Hey Guys and Gals! Jason from Absolute Home Inspections, here again to help answer some of your home buying questions. Today’s topic is Stucco cracking. We have hundreds of thousands of homes here in Las Vegas, and the vast majority of them are covered in Stucco.
What is Stucco? Stucco is a construction material made of a mixture including cement, sand, and lime. It is placed over the outside of building material wet and then dries to a hardened shell. It can be placed on via spray or trowel, and can be layered with many different types of textures.
How long does it last? Stucco can last for up to 50-80 years. In Las Vegas it is important to patch minor cracks and paint the Stucco every 5 years to insure that you get the most life out of your protective shell.
Why does it crack? There are a number of reasons why Stucco cracks, including a poor mixture, poor workmanship, seismic movement, insufficient mixing, shrinkage due to seasonal changes, and settling of the house.
Are Stucco cracks a big deal? It is very normal here in Las Vegas for Stucco to crack, and small cracks are not a big deal but need to be attended to so that they don’t become that way.
How are they repaired? Assuming you get to the cracks when they are small, they are very easy to repair. Your local hardware store has several very inexpensive products that allow you to patch and paint the cracks to prevent further cracking.
How big is too big? A normal hairline crack is around 1/16 of an inch. Once they grow to a width of 1/8 of an inch (or large enough to stick a nickel into) it’s time to think about calling out a qualified professional to assist in repair.
As always feel free to give us a call at Absolute Home Inspections 702-752-0061 with your questions and Home inspection needs.