​Crack Repairs in Houston

Repairing cracks for stucco homes is a very important process that must be carried out as soon as cracks are noticeable. This is because any cracks in the structure will allow water to seep into the building envelope. This can cause greater problems in time.
 
Most cracks are inevitable due to the nature of cement compounds. These expand and contract with changes in an environment’s temperature. Also, there is a natural movement of the soil that always affects the home and with regards to the walls, may cause cracking. 
 
Our method for repairs in cracks is methodical and consistently yields a great outcome. We strive to match as closely as possible the original texture of the stucco as well as the color of paint. Even rough or complex textures are no match for our skilled artisans so don't hesitate to give us a call today at 832-720-6828.
 
When sealing cracks we take into account the size of the crack in order to ascertain the correct method of repair.

Does Stucco need expansion joints?

Yes. As a preemptive measure against cracking, all stucco houses should incorporate stucco joints at certain intervals that don’t exceed building code requirements and recommendations. 

Cracks happen even when joints were installed properly. However the more distance the wall spans before including a control joint, the more likely a crack will appear on its own to account for movement in the substrate. 

Control joints are present in almost all construction. Concrete has expansion joints made of redwood, saw cuts and keyway. Brick houses have less noticeable but still present joints to allow for movement of brick slabs. In stucco, control joints are made of the same material used to make the steel lath, namely a galvanized metal material. The joint is installed before plastering stucco and is used as a screed guide as well (whether it’s a new construction or the joint is being installed after the fact). Once the plastering steps are done, the joint is present to allow for movement.

Control joints can be made to work with the overall design of the home, so they should never be seen as robbing the house of its design aesthetic. Able home builders and stucco contractors are able to set the stucco joints in a very attractive pattern that works well with the home’s window positioning and other design elements.

Hairline cracks 

Many manufacturer’s paints are able to bridge small hairline crack gaps and all that would be needed is a coat of paint. However we prefer a more involved process that includes filling in the crack with as much caulk as possible and refinishing the surface. If the surface is not refinished then it’s very likely that one will be able to see the repair right after painting or in the future.

Severe cracking

On bigger cracks we do a crack chasing procedure to re-stucco the surface surrounding the crack. In a counterintuitive move, we actually make the crack bigger so that the products we use to make the repair adhere to the surface a lot better.

What causes cracking in stucco?

 There are a few possible sources of cracking for a stucco home.

1. Ground Movement

 
As previously mentioned, a house is a structure that moves when there are changes in the soil that cause shifting of the foundation on the grade. This can happen over time, after a rain event or due to normal or extreme changes in temperature in the soil. Depending on the location of your home, this movement will be more or less pronounced.

1. Cement Movement & Joints

 
Cracks are inevitable in all cement products (poured concrete, masonry & mortar, stucco, etc.). Stucco joints are usually installed at certain intervals to mitigate this situation. If the original design did not call for enough stucco joints, one may have a very large wall on which stucco cracks are more prone to occur. If this is the case, solving the cracks is a short term solution and installing the missing stucco joints would be a long term solution.

1. Water intrusion

Cracks can be a symptom and a cause of more serious problems, especially when dealing with a moisture intrusion issue. When there are water damages to stucco, the plywood substrate bulges and can cause cracking at the site of movement.

1. Mechanical damage such as a vehicle or heavy item coming in contact

 
Whatever the source of damage you can be sure that Houston Stucco Repair is equipped to handle the problems and get your house back in order. Whether the solution is easy or more complex we have the experience to help you have peace of mind in your home’s integrity.