Is A Stucco Inspection Necessary?Ask us about your specific situation by filling out the contact form or read our article below.
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Do I Need A Stucco InspectionWhether a stucco inspection is necessary is a question we often get from our clientele. While we would like to have more work, we will not recommend a stucco inspection if you do not need one in your specific scenario.
That said, most situations that lead to this question will inevitably lead to the conclusion that getting an invasive inspection is the most responsible choice. This is due to the typical challenges of stucco work and many improperly built homes. |
Upon opening this area, our client found the area was damaged.
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Reasons To Do A Stucco Inspection
1. Your home inspector recommends it
Your home inspector will note any issues with your home in regards to the cladding or claddings present. There are a few factors that would usually cause your home inspector to recommend further testing on your stucco. These include:
- Cracking present
- Caulk misapplied
- Violations of building codes
- Confirmed damage visible in the attic
- Confirmed damage able to be felt by hand near to the foundation
- Evidence of moisture presence on interior that corresponds to possible exterior cladding issues (i.e. staining near a stucco flashing detail)
- Moisture stains (mainly at areas known to be problematic, since not all moisture stains are necessarily bad)
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2. Peace of mind
Many times a visual evaluation is not sufficient to determine if there are damages behind a wall of stucco. This is because water damage behind stucco will usually have to be extensive before evidence of it is visible on the outside. Remember that stucco is a solid layer of concrete and water damage can continue to spread insidously without raising any red flags.
3. Presence of "difficult" details
If your stucco home has a lot of the details and accesories usually associated with damage, this may be a factor when deciding whether or not to obtain a stucco inspection. All homes need windows, doors, and utility penetrations so these won't be listed even though they are a possible source of water intrusion.
Certain details are challenging to keep dry and we will usually recommend an inspection in homes that include the following:
Certain details are challenging to keep dry and we will usually recommend an inspection in homes that include the following:
- Balconies, especially uncovered terraces and juliet balconies
- Areas with missing flashings (missing kickout flashing or missing head flashing)
- Flat stucco areas
- Stucco touching the ground or concrete
- Intricate stucco designs such as decorative bands
- Closed overhanging soffits made of stucco
Reasons You Might Skip A Stucco Inspection
There are a few cases where you may not need a stucco inspection.
1. The current homeowner will not sign off on the agreement
It's very common for a homeowner to decline to have their home tested by a third-party inspection company. If this is a home you are purchasing, always remember that they are still the current owners of the property. We will always need an authorization in writing before we can drill into anyone's home.
2. The damage is extensive and evident
If the damage is extensive enough, it may be cost effective to just rebuild the whole of the stucco. This scenario is very rare, but if this is the case, it's best to get an estimate on stucco repair instead and utilize every dollar toward that end.
3. You would buy the home anyway
If you would buy the home in spite of the presence of damage, it may be that you can skip the invasive inspection. This is also a rare scenario. Maybe you are already getting a great deal on the property even if you have to carry out major renovations.
You may decide that you are willing to accept all the history of the home, not just the stucco. This may be the case if the home is in a great location or otherwise meets all your needs. Approach with caution and get rough order of magnitude estimates on major repairs if this is the case.
You may decide that you are willing to accept all the history of the home, not just the stucco. This may be the case if the home is in a great location or otherwise meets all your needs. Approach with caution and get rough order of magnitude estimates on major repairs if this is the case.
A Note on Newer Stucco Homes
You might assume you don't need a stucco inspection if your home is fairly new, i.e. built within the last 3-5 years. While your odds are likely to be better than someone buying an older home, this is not a sure thing. This is why we didn't list this as a reason not to get an inspection. If something in the stucco is built incorrectly, water damage can start from day one, and serious damage within a few weeks or months.
Conclusion
While we would recommend a stucco inspection in most cases, we understand that in certain situations you may opt to decide differently. If you have any further questions, give us a no obligation call at 281-771-1565.