In the home repair industry, stucco repair and stucco remediation are two very different services.
Repairing faulty stucco siding is not at the top of anyone’s home improvement wish-list, but inaction is not a good option when it comes to moisture intrusion. As you begin to research your stucco repair options, the vocabulary of the industry can be confusing. Be sure you understand the difference between stucco repair and stucco remediation so you can discuss possible solutions with your siding contractor. In some circumstances, stucco repairs (such as re-sealing the stucco around windows, flashing and joints) may be enough to remedy stucco failures. However, when water has been penetrating the stucco over a long period of time, a full remediation may be necessary.
What is Stucco Repair?
Stucco repair refers to the practice of finding specific instances of stucco failure, fixing those specific problems, and then replacing the damaged material with more stucco. In a nutshell, stucco repair means you fix the damage, but not the underlying defect. This is similar to treating symptoms of illness rather than curing the disease. As a less-invasive option, stucco repair may miss water damage in some areas of your home where the stucco was not removed.
What is Stucco Remediation?
The word “remediation” means “the act or process of correcting a fault or deficiency.”
As opposed to stucco repair, stucco remediation means fixing the underlying defect in the stucco construction. This process most often involves replacing your home’s entire stucco system in order to fix the root cause of the damage: a faulty installation. Stucco remediation fixes underlying defects rather than only addressing the cosmetic or functional symptoms, meaning you will not have to remediate your home twice – Especially if you replace your stucco with a better siding product, such as James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding.
Stucco Repair vs. Stucco Remediation
Here’s a handy chart to help you compare and contrast stucco remediation and stucco repair:
| Stucco repair | Stucco remediation |
|---|---|
| Involves simple sealing of cracks and tears. | Involves tearing down the faulty stucco siding and replacing it with modern materials and updated technology. |
| May not give you a full understanding of hidden water damage, and is not a solution for structural framing affected by the water intrusion. | Requires an extensive inspection, removal, and replacement of the water damaged and mold-contaminated sheathing, framing, and insulation. |
| Is a temporary fix, and often does not solve the problem in the long-term. | Is a long-term strategy and an investment that fixes your home’s stucco problem for good. |
| Requires less skill from contractors, meaning cheaper up-front cost. | Requires more skill from contractors, meaning a bigger investment. |
| May solve stucco problems if water damage is very small, but it does not remove water damage in areas that are not repaired. | Is the best choice when water damage is extensive. |
Best Solution for Stucco Homeowners
Are you a stucco homeowner? If so, follow these steps to make sure your home is safe.
- Conduct a visual self-inspection – If you think there may be hidden water damage behind your home’s stucco walls, do a quick sweep of worrisome areas to assess the damage. One of the most common stucco failure symptoms is black streaking in vulnerable areas of the home, such as window corners and chimneys. These tips can educate you on what to look for.
- Schedule a professional stucco inspection – A professional stucco inspector can tell you with certainty whether or not your stucco needs professional help. They may recommend simple stucco repairs—but beware: these repairs may leave your home at risk.
- Request a consultation from a stucco remediation company – When a stucco inspection has confirmed your fears of extensive moisture damage behind your walls, it’s important to find and destroy the root cause of the problem. If your stucco issues are not repaired correctly, you put yourself at risk of dealing with more damage, higher expenses, and even health problems in the future. Find a stucco remediation company you can trust to do the job right.
Stucco Remediation Contractors in Chester County, PA
At Precision Contracting, our Downingtown, PA-based team of stucco remediation contractors is committed to helping clients avoid future costs and damages by providing superior services. We’re experts when it comes to home siding, and we can recommend a replacement process to ensure that your home will be up to current standards with excellent moisture-control systems at an affordable price.
In almost all cases, we recommend stucco remediation that involves completely removing the stucco and then replacing it with James Hardie fiber cement siding. This method of stucco remediation is the ideal solution in most circumstances. Our stucco remediation experts have decades of experience in tearing down faulty stucco siding and replacing it with Hardieplank siding.
Contact us today to request a free consultation, or click here to learn more about our stucco remodeling process.
