Blog

  • Home >
  • Blog >
  • I Have Cracks In My Stucco. What Should I Do?

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!

Request an Estimate

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area

Files must be an image (.jpg or .png). Limit 2 images.

Why People Hire Us

Fully Licensed and Insured

Fully Licensed and Insured

Clear Communication

Clear Communication

Peace of Mind

Peace of Mind

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

One-Stop Shop for Painting and Carpentry

One-Stop Shop for Painting and Carpentry

Experienced Oversight and Job Leadership

Experienced Oversight and Job Leadership

Our Credentials

Best of Oakland 2018 BBB American Society of Interior Designers ASID Leadsafe Certified Firm EPA NARI Member Nolan Summit Services Inc

Customer Reviews

“M.B. Jessee painted the exterior of my Spanish house over 9 years ago, and they did such an incredible job that they are still getting referrals from me today. The paint is holding up perfectly -- there is absolutely no peeling chipping or any other deterioration. I still remember that my final walk-through list consisted of items written on one side of a 3x5 index card (and I'm REAL picky about my house!) However, when Matt and I did that walk-through over HALF the items were no longer an issue, as his team had noticed them first and they had already been resolved.”

— JoAnn Newcomb

“Julie, by the way, I have never been so impressed with the service of a painting job before! It was like magical elves came and painted our walls without us having to do a thing! It looks amazing and just wanted to let you know how happy we are. Thanks”

— Anja
Piedmont

“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

“I love the article in the paper on your company. Thank you for supporting our community by painting at the Claremont Middle School. Thanks!”

— Carla Banks

“I want to express my thanks for a job well done. The rooms look great and there is no problem with any marks on the all the trim, floor, carpet, etc. The paint job is lovely. I also want to express my thanks for the level of professionalism the foreman showed in running the job. He was very attentive to any changes I needed to make, was extremely careful in getting the faux paint color and effect correct. Thanks so much for a job well done.”

— Suzan D’Arcy

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

— Paul Markovich

“I highly recommend MB Jesse Painting to anyone looking for a professional team that does an impressive job. They are on time, efficient and clean up well each and every day they are on site. They pay attention to detail and listen to the needs of their clients. In addition, they give back to the community. A Five Star team all the way around.”

— Erin Troy

“I just wanted to send you an email to say that John did such a great job over here today. He is truly a hard worker. He has the perfect balance of friendliness, honesty, and professionalism. I trust him. He takes the time to do the job to the best of his ability and that is what sets him (and your company) apart from the competition. He didn't make me feel rushed. He really made me feel like our job was the most important thing in the world. Thanks again!”

— Jo
Oakland

“Julie,Just to let you know I am very appreciative of your crew catching the plumbing/mold problem. It was very astute of them. I wanted to let you know that again your crew has done excellent work here, please pass this along to Mr. Jessee. There are some bumps in the road here, but the painting and your crew has not been one of them. Their work is the only thing going right currently, and this crew is very nice and respectful. It is much appreciated. Thank you again.”

— Beth
Oakland

“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

“Matt, We are very happy with how all of the painting worked out. We were extremely impressed with the quality of the work in the bathroom. I liked working with Victor, he and Marvin were extremely conscientious about doing a great job, not just the minimum. I know the front door took a lot longer than you'd expected. But they did it PERFECTLY. We never thought it could turn out like that! Thanks again for the great work. We'll be calling you again in the future!”

— Craig
Alameda, 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