One of the main purposes of siding is to keep moisture from damaging the interior structure of your home. It helps deflect moisture and prevents leakage inside your house. An improperly installed or incomplete siding system runs the risk of catastrophic water damage.
With stucco specifically, a proper system is able to effectively drain water after rain fall. But if the stucco system is installed incorrectly or missing a vital component, water will pool in the underlying materials and cause rot, mold and other damage. In today’s blog, we’ll look at how water damage can lead to issues with stucco.
Issues with Stucco: Blooming and Blistering
A defect in the stucco system can cause blooming and blistering. This happens because water moves behind the stucco wall and rather than following a draining path, it pools and stresses the stucco. Blooming and/or blistering stucco is often a sign that the stucco requires remediation. In addition to removal of any rotted materials, the system likely needs a new water-resistant barrier (WRB) that allows for efficient drainage.
Issues with Stucco: Efflorescence
We’ve discussed efflorescence in previous blogs at some length, but the gist of the problem is a white, chalky residue appearing to stain the stucco. Various problems can cause efflorescence, including wicking. This happens when moisture gets absorbed into the plaster behind the stucco wall. Unfortunately, this issue usually happens due to poor installation. To fix the problem, remediation is recommended to ensure proper drainage systems (such as a weep screed) are in place.
Other Issues
Moisture problems beneath stucco can take years before they show on the surface of the siding. By the time they do, the damage beneath is often extensive. At the first sight of any of the problems above, homeowners should contact an experienced stucco remediation contractor. Other tell-tale signs of water damage include:
- Mold
- Cracking
- Soft drywall
- Dampness
Need Remediation? Call Ai Restoration!
At Ai Restoration, we are true exterior building envelope specialists. Which means we not only understand the surface-level concerns affecting stucco, but we also have in-depth knowledge of the proper underlying stucco systems and how they should be installed. Contact us to receive an estimate for your stucco remediation project.
