Stucco has been a popular choice for homeowners because of its durability, easy maintenance and appearance. Once stucco has been applied properly to a home, it can last up to 50 years if well taken care of!
Proper maintenance is the key to ensuring the longevity of your stucco. While stucco is relatively easy and affordable in its upkeep, you would still need to maintain it on a regular basis. If not, over time, it will start to look more worn out, and if not taken care of, will cost you more money to repair. At times, this can lower the value of your home when it comes to curb appeal.
Keep reading if you want to learn more about how to maintain your home’s stucco;
Clean
Like any home exteriors, stucco is prone to become dirty pretty easily. Outdoor elements can cause dirt to collect on top of it and can make your home look filthy. Stucco is made up of porous materials, meaning it can absorb and hold onto stains if they are not cleaned off right away. This is why frequent cleaning is quite necessary. Simply spraying your home’s exterior with your garden hose or power washer in a low setting will help you wash the dirt away.
The best method for clearing away dirt from your stucco is to mist it with water at first in order to allow any caked-on dirt to soak and loosen up. After you’ve done this, spray it with higher pressure from top to bottom, which lets the dirt make its way to the ground.
Sealant
When you first get stucco applied to your home, it should also be sealed. Because of its porous nature, stucco needs to be protected against any moisture. Something like a clear concrete masonry sealer is usually applied and this penetrates through the stucco in order to prevent any moisture getting in. One application of sealant at the beginning of installation is a start, but not the end all be all. You will need to reapply sealant every five years or so.
Elastomeric Coating
If you’ve got stucco that is older in age, you might want to think about applying an elastomeric coating, especially if you have any cracking. Elastomeric coating is designed to keep moisture out as well as seal up hairline cracks. It also has flexible characteristics, which help it stretch if a crack develops and widens below the seal. This way, your sealant is able to still keep water out as it cracks. This type of sealant will usually last 10 years.
In the end, stucco is a great choice for many homeowners, which does not need much maintenance overall. Although you might need to wash dirt away every few weeks, it’s very low effort using your garden hose. And if you stay on top of chips and cracks with sealant, you can enjoy the attractive look of stucco on your home for decades.