Many homeowners in Lodi, CA do not pay close attention to their Stucco until a chunk falls off or a water stain appears after a Central Valley downpour. Catching problems early saves money in structural repairs, but you do not need a specialized background to check your own Stucco. Lodi Stucco Solutions knows Lodi, CA and helps homeowners maintain their Stucco work for many years.
What You Can Do Yourself: The DIY Walk-Around
Before you call anyone out, spend twenty minutes walking the perimeter of your house. Here is what you can realistically look for on your own:
- Hairline Stucco cracks smaller than a credit card edge are usually normal settling, but keep an eye on them.
- Check where your Stucco meets the soil; you need a clear gap so moisture does not wick up into the walls.
- Look closely around window frames and doors where old caulking for Stucco might be cracking or peeling back.
Down here in Lodi, our dry summer heat bakes Stucco sealants until they turn brittle, and then our winter rains find every single gap. If you spot landscaping plants crammed right up against your exterior Stucco walls, trim them back immediately. Trapped humidity is Stucco's worst enemy.
When to Call a Professional Stucco Inspector
There is a hard line between routine homeowner checks and actual detective work. You need to put down the clipboard and bring in a professional for Stucco Inspection if you spot certain red flags.
Spiderweb Stucco cracking wider than a nickel, brown water stains running down from a window frame, or Stucco areas that sound hollow when you gently tap them mean trouble is brewing underneath the surface. At Lodi Stucco Solutions, we often get calls to look at what homeowners thought was a simple Stucco surface flaw, only to find the lath rusting out behind the Stucco coat because moisture got trapped.
Pros also use specialized moisture meters and thermal imaging tools that can tell if your wood framing is rotting without having to tear holes in your Stucco walls right off the bat.
After the Inspection: Taking Action
Once you or a pro finish looking over the place, do not just let the report sit on your kitchen counter. Small gaps in the Stucco sealant can be cleaned out and caulked on a Saturday afternoon with a tube of high-grade elastomeric sealant. But if you are dealing with bulging Stucco walls, crumbling bases near the weep screed, or widespread Stucco staining, leave it to the crew who works with local Stucco in Lodi, CA every single day. Lodi Stucco Solutions provides Stucco services for homes and businesses in Lodi.