Stucco Issues on 2012 Built Vantage Home

[Skywalker]

Lot of smart peeps on this forum and I'd like to ask, anyone ever had to deal with a builder over Stucco Issues/Concerns. Even if you have not what do you think about this type of issues. Had a few when I bought two years ago 15 Jun or in two days. My hired inspector when I mentione the few said they all crack and not to worry. I call BS on this entire thing. I'm sure its expensive to stucco this house and I have no desire to Stucco over the obvious problems and most likely sub standard work and or methods of what I already have.

Anyway, thoughts? https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c1yz9qn5pajqulc/AABj1qB5fK_GymBxzXGlu1ava?dl=0

[Irving]

Is it real stucco, or is it EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems)? https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-146-eifs-problems-and-solutions

With stucco, it is hard as concrete. With EIFS, it looks the same, but if you push your thumb into the wall with a lot of force, the wall flexes a bit, or is soft to the touch.

I see cracks like that all the time, but since that does not fall under what I can address for my job, I don't have any input on what you need to do to fix it. I'm interested in what you find out!

[beast556]

I grew up where stucco was used on 90% of houses and thoese all look pretty normal from settling. Fill them in with a strechable selant and paint them and be done with it. When the cracks start to get all broken up and peices pop off you have a problem.

[Skywalker]

It is traditional Stucco Lahabra Alamo 524 Base 200 and not EIFS. I wish it was EIFS. I will say this, if not a concern for any of the damage that can be caused by moister/water damage the fact that it sevierly degrades the value of my home is real. I would not consider this home ready to sale for only the stucco issues although I intend to be my forever home. This does not meet my standards and if I had of known more cracks was coming I would/should of passed on it. Very frustrating.



Is it real stucco, or is it EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems)? https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-146-eifs-problems-and-solutions

With stucco, it is hard as concrete. With EIFS, it looks the same, but if you push your thumb into the wall with a lot of force, the wall flexes a bit, or is soft to the touch.

I see cracks like that all the time, but since that does not fall under what I can address for my job, I don't have any input on what you need to do to fix it. I'm interested in what you find out!

[Skywalker]

Trying to match that color so far at Home Depot and KWAL is been terrible. There is a house about 100 yards away that looked terrible. Stucco of course. One entire end had been rolled with latex and was off by about four shade and was just a community eye soar. However, I seen a team in there Monday morning that painted the entire home same color now looks fantastic. I'm sure she had cracks as I could see them from the street. If this holds and I could say this is a methold of sealing the stucco and maybe a cost effective metod to resolve this if the builder does not help and I'm sure they will not offer any help.


I grew up where stucco was used on 90% of houses and thoese all look pretty normal from settling. Fill them in with a strechable selant and paint them and be done with it. When the cracks start to get all broken up and peices pop off you have a problem.

[beast556]

You shouldn't have to worry about water damage to your structure, they should of put down a membrane before the wire that protects the wood from moisture. I have patched my fair share of stucco in the past, cracks like what you have are normal. You will definitely want to seal them so water dosent get in them and freeze during winter and open them up more.

With how the weather is in CO and the freeze and thaw every year stucco is probly not the best choice. With that said I think stucco looks ten times better than siding and stucco dosen't rattle in the wind. Sounds like you will have a love hate relationship going on for the years to come.

[Skywalker]

Thanks for your input. Just read your PM and replied. I appreciate it.


You shouldn't have to worry about water damage to your structure, they should of put down a membrane before the wire that protects the wood from moisture. I have patched my fair share of stucco in the past, cracks like what you have are normal. You will definitely want to seal them so water dosent get in them and freeze during winter and open them up more.

With how the weather is in CO and the freeze and thaw every year stucco is probly not the best choice. With that said I think stucco looks ten times better than siding and stucco dosen't rattle in the wind. Sounds like you will have a love hate relationship going on for the years to come.

[whitewalrus]

Trying to match that color so far at Home Depot and KWAL is been terrible. There is a house about 100 yards away that looked terrible. Stucco of course. One entire end had been rolled with latex and was off by about four shade and was just a community eye soar. However, I seen a team in there Monday morning that painted the entire home same color now looks fantastic. I'm sure she had cracks as I could see them from the street. If this holds and I could say this is a methold of sealing the stucco and maybe a cost effective metod to resolve this if the builder does not help and I'm sure they will not offer any help.

The best you can do on a color match is about a shade off. You will always be able to tell that it was painted after the fact, even if you have the original paint. You can either accept this difference or you need paint the entire house. Maybe you could get away with painting just one side, but it will always be noticeable to someone who looks at the entire house.

[Irving]

Every side of the house gets different sun and is already different shades of the same color, so a shade off may not be a huge deal.

[def90]

Don't paint over the stucco, do it right and have a color finish coat applied.

All houses settle a bit, some worse than others. Cracks in stucco due to settling are common.

[brutal]

Every side of the house gets different sun and is already different shades of the same color, so a shade off may not be a huge deal.

I have a neighbor that paints one side every other year and never paints his entire house at once. He was way off one year and it looked like ass. But he's all caught up now so... Now if he would just fix his damn roof.

Full disclosure, the trim boards on my house look like ass right now.