Hard Coat Stucco Inspections
Florida Commercial and Residential Since 2001
Stucco siding is a very popular exterior used throughout the state of Florida mainly due to its ease of application and low installation costs.

Stucco is primarily composed of three main ingredients which consist of Portland cement, sand, and water.

Other components and accessories such include wire lathe, moisture barriers, flashing, weep screed, corner beads, expansion and control joints.  These components and accessories are installed to make the system weatherproof.

Proper installation of these components and accessories is essential to providing a weather resistant barrier to protect the building envelope from moisture intrusion.

Often times, the installation process is rushed in order to get a newly built home ready for market and essential details are either overlooked or installed incorrectly by unqualified tradesmen.

This then creates problems that can and often does result in moisture gaining access behind the stucco cladding where it causes damage to the underlying structural materials and interior finished surfaces. This can also create conditions conducive of wood destroying insect infestations and mold growth inside the home.
Our Stucco Inspections look closely at the water management design and stucco assessor installation to ensure that the water that does make its way behind the stucco penetrates no further than the water barrier and then down and out the stucco mud-wall and termination weep screeds.

Other problems can arise if the manufacturer's instructions are not adhered to during the installation process.

One of the common problems are wide spread cracking in the surface due to improper stucco mix or ratios were not precise when mixing the material. Too much or too little of one of the three main components can result in the mixture being too dry and porous or too wet which leads to shrinkage and cracking as the material dries.

Another installation error that is often seen is the applications of second and third coats applied before the previous layer has had sufficient time to cure. As the stucco material dries, it has a tendency to shrink and small cracks often develop. This is normal for base layers and sufficient time is required for the coat to stabilize and dry out enough to support the weight of addition layers.

As the second and third coats are applied, these small cracks are filled in during the process, so they do not progress to the visible finish coat. When this process is rushed and layers do not have sufficient time to dry, small cracks in the base layers are stressed by the additional weight before the first coat has had time to cure properly. The cracks then are telegraphed to the next layer and the next layer. This often results in large cracks developing on new installations within a couple of months.

 

We know where to look, and what to look for. We pinpoint the moisture content in the underlying substrate. We provide a detailed inspection report including photos, infrared imaging, moisture mapping, and remediation recommendations.

Our Stucco Inspections Include a Visual Examination of:

 

  • Orlando Stucco Inspection
  • Orlando Stucco Inspection
  • applied stucco,
  • exterior sealants,
  • flashings,
  • windows,
  • doors,
  • parapets,
  • gutters,
  • stucco terminations and
  • roof-to-stucco transitions,
  • deck-to-building connections,
  • any penetrations through the stucco system.

Once the Exterior Visual Inspection is complete, we can perform Infrared Thermal Imaging to identify any areas of thermal anomalies or temperature differential.   The anomalies are then checked by Moisture Scanning to determine if the temperature anomalies are due to moisture.

 

Invasive Moisture Testing of the Structure may be necessary or requested. Invasive testing is when we open end expose the areas behind the stucco to inspect and test the moisture levels and condition of the building materials behind the stucco.

After all the information is compiled, the final report is written which includes the findings of the visual inspection, infrared thermal imaging inspection, and moisture meter readings.


Some of our clients are concerned with issues with the stucco system identified  during the home inspection.  We understand that some property owners wont agree to an intrusive stucco inspection that includes drilling into the side of the home or building.


For these clients, we can prepare the written report after the infrared thermal imaging inspection has been completed. The final report typically takes several days to prepare depending on the amount of defects that are discovered and potential moisture areas observed. High resolution photographs and thermal images are included in the report so you can see exactly what the inspector sees during these inspections.


Many clients can make an informed decision at this point whether to purchase the home or determine if remediation is within the budget. For homeowners who are pursuing litigation against contractors or developers for faulty installations, the final report helps reinforce cases by providing documented proof of incorrect installations and the problems they have caused.