Maintaining your home and keeping it in excellent condition also involves inspecting your exterior plaster and stucco. Although damaged stucco siding usually isn’t a homeowner’s priority, allowing it to worsen will allow moisture to seep through your home, resulting in water damage and a host of other problems. However, as you look for stucco services to repair the issue, you may stumble upon stucco repair and stucco remediation.
Knowing the difference between stucco repair and stucco remediation is crucial, as it will ensure that you get the appropriate service for the damage in your stucco siding. Sometimes, stucco repairs, such as resealing the stucco, are enough to address the issue. Other times, stucco remediation is necessary, particularly when the water has penetrated the stucco for an extended period. Here’s what you need to know about the two:
All About Stucco Repair
Stucco repair involves looking for specific manifestations of stucco failure, fixing these issues, and replacing the compromised material with more stucco. Essentially, stucco repairs address the damaged material, but it does not get to the root of the damage. It can be likened to treating only the symptoms of an illness instead of curing it. Since stucco repair is less invasive, it may overlook possible water damage in your home where the contractor did not remove stucco.
All About Stucco Remediation
Conversely, stucco remediation aims to correct the cause of damage in your stucco. It involves repairing the defect in the material, usually replacing the entire stucco system in your home to address the origin of the damage. It not only addresses the cosmetic issues but the defects lying underneath. For this reason, you’ll have to remediate your home only once, as the process involves the complete replacement of stucco material with a better product.
The Differences Between Stucco Repair and Stucco Remediation
Stucco repair consists of only sealing cracks and tears, addressing only the cosmetic aspects of the issue. On the other hand, stucco remediation involves removing the faulty stucco siding and replacing it with better, sturdier stucco materials. Stucco repair does not offer you a complete picture of the possible water damage in your home since it strives only to fix the damage in the material. Meanwhile, stucco remediation calls for a thorough inspection, removal, and replacement of the system. That means any problems with your sheathing, framing, and insulation will be exposed and addressed.
Additionally, stucco repair is usually a temporary fix as it doesn’t solve the origin of the problem, making it a short-term solution and requiring less skill and expertise from contractors. As a result, it is cheaper. Stucco remediation is a long-term answer that resolves your home’s stucco problems permanently. It needs skilled contractors to do the job, which often comes with a heftier price tag. It is also the best solution if you have extensive water damage; if it is small enough, stucco repair may resolve the issue.
Inspecting the Stucco in Your Home
If you’d like to make sure that the stucco used in your home is safe and in good condition, it is best to visually inspect the structure. If you believe there is hidden water damage behind the exterior plaster and stucco, investigate the area to have a good idea of the damage. Be sure to watch out for black streaks in window corners, as they often indicate water damage in the area. As soon as you spot a problem, be sure to get in touch with a stucco specialist to resolve it.
Conclusion
Knowing the difference between stucco repair and remediation is crucial when fixing damage in the material, as you’ll need the appropriate solution for the best results. By using our guide, you’ll know exactly what to do when you spot flaws in your exterior plaster and stucco.
One Stop Plastering offers the best residential and commercial stucco and plastering services. Our services include exterior and interior plaster and stucco, waterproofing & leak detection & repair, window replacement and patching, and many more. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you fix your stucco!
