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I Have Cracks In My Stucco. What Should I Do?

I Have Cracks In My Stucco. What Should I Do?

Stucco is a long-lasting, low-maintenance siding option, which is why so many houses in the San Francisco area sport this classic look. The problem, however, is that stucco can develop cracks over time. So of course, the thing that our Bay Area clients want to know is, "What do I do with cracked stucco?"

Why Does Stucco Crack?

Because stucco is a rigid material, it doesn't flex or shift as your house ages. As seasonal changes cause small expansion and contracting in the materials that compose your home, the stucco is put under pressure in new ways. Additionally, a home can settle over time, sinking tiny amounts here and there. These shifts are normal, but they are not always friendly to your stucco. So when your house goes through these minor changes, the exterior stucco can begin to show cracks.

Are Stucco Cracks a Problem?

California's lack of rain is definitely a cause for concern, but there is one advantage to it: vulnerable areas of your home are not as prone to water entry!

Still, we do get rain in San Francisco, and even when there is no precipitation, damp winds, garden sprinklers, and other sources can get your exterior walls wet. If you have cracked stucco, that moisture can seep in and cause several types of damage:

Swelling
Wood rot
Mildew/mold
Paint failure
Further cracking

Do You Need To Repair Cracked Stucco?

If there are minor cracks in your stucco, this is a project that most San Francisco homeowners can tackle if they want to. For these small cracks, get a flexible, paintable, exterior-grade caulk. Quikrete has a stucco repair product that is textured to match the surrounding stucco, and can fill gaps up to 1/2 an inch wide. Clean out the crack using a scraping tool and a wire brush, so that there is no loose material and the caulk has a good surface to bond to. Squeeze the caulk into the crack, and use your dampened finger to smooth in the caulk, making sure it fills the gap and has contact with both sides of the crack. Use a damp sponge to clean up any over application.

After the caulk is dry, you can repaint the area with an exterior elastomeric paint. The repair will look best if you repaint the whole wall, since a discreet repair will be difficult to acheive if you only paint the affected area.

If you have a larger area of damage, or if you believe water entry may already be causing some of the problems mentioned above, you will want to consult a professional stucco repair company. Some painting contractors will perform this service. If they do not, they would be happy to refer you to a skilled, reliable stucco repair contractor.

MB Jessee Painting, a San Francisco Painting Contractor

If you are concerned about the health of your stucco, don't leave things to chance! Consult a professional painting contractor who is reputable and experienced. Here at MB Jessee Painting, we would be happy to inspect the stucco at your San Francisco area home. We can advise you regarding the state of your stucco siding, and help arrange any services you may need.

Your stucco is your home's first and primary defense against the elements - don't risk your home's health and longevity by ignoring cracked stucco!

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Customer Reviews

“We just wanted to let you know how pleased we are with the work of MB Jessee Painting and your employees. Everything turned out beautiful. Our foreman was great! He was punctual, professional, neat and very accommodating ... and went the extra mile. We will definitely recommend you to our friends and family.”

— Michelle & Rivers Gee

“Richard and crew have been great, for sure. As much as I look forward to having the job done and my house back in order, I really enjoyed having them around. You should feel really good about how they represent your company.”

— Jessica Dodson

“Thank you for the support you have given the Women's Cancer Resource Center over the past year!”

— Margo - Director Women's Cancer Resource Center

“I loved working with M.B. Jessee from start to finish on a relatively small paint job that grew a bit. I felt in very good hands from the moment Matt Jessee came out to give me the estimate and talk about my job. He was very easy to talk to and he handled my changes very well. Then the actual work done by Rigoberto and Mario was impeccable. They were neat and meticulous and the paint job looks beautiful. I could not have asked for more and when I did, they accommodated me 100%. I will not hesitate to call M.B. Jessee again and to refer them to friends.”

— Nancy Kurkjian

“In September, MBJessee finished painting two sides of our 3-story condominium building (six owners). We were impressed by the professionalism of the company and every one of its workers, Matt Jessee couldn't have been more helpful in planning the project. His painters were well-trained, easy to communicate with and eager to please. In addition to painting the stucco, they made extensive repairs on windows and frames, which will save us considerable money in the future. They finished earlier than anticipated, with as many as five men working on the job, and the scaffolding came down the next day. All of us were delighted with the results. Now my husband and I are looking forward to having MB Jessee paint our own apartment later this month. Matt and Gustavo (who will be our crew leader again) have explained how they will work to make the painting proceed smoothly while we're living here, and they have been endlessly patient with our protracted decision-making process. If you look at their website, you'll learn that MB Jessee is an exemplary company that takes good care of its workers as well as its customers, and contributes public service projects to the community. All in all, we can't recommend MB Jessee highly enough.”

— Jayne W.
San Francisco, CA

“The completed 'Client Satisfaction Survey' we sent in only modestly reflects our total satisfaction with the work. As a retired small business owner, I compliment you on setting 'best practices' that are consistently followed. Everything described in your marketing materials was a reality! The crew is a super bowl team and our neighbors commented on how quiet they were. We are very happy to be a client of MB Jessee.”

— Richard
Orinda

“The entire MB Jessee team is courteous, efficient and professional. From scheduling and estimating to the crew managers and crew, they all did an excellent job on a small (but complicated) two room project in my house. I'm already thinking about getting them scheduled for the next project in the spring.”

— Cari Cheney

“Everyone I dealt with was nice, helpful, and very professional. The price was reasonable! (I didn't feel like I was getting the "San Francisco price." The attention to detail and work quality was excellent. They did what they said they would do in the exact timeframe they said they would do. Highly recommend!”

— Tim Tyson

“Just had MB Jessee paint the interior of our house and they did a wonderful job. They tackled some crazy wallpaper as well as painted some very high ceilings and walls. The whole process was quick and they did a great job! We are very pleased. I was also very impressed by the crew. They were very personable, kind and actually took pride in the work they were doing. In one of our conversations with the lead Ricardo, he actually told me he was very proud of how the rooms had turned out. I agree sir! It turned out great and it's not often you hear someone thinking of your home like they would theirs, and putting that level of work and quality into it. That made a huge difference in how I viewed this company. Ricardo, you were fantastic and thank you for the great job, we will be using you again.”

— Jeff M.
Danville, CA

“It was a great experience working with MB Jessee. The crew was careful and thorough as they painted the house, sealed stucco cracks, repaired dry-rotted wood, stained the deck, etc. Robert, Gersson, Jose, and all of the people involved in the process from the estimate to the job completion were friendly and professional.”

— Mike C.
Livermore, CA

“High quality work from a pleasant and qualified staff. Thank you!”

— Paul Markovich

“In all the years I've worked with MB Jessee, I'm always so impressed by your crews. They are so respectful of everything--you never even know they're there! Except that the paint looks amazing when they're gone. We've had one showing of our home and already have an offer. I'm sure it is because the paint looks so beautiful.”

— Erin T.
Pleasant Hill

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