If you own a home or are looking to buy a house in southwest-inspired landscapes like Tucson, AZ or Albuquerque, NM, you’re probably familiar with stucco.
Stucco houses are made up of a durable mixture of Portland cement, sand, and lime that protects the exterior in place of traditional siding like wood or vinyl. When done right, stucco is great at sealing the home from moisture, regulating temperature fluctuations, and even resisting fire.
But while stucco can maintain its integrity for decades, it only protects your home from the elements if it’s in good shape. Cracks, mold, dark spots, and frequent wet weather events are all reasons to take a closer look at the condition with a stucco inspection.
In this article:
What is a stucco inspection
Why you should get stucco inspected
When you might need an inspection
What inspectors look for
Types of stucco inspections
Stucco inspection cost
How long stucco inspections take
Stucco repair options
Bottom line
FAQs
What is a stucco inspection
A stucco inspection is a more specialized service that focuses on the home’s exterior stucco siding, and looks at how well it’s keeping moisture out of the structure.
While a standard home inspection will briefly look at the outside condition of a home and note if anything looks problematic, a stucco inspection specializes in looking for cracks, staining, mold, hollow spots, or other signs that the material could be compromised.
Why you should get your stucco home inspected
Stucco gained traction in construction because of its affordability, durability, and roots in old-world architecture. But the installation practices and materials weren’t always consistent—resulting in some stucco exteriors trapping in moisture and creating hidden, expensive damage.
Stucco is meant to dry quickly and shed water, but if moisture gets behind the barrier, it can’t escape. Over time, this can lead to:
- Soft or rotting wood framing
- Mold growth…