How to fix hairline cracks in stucco? If you’ve noticed hairline cracks on the exterior stucco wall of your property, we can predict that you will be calling your local stucco crack repair contractor or you will be using stucco crack repair caulk in the near future. It is very important to take care of stucco crack repair sooner than later to effectively take care of this type of stucco damage. Even if they are just hairline cracks. We would like to share some stucco repair know-how. Precisely some stucco crack repair techniques which will help you to get the job done right.
We have tons of experience with exterior plaster crack repair. Our tips will help you learn how to fix hairline cracks in stucco and to eliminate annoying and unsightly hairline stucco cracks quickly. In general, homeowners notice these types of cracks on the facades of their properties. So, our guide is focused on effective exterior crack repair tactics for narrow cracks in exterior stucco walls.
Before you begin to perform repairs, you should analyze the severity of the problem.
Repairing Hairline Cracks In Stucco – Getting Started
You may find the cracks in your exterior stucco walls to be a bit disturbing. After all, your home is probably the biggest investment that you’ll ever make. You don’t want to see problems with the façade!
To analyze the degree of trouble, use a scraper to enlarge one of the hairline cracks. If you notice that it’s only present upon the surface, you’re in luck. Fixing this type of surface damage is really very simple. What you need to be more concerned about is the types of cracks which run through plaster, towards the wall. These cracks are deeper and more serious. Let’s get into actual ways of how to fix hairline cracks in stucco. But first lets find out what they actually are…
Hairline Cracks In Stucco Exterior?
Hairline stucco crack is a very small “surface” crack within a wall crafted from stucco. It has the same approximate thickness as a single strand of hair. It may be described as a crack that is shallow. Before you learn how to fix hairline cracks in stucco, it is important to discover how they develop. These cracks happen for a variety of reasons.
One possible reason is that the plaster used to construct the exterior wall wasn’t mixed correctly. Another possible reason is that the home is settling. A third possible reason is that the stucco got a coat or two of paint while stucco was still wet.
It’s important to understand that cracks of hairline thickness won’t negatively impact the structural integrity of your exterior walls and your home in general!
Now and then, a minute crack within an exterior stucco wall will emerge because the contractor who made the wall stopped working at a specific spot each day. Smart contractors avoid these types of cracks by changing the place where they stop stucco installation process every work day. They know that changing it up minimizes or eliminates the risk of hairline cracks.
Another risk factor for hairline cracks in stucco is vibration. When a new home is built or an existing home is remodeled, the vibrations which happen due to other repairs or installations may cause hairline cracks to appear. This can happen even when the stucco was installed according to the highest standards, by experts with tons of experience.
For example, your contractor might do everything right, by letting the “scratch coat” set and ensuring that it is hydrated as it should be. He or she might apply a brown coat much later on, such as a few weeks later. This is all good. However, work performed after stucco installation may still trigger hairline cracks in stucco!
If you are interested in installing or repairing sheetrock in your house, we recommend doing this job before you do the brown coat on your stucco (or ask your contractor to do it for you), as sheetrock is one home construction or reno project that often triggers cracks in stucco. Get the sheetrock installed before you put on the 2nd stucco coat. Always install sheetrock before you add a coat of color. It’s the best way to avoid hairline cracks.
Hairline Cracks In Stucco Repair Tips
We’ve shared some facts about hairline cracks in stucco and why they may happen. We’ve talked about how to minimize the risk. Now, let’s discuss how to fix hairline cracks in stucco and the smartest way to handle repairs of these very small cracks. You’ll be pleased to know that it’s possible to fix them without scraping them or making some other type of big effort!
One tip that is well worth using is to do your hairline crack repairs in the a.m. It’s easier to fill cracks in the morning, when a house is cooler. When the house is cooler, the cracks will be more visible than they are when the home is warmer. You’ll find it easier to spot them and then fill them in. Cool homes mean contraction which “opens up” little cracks in stucco.
If you wait to do stucco crack repair and the sun comes out with a vengeance, your home will get hotter and it will expand. This means that the tiny cracks are going to come together. You’ll find that it’s tough to fill them in. Don’t waste your time trying to fill cracks, unless you do it in the morning. You’ll get better results and find it a lot simpler and a lot more effective.
Start Hairline Stucco Crack Repair By Cleaning The Wall
Professional stucco contractors who have a lot of experience in how to fix hairline cracks in stucco remove dirt and dust from the stucco wall before they begin filling in cracks. When the wall is pressure-washed beforehand, it will have a clean surface that paint adheres to easily. After pressure-washing, you may fill in the cracks with a small quantity of caulking/spackling. Great stucco crack repair products are available.
Once you do this, you’ll be ready to repaint the wall for a great finish. We do recommend painting after pressure-washing and caulking, because the paint will prevent water from entering the stucco wall. Very small cracks may be painted over. The thickness of the paint will create a “bridge” which crosses the crack.
You do have the option of repairing these types of slim cracks in stucco with three coats of Plascon Micatex paint. This paint is water-based and textured. It’s quite a bit thicker than typical paint and this means that it offers superb cover for cracks.
You shouldn’t need to open up the smaller cracks. Instead, roll some Micatex over sections where they appear. Also, you may be able to cover up bigger cracks in the outside wall with Micatex, provided that they’ve been filled up (repaired) in the past. Be sure to paint the whole affected area. Don’t just cover the cracks themselves. If you cover only the cracks, you may notice that the texture of the wall isn’t even. As well, the height of this thick paint may be detectable to the naked eye, depending on the light.
Painting Over Stucco Tips
After the top coats have been put into place, you may then put on paint via a roller. Use the roller for the main portions of the wall. Switch to a paint brush for the edging. If you plan to paint over your driveway or another area which is paved, put down a drop sheet first. You don’t want paint splatter all over your paved areas.
Paint should dry within two to three hours. However, the weather will impact how quickly it dries. After it’s dried properly, it may be “over-coated”. This means putting on a second coat over the first coat of paint, which is now dry. Add a second coat of Micatex in order to make certain that cracks are properly filled and bridged. You should always use two coats on the surface of your stucco wall.
How To Repair Large Stucco Cracks
So now you have a clear understanding about how to fix hairline cracks in stucco. What about cracks in stucco that are little bigger? The deeper cracks should be repaired with a caulking for mortar called Sashco Mor-Flexx. This concrete sealer is textured and it’s suitable for interior and exterior usage. We like this product for stucco repairs, because it’s easy to paint over it afterwards.
To apply this concrete sealer, just squeeze it into cracks. After you caulk a crack with Mor-Flexx, rub around the crack with your entire hand, using circular motions. This will buff any product around the crack and help to stop it from showing up after you fill the crack. Once you rub the caulking in and let it dry, you’ll be ready to paint the section. Also, consider Quikrete stucco crack repair.
Stucco crack repair cost should be quite reasonable. You’ll need a pressure-washer (rent or borrow one, perhaps), a drop sheet (if you’re working over a paved area, caulking and paint).
This video might make it easier to understand what we have talked about in this article.
If you need to hire local professional stucco repair contractor who knows exactly how to fix hairline cracks in stucco please call our office at (407) 258-2826. You can also fill out Estimate Request from on this page. One of our estimators will get back to you ASAP to schedule appointment at your convenience.