What are the problems with synthetic stucco?
Severe Synthetic Stucco Problems Delamination, which is synthetic stucco detaching from your home's exterior. Rotting of wood beams and trim. Mold and mildew growth, both on interior walls and beneath on the home's base walls. Infestation of termites and other moisture seeking insects.
Is synthetic stucco better than regular stucco?
Synthetic Stucco Performance. Traditional stucco is more durable, fire resistant, and has greater longevity, being able to last up to 50 years with low maintenance. Traditional stucco is also very porous and dries out quickly, while synthetic stucco is not and can have water damage issues if not installed properly.
How long will acrylic stucco last?
When acrylic stucco is painted properly –from surface prep to selecting a high-quality coating specifically made for stucco- the finish can have a long life expectancy, easily more than 15 years.
How do you maintain synthetic stucco?
Use gentle pressure and scrubbing to keep your synthetic stucco durable and resistant to wear. Regular cleaning with the proper technique can ensure your synthetic stucco finish looks its best. Fill a pump sprayer with 1 qt. chlorine bleach and 1 cup trisodium phosphate per gallon of warm water.
Is synthetic stucco durable?
Synthetic stucco is 80% lighter than traditional hard-coat and relatively durable, due to containing fiberglass. It also boasts an R-value (the ability to resist heat flow) between 4 and 5.6, making for efficiently insulated homes.
How much does it cost to replace synthetic stucco?
The national average cost range to repair stucco is $900 to $3,000, with most homeowners paying around $1,700 for repairing buckled three-coat stucco in a 10 x 10-foot area....Stucco Repair Cost by Type.TypeRepair Cost per Sq.Ft. (Labor Included)Synthetic$30 - $50EIFS$30 - $501 more row•Nov 9, 2021
How often should Synthetic stucco be painted?
Ideally, stucco should be painted every five to ten years. It's important to paint and perform other stucco maintenance on the right schedule to keep your home looking great and to prevent hairline cracks from growing larger.
What is the difference between acrylic and synthetic stucco?
Traditional stucco requires a wire mesh underlay to stick to the home's exterior whereas acrylic stucco is a multilayered exterior coating with a foam insulation board, synthetic stucco first coat, fiberglass mesh, and synthetic top coat. Acrylic stucco repels water while classic stucco absorbs water.
Is acrylic stucco more expensive?
Acrylic stucco is more expensive and needs to be applied by an expert because of how quickly it dries, but it is much more durable and resistant to damage than traditional stucco.
Can you pressure wash synthetic stucco?
A: First of all, do not use a pressure washer on a synthetic stucco surface. This type of finish, known as an exterior insulation finish system or EIFS, is a barrier-type system.
Can you pressure wash EIFS?
The best way to clean EIFS is to use high water volume coupled with low water pressure and non-abrasive cleaners. Do not use caustic chemicals or abrasive cleaning techniques, which will permanently damage the finish.
How often should you replace stucco?
50-80 yearsStucco is a very durable finish material with a typical life span of 50-80 years or more. Although it is one of the most durable surfaces available, it also features the lowest annual maintenance cost when compared to other siding materials. Stucco is a natural material consisting of an aggregate, a binder, and water.
Which type of stucco is best?
If weather is a concern and you have enough money in your budget, acrylic stucco might be the best choice for you. Synthetic stucco material is also called an exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS), and it is a polymer-based laminate that is applied in two coats over a rigid insulation board secured to a wall.
What are the pros and cons of using traditional stucco vs EIFS?
EIFS is more flexible than traditional stucco as well, so there is less cracking and crumbling as a result of shifting foundations or thermal expansion. The fiberglass layer provides more durability, even against hard blows from weather. EIFS is notably lighter than traditional stucco, however.
How can you tell the difference between real stucco and synthetic?
Real stucco should sound solid and feel solid like concrete. Touching real stucco could wind up cutting your hand, so be careful when inspecting the material installed on the exterior of your home. Synthetic stucco is more brittle and less durable than real stucco.
How can you tell the difference between synthetic and traditional stucco?
Synthetic stucco will feel a bit soft and sound hollow when tapped. Traditional stucco will feel hard, brittle, and not give when pushed on, and will sound solid when tapped. Additionally, if there is a hole in the exterior, such as for light fixture or vent, you may be able to see the layering of the material.
Here are our top tips to make your stucco last
Every construction and building trade have their secrets, and the stucco trade is no different. At Nurse Stucco, we’ve been in the stucco, lath, and plaster trade for over 40 years. We’re a family business – our family name and our reputation go on every job we do, and we care about our customers.
Did I mention FREE Estimate??
FREE ESTIMATE. At Nurse Stucco, we provide free and no obligation estimates – that REALLY ARE FREE, there’s NO OBLIGATION, and you don’t even have to be there. If we see a problem from the pictures you sent, and you decide that you want us to take a more detailed look, Great.
So, How Long Does Stucco Last?
The answer is up to you. It begins with your first choice of the company you select to install the stucco. If you purchased your home from a previous owner or a new home from a home developer, then we start looking at when it was built for a better answer – building codes change over time.
Top 3 Tips for Stucco That Lasts!
Experienced Installation: Stucco is not cheap, but it is an amazing value. When installed properly by skilled craftsmen, a stucco exterior has the ability to endure for 50, 80, or even 100 years.
So, How Long Does Stucco Last?
The answer is up to you. It begins with your first choice of the company you select to install the stucco, through consistent maintenance, to repair and remediation from an experienced and licensed company.
How long does stucco last over concrete?
Stucco over concrete block has an estimated lifespan of 60 to 80 years or more, with an average of 70 years, and stucco over a backer board or metal lath on a wood frame wall should last 50 to 70 years, with an average of 60 years. But both estimates are based on doing three maintenance projects regularly: Repaint and caulk every 7 to 10 years. Repair and touchup caulk around doors and windows midway between repainting. Walk along the walls and check for hairline cracks at least once a year, then use a masonry caulk to repair.
How do you know if stucco is at the end of its life?
You have probably already seen a simulation of failing stucco at your favorite Italian restaurant as part of the decor: a ragged patch of missing wall surface with brick showing through and a few cracks around it.
What is stucco exterior?
Stucco is a somewhat colloquial term for portland cement plaster, and some people consider it to refer to an exterior, not interior, finish. Exterior insulation and finish system is sometimes (incorrectly) called “synthetic” stucco.
How is Portland cement plaster applied?
Portland cement plaster is applied either by hand or machine to exterior and interior wall surfaces in two or three coats. It may be applied directly to a solid base such as masonry or concrete walls, or it can be applied to metal lath attached to frame construction, solid masonry, or concrete construction.
What is plaster used for?
The answer requires a thorough explanation. Plaster is the general term for material that is applied to a wall surface in a thin layer. Portland cement-based plaster is such a material that uses portland cement as the binder. It is sometimes called “traditional stucco.”.
What is the difference between a scratch coat and a brown coat?
The three coats consist of two base coats and one finish coat. The first base coat is called a scratch coat, the second is called a brown coat. In two coat work, there is a single base coat and a finish coat.
What is the purpose of brown finish coat?
The finish coat is the thinnest of the coats, and its purpose is to impart a decorative surface to the plaster. Scratch, brown, and finish coats all have slightly different proportions.
What is weather resistant sheathing?
The weather resistant barrier is intended to resist water penetration, so the sheathing is protected from moisture. That means that many materials are suitable for this application, but the common ones remain plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), cement board, and exterior grade gypsum sheathing.
Is a second base coat better than a first?
The first coat will provide a hard base for the system without a great deal of shrinkage. The greater sand content in the second base coat might generate less shrinkage to create a better base for the finish than the first base coat. The finish coat should be hard to resist abrasion and other surface damage.
What is Synthetic Stucco? A brief history
Synthetic Stucco, also commonly known by the acronym “EIFS”, which stands for exterior insulation and finish systems, was first used in the manufacturing of homes in Europe in the early 1960’s. Although it looks like stucco, EIFS is actually made of three layered components:
Why is EIFS a Problem for a Homeowner who may want to sell?
Due to the following factors, many EIFS homes encountered problems which were later to be faced by their unsuspecting and now quite unhappy homeowners.
Why Is EIFS a Problem for Home Buyers?
Because water damage can be hard to detect with EIFS without an invasive inspection, the homebuyer may be unaware that water damage exists on the property.
Other Options
Although some claim that EIFS have come a long way and many of the problems uncovered with the product in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s have been resolved, there is still a stigma attached to homes finished with synthetic stucco. Fortunately, there are other options on the market today that are customizable, attractive and enduring.
Why is synthetic stucco bad?
The Underlying Cause Of Synthetic Stucco Problems. Synthetic stucco’s makeup makes it desirable for its energy efficiency , but this can also lead to synthetic stucco’s major enemy: trapped moisture.
What happens when water gets under stucco?
When water manages to sneak its way beneath the surface of the stucco after rain, snow, and other moist conditions, it has no way to get out. This trapped water then begins to wreak havoc on your home in the form of expensive and devastating water damage.
Can you call in a professional to inspect a stucco home?
If you have damage to your home related to synthetic stucco, you need to immediately call in a professional inspection team that is familiar with EIFS and stucco systems. We’ve inspected and remediated too many homes to count that have been afflicted with synthetic stucco problems. We are committed to making your home safe and strong for your family once again. If you’re concerned about your EIFS home, call Ai Restoration today to examine your home for hidden synthetic stucco problems.
Is synthetic stucco stressful?
Home ownership can be both fulfilling and stressful. For homeowners with EIFS or synthetic stucco, stressful synthetic stucco problems are all too common. If you have a home with EIFS, you need information about exactly what lies beneath the surface of your seemingly beautiful exterior.
