If you have worked with our team before, you know that we stress the importance of
understanding the condition of stucco and if it has been applied over wood or brick.
The main reason why stucco is such an important topic is because during the 90s and early
2000s there was a particular way of applying stucco over wood that has become prone to
leaking. This can cause an extreme amount of damage and rot to the wood cladding behind the stucco.
Because of this, we stress the importance of obtaining a stucco inspection if you are purchasing
a home with stucco that was built during that time period.
What is a stucco inspection you may ask?
During a stucco inspection, the inspector will drill small holes into the side of the home where it
is often prone to have leaking (bottom corners of windows, anywhere there may be
cracks/seams in the stucco). They insert a moisture meter, and if the content comes up high,
that means they will drill a bit of a larger hole (about the size of a quarter) so that they can get a
better idea of the condition of the wood beneath the stucco.
To properly repair damaged wood beneath stucco, you need to remove all the stucco, inspect the underlying boards, replace any rotted ones, and then refinish the exterior with a more watertight material like siding.
It’s never a fun time negotiating a stucco inspection, but it is always worth it to save our buyers tens of thousands down the line!
