If you have a little crack in your outside stucco, you can simply fix it—and you should, or you may end up with more significant repairs later.
Q: My home is 64 years old and still has the original stucco on the outside. There is a slight fracture on one external wall with paint flaking away on both sides. Is there a fast and easy method to repair stucco before the rains arrive, and is it a task I can undertake on my own?
A: Good news: based on your description, it does not seem that your fracture is caused by foundation sinking. If you had detected wider cracks and symptoms like sticky doors and windows, I would have advised you to contact a foundation consultant. As it is, this is a task that any do-it-yourselfer can do. And it’s vital job, so you were correct to be cautious. If rainwater gets beneath the stucco, you might be in for a greater issue.
You may repair stucco with any number of commercially available materials. Some are intended to repair deeper gouges and holes, while others are mainly made to repair cracks like the one you describe. Quikrete, for example, makes a textured (sanded) acrylic caulk that is both simple to apply and effective.
The first step may seem counterintuitive enlarge the fracture with a cold chisel and hammer to at least a quarter inch. The crack’s edges should be perpendicular to the wall. Back trim the damage if feasible so that its base is somewhat broader than its top. Then, remove any remaining material from the fracture using a wire brush.
Apply the stucco repair compound along the crack using a regular caulk gun. Trowel the patch to match the surrounding stucco finish as you proceed. Allow the repair to dry for 24 hours before painting it with a water-based paint that is ideally the same color as the outside of the house.
Despite having cured, the completed product may feel pliable to the touch. The flexibility attests to the repair’s strength. The patch will adapt rather than come undone if the wall moves significantly in the future. You may be confident that precipitation will not be able to penetrate behind the stucco now that the crack has been completely fixed.
Remember to leave stucco repair to professionals to guarantee perfect sealing and prevent additional damage.