How Serious is a Stucco Crack?

Stucco consisting of Portland cement, sand, lime, and water, it is a long-lasting, low-maintenance coating option. But just like any other construction material that includes Portland cement, stucco is prone to cracking.

Though cracks in stucco can occur due to different factors, including wrong mix proportions, insufficient mixing, poor workmanship, seismic movement, and seasonal changes, two leading causes of cracks in stucco are the house settling process and shrinkage-induced stresses, which typically occur during the drying period. Now that you know why stucco cracks, let’s find out how serious a stucco crack can be.

The Problems behind Stucco Cracking

Hairline cracks aren’t as serious as deep cracks. However, they can provide a pathway for moisture and water to enter a wall system. Once moisture or water gets inside a wall, it will inevitably cause further damage. As an example, water that gets behind stucco will soften the material it meets, eventually causing stucco to break away and fall off in sheets. Moisture and water trapped inside walls can lead to additional problems, such as paint failure, wood rot, mold growth, musty smell, swollen drywall, and irreparable damage.

Although cracks smaller than 1/16 inches usually don’t undermine the integrity of exterior stucco, repairing them immediately will prevent them from escalating into something worse.

If you live in Florida, it’s advisable to inspect your exterior stucco and fix any cracks you observe before the rainy season kicks in. This level of maintenance is to be expected with all stucco homes.