While stucco is a great decorative surface option for many homes, most stucco applications completed within the past 15 to 25 years are improperly installed. In fact, it is estimated that more than 90% of all stucco applications in the Northeastern United States, installed within this time frame, are improperly installed. When stucco is not installed correctly, it can lead to leaks, mold, and structural damages. Of course, many of these problems may be unknown to a homeowner until it’s too late to fix.
Stucco issues go unseen because of the damage is inside the wall. A professional stucco inspection can help detect these issues, and in some cases, the problems are found early enough that the stucco does not need to be removed. However, if untreated for too long, the surface may need to be taken off, or a section of the house may even need to be torn down.
- View our sample stucco inspection report: Sample Stucco Report
What Is a Stucco Inspection?
The stucco inspection consists of observational findings combined with moisture readings taken by drilling into the stucco and inserting a moisture probe to determine if moisture is present behind the stucco. We also check the installation materials and method by taking a small core sample. All drill holes and core samples are repaired with high quality sealant that is chosen to match the color of the stucco as closely as possible.
We inspect the cladding system thoroughly. First we record what can be visually observed in detailed notes that can easily be used to correct any issues. We can also make recommendations of specific solutions, if appropriate. We sometimes use a high-quality thermal imaging camera in addition to the observations the inspector makes visually.
