Stucco Repair & Installation
Stucco Repair
Cracks, holes, damaged corners, patches around new windows and stucco crumbling at the base of the wall, repaired so the patch disappears and the water stays out.
Stucco Repair
Most stucco repairs are small: a crack that opened over a window, a hole where an old vent or light used to be, a corner knocked off by a car door, or a patch left after a plumber went through the wall. The repair itself is quick. The skill is in finding out whether the damage stops at the surface, and then making the patch match a wall that has weathered for decades.
If a crack lets water in, the repair has to start behind the stucco. We check with a moisture meter and, where needed, open the area to look at the building paper, lath and wood behind it before patching anything.
Reading the crack
Hairline cracks in a spiderweb or random pattern are usually shrinkage in the finish coat and mostly cosmetic. Diagonal cracks from the corners of windows and doors come from stress at the opening and can let water in if the window flashing is weak. Long horizontal cracks, cracks wider than a credit card, or cracks with one side offset from the other suggest movement in the framing or foundation and deserve a closer look.
Hairline cracks
Usually cosmetic. Filled and blended with the finish or a color coat.
Corner cracks at openings
Checked for water entry and window flashing before patching.
Wide or offset cracks
A sign of movement. We find the cause, sometimes with an engineer, before repair.
How a patch is built
For a hole or damaged section, we cut back to sound stucco, repair or replace the building paper and lath and lap them into the existing layers so water runs outward, then apply the scratch, brown and finish coats with curing time between them. Rushing the coats is a common reason patches crack again.
Matching is the last step and the most visible. Texture is matched with the same technique the original plasterer used, tested on a small area. Color is matched with an integral color coat or paint, and often the best result comes from recoating the whole wall face so the patch has no edges.
Base of the wall
Stucco crumbling along the bottom of the wall is one of the most common repairs we see. Usually soil, mulch, a planter or new paving has been built up over the weep screed, the metal strip at the bottom of the stucco that lets water out. Water wicks up into the stucco and the wood behind it. The repair includes restoring clearance and drainage, not just patching.
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Fix the crack and the cause
Send photos of the damage. We will tell you whether it is cosmetic or water and give you a written price.
Stucco Repair: FAQs
How much does stucco repair cost?
Small cosmetic patches cost far less than repairs that require opening the wall to replace paper, lath or rotted framing. Texture complexity, color matching across a whole wall, height and access also matter. We look at the damage and give you a written price for the repair you actually need.
Can stucco cracks be caulked?
A flexible, paintable sealant can be a short-term fix for a hairline crack, but it usually shows and does not match the texture. For cracks that let water in, caulk alone does not address the cause. A proper repair matches the texture and fixes what is behind it.
Will the patch match my existing stucco?
We work to make it disappear. Texture is matched by testing samples on a small area, and color is matched with a color coat or paint. Older stucco has weathered and faded, so we often recommend recoating the whole wall face so the repair has no visible edges.
Should I repair stucco before painting my house?
Yes. Paint will not hide cracks or texture differences, and painting over a crack that leaks traps water. Repair the stucco first, let it cure, then paint or apply a color coat over the whole wall.
Stucco near you
- Santa Paula, CA5–12 min from Santa Paula
- Oxnard, CA20–40 min from Santa Paula
- Carpinteria, CA38–60 min from Santa Paula
- Ventura, CA15–35 min from Santa Paula
- Fillmore, CA15–25 min from Santa Paula
- Somis, CA22–35 min from Santa Paula
Related pages
- Stucco Repair & Installation (overview)
- Re-Stucco & Exterior Resurfacing
- Stucco Repair Cost in Ventura County: Cracks, Patches & Re-Stucco
Cost guide
- Craftsman & Spanish-Style Home Remodels in Santa Paula and Ojai
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- Dry Rot Repair in Coastal Ventura County Homes
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- Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for Ventura County (Before the Rains)
Seasonal