Stucco is used as a decorative covering for walls and ceilings. It is sometimes used over concrete and wood to make the wall or ceiling visually attractive. Stucco is one of the strongest materials out there but, despite its strength, stucco can and does develop cracks and decompose over time. Cracks around the edges of doors, windows and other sensitive areas are especially common. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your stucco could be cracking. 1.Incorrect Mix Stucco is made of water, a binder, and a construction aggregate. The most common type of stucco is cement plaster style stucco. If the cement and the sand base are not mixed in correct proportions, the end result ends up being weak. With the rise and fall in temperature, the weak stucco will develop cracks and begin to peel off the wall and ceiling. If the stucco on your wall has been applied in an even layer and you can’t find a problem with the application, the stucco has probably been mixed incorrectly. The old stucco may have to be peeled away and a new layer applied. 3.House Settling House settling is a common cause of stucco cracking. House settling generally occurs in old homes, or homes built in areas with loose soil. The loose soil gives in to the pressure the weight of the house exerts, causing the house to settle lower. Incorrect backfilling techniques are also responsible for house settling. Whatever the reason for settling, the phenomenon causes sudden pressure to accrue on the base of the house and its support structures, including walls and ceilings. The stucco in the walls and ceilings will crack under this additional pressure, because it has not been built to withstand it. Stucco cracks because of house settling are difficult to correct without professional help. When a house settles it not only can affect the stucco but it can affect many aspects of your home. Steps around your home could end up being slanted, your driveway could end up having a crack formation, your floor in your kitchen could become uneven, doors that once opened and closed perfectly smoothly now open and close with distress, squeaks, and perhaps rub against the floor or carpet which will eventually lead to an issue there. This is the natural progression of things so when you first have a home built, if that is something you do, there is a solid chance that the cost of building a home goes a little bit passed that last nail being pounded in the joint or a gallon of paint being applied to the bedroom. Any home can settle though and these scenarios occur or others; it does not have to be a built home from scratch of your own design. 4.High Winds Stucco that has been recently applied is vulnerable to cracking because of high winds. High winds can suck away the moisture from the recently applied stucco. This causes the remaining stucco to shrink and develop small cracks, which can grow larger with time. This type of cracking is known as shrinkage cracking. Stucco will also crack in extreme weather conditions. The strong winds will bring with them debris, like fallen branches, which can land against the stucco and cause it to crack. If the stucco is connected to a flexible joint, the winds will push the join inwards, which will exert pressure on the stucco and cause it to crack. High winds will also bring with them extreme moisture or heat, depending on local conditions. Stucco if exposed to either extreme will develop cracks and deteriorate over time.
I have new stucco. Do hairline cracks in stucco mean it will eventually chip off? Do hairline cracks in stucco mean it will eventually chip off?
Meaning of plaster. What does plaster mean? 'there were cracks in the plaster. 'She let the walls of the apartment be beplastered with stucco' plaster.
How to Repair Cracks in Stucco Walls. HOME. Incidentally, that’s another reason why filling cracks with cement does not work in the long term.
Why Does Stucco Crack?
Why Does Stucco Crack? stucco can and does develop cracks and. Faulty install of the stucco, in addition to the above, can mean several things like.
How to Determine if the Cracks in Walls Are. it might mean there's a more serious problem such as severe foundation. horizontal cracks on nearby walls.