Everything You Need to Know about Stucco Inspections
Stucco has become an increasingly popular material to build new homes with, it is versatile, and is known as a protective siding for homes.
However, about two years ago, people who owned homes in Texas (and all over) that had stucco began to realize their homes had major problems with moisture.
If you have a stucco home or are looking at homes that have stucco, here are some things that you need to know.
Moisture
Moisture has always been a problem for homes; mold can grow, wood can rot and it can cause a lot of other damage. Stucco homes in particular have been affected by moisture, because they have not been regulated when being built.
There are two types of stucco that can be used, and those are synthetic and non-synthetic stucco. They are both subject to the damage of water.
Stucco Inspections
We at Guiding Light Home Inspections have realized that moisture in stucco homes is becoming an increasing problem, and we want to help you avoid purchasing a home that could cost you a lot in repairs or be potentially unsafe to live in.
Moisture in a stucco home can produce dangerous molds, crack drywall the drywall and lead to rotting of wood frames. Damage to the structural frame and foundation of your home can result from moisture creeping in, and that is hard to fix in the future.
How to Spot a Moisture Problem
There a few tell-tale signs that your home or potential home is accumulating moisture beneath the stucco, and that you need to call an inspector to assess the damage.
- Stains around window corners
- Dark spots at the meeting point of the roof and the wall
- Cracks along the stucco itself
- Stains or watermarks on stucco – only a following professional inspection can decide if these marks are a result of interior damage – however it is likely
- Mold and mildew growth
Repairs
Most insurance companies don’t cover problems related to water damage that aren’t caused by some sort of disaster, like a flood or burst pipe.
- Making sure to get a potential home inspected for moisture when it has stucco is really important because of the lack of coverage.
- Especially because you could buy a home and not know about the damage for years, and at that point it could be irreversible.
All in all, it is recommended to have your house inspected for moisture if you have stucco on your home and notice any of these warning signs. While not every home is affected, it will give you peace of mind and you can catch early damage if your home does have any.
It is also a good idea for new homebuyers so you can avoid a home that will have a lot of repairs in the future.
