionally, where you live can determine the pricing for stucco installation. In most cases, a new stucco siding will cost over $10,000.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you have an idea of how long stucco lasts, you can determine what to do if a crack is found in your stucco. Consequently, if it is less than 1/8 of an inch in size, you can simply repair it with a Quikrete repair kit.

Next, if you have a wood exterior and are thinking about adding exterior stucco, read up on if you can apply the stucco over the wood. You will need a professional contractor who deals with stucco homes regularly to accomplish this task.

Lastly, while you are working on the exterior of your home to ensure that it is up to par, this might be a good time to make sure that the garage door is functioning properly. Read up on how to adjust a garage door so that you can make the proper fix while you are having the stucco repaired or painted.

When Do I Call A Professional?

Calling on a professional to make any stucco repairs is a great idea. It takes 90 days to completely dry, so you want to ensure that you hire a professional who has working knowledge of the ins and outs of stucco. Also, if you aren’t sure who to call, reach out to your local home inspection team. They can inspect your home to determine if repairs are needed. Also, they can refer you to a reputable contractor.

Conclusion

When it comes to professional stucco installation you will want to hire a licensed building contractor that has worked with it before. Additionally, it has very specific guidelines regarding how it is applied and how long it needs to dry. So, to get it to look good, precise guidelines must be followed. Call on your local home inspection team to get your stucco inspected before worrying about repairs and updates. Reach out to, Advantage Inspections to have your stucco inspected during a full home inspection here in West Central, Florida.