Stucco and water damage? Mold?

Question

I'm not too familiar with how stucco houses are built. I understand it's a wood frame then chicken wire then a cement sort of mix?

So... what happens when an abandoned stucco house has a leak or 3? The wood may rot of course, but is the cement mix likely to grow mold? And how does one fix cracks in the stucco covering so it actually sticks well for years? Assuming any foundation issue is fixed? I suppose I could check u-tube on the details of that, but for anyone with experience is it problematic?

Rick H. · Answer

Personally, I'd pass.

I've dealt with many vacant, abandoned houses with stucco issues.

The solution typically requires removal down to a solid base but I usually end up having to remove old stucco, re-wrap wire and paper after pulling permits, then scratch coat, brown fiat and color coats are applied.

If you are talking about the weight of stucco and cement bags then thus is not a project I'd want to take on.

Which leads me to ask the question: 'How DO you normally add value to a project?'

Lynn Harrison · Answer

Hi Rick, thanks, that's what I pictured I'd end up doing.

How do I personally add value? I've used wood. Wood wood wood and then some drywall. A little stone. I just personally don't like working with cement any more than I have to. Dirty and heavy.

How does one add value in California? Good question.

Lynn Harrison · Answer

Thanks Max. Out here they are over wood. The house I was looking at is on a slab which is on very soggy soil in the winter and has been abandoned for years. It hasn't been maintained- weeds all over the place. I'm thinking I don't want to replace framing and then re-apply stucco throughout the house, plus potentially have to cut through the slab to replace plumbing. It's easy to apply stucco but not easy to move around bags of it etc. I really don't enjoy working with cement and here with the small earthquakes every so often and shifting clay soil it would be higher maintenance.

Max T. · Answer

Older homes (in Philly) with stucco exteriors are usually a covering over the original brick exterior as opposed to wood. The new homes are built with wood and then stucco (or another siding) over the wood. Repairing stucco is easy. Small cracks can be caulked. Bigger patches should get wire mesh tacked on and then more stucco over top.

Lynn Harrison · Answer

Tony, OUCH!

OK, nevermind. I read up a bit on this and I think the last thing I want to do is repair an old stucco house built on clay soil, with a slab foundation, even if it's real stucco. I'd be doing the work myself and I don't think my back could take it. I hate cement.

Lynn Harrison · Answer

Thanks Jassem. Sounds cheap and easy.

Jassem A. · Answer

You could simply caulk the cracks or get a bag of stucco and mix some of it with water and go over with a trowel and then match the color with paint.  If the stucco is applied near the ground, it will tend to erode faster and collect mildew.  I would think mold would be less of a concern with stucco than with wood siding for example.

Stucco and water damage? Mold?

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