Stucco Repair Services in Phoenix, AZ

Stucco Repair: Essential for Lasting Exterior Paint

Stucco is the most common exterior finish on Phoenix area homes, and while it’s durable, Arizona’s extreme conditions can cause cracks, holes, and deterioration over time. Proper stucco repair is essential before any exterior painting project.

Why Stucco Damage Happens in Arizona

Thermal Movement Phoenix experiences significant temperature swings - from freezing winter nights to 115°F+ summer days. This constant expansion and contraction stresses stucco and causes cracking.

Soil Movement Arizona’s expansive clay soils shift with moisture changes. As the ground moves, so does your foundation - and the stucco attached to it.

Sun Damage 20+ years of intense UV exposure degrades stucco coatings, making them more susceptible to cracking and water intrusion.

Impact Damage Landscaping equipment, hail, or even errant baseballs can chip and damage stucco surfaces.

Common Stucco Problems We Repair

Hairline Cracks Small cracks that haven’t opened significantly. These often appear at stress points like window corners and can be filled and sealed effectively.

Structural Cracks Larger cracks that indicate more significant movement. These require proper bridging materials and techniques to prevent recurrence.

Holes and Chips Impact damage that exposes underlying layers. We rebuild these areas with proper base coats before texturing.

Delamination When stucco separates from the underlying surface. This requires removing loose material and rebuilding the affected area.

Efflorescence White mineral deposits that appear on stucco. We address the moisture source and clean or coat affected areas.

Spalling Surface deterioration where stucco flakes off. This often indicates moisture problems or coating failure.

Our Stucco Repair Process

Assessment We thoroughly inspect all stucco surfaces, looking for obvious damage and potential problem areas. We’ll explain what we find and recommend appropriate repairs.

Preparation Loose and damaged material is carefully removed. We don’t just cover up problems - we address them properly.

Base Repair For significant damage, we rebuild the stucco system with proper scratch and brown coats, using Arizona-appropriate materials.

Texture Matching This is where experience matters. We carefully match your existing texture for invisible repairs. Common textures we match include:

• Sand (Float) Finish - Fine, uniform texture
• Skip Trowel - Subtle random pattern
• Lace (Spanish Knife) - Heavier random texture
• Dash - Rough, sprayed-on texture
• Santa Barbara - Smooth with subtle variations

Curing Stucco repairs need time to cure properly before painting. We’ll advise on appropriate cure times based on repair scope and weather conditions.

Why Repair Before Painting?

Many homeowners wonder if they can just paint over stucco damage. Here’s why that’s not advisable:

1. Cracks Telegraph Through - Paint won’t hide cracks; they’ll show through and continue to grow
2. Water Intrusion - Unrepaired cracks allow water behind the stucco, causing bigger problems
3. Poor Adhesion - Paint won’t adhere properly to loose or damaged stucco
4. Warranty Issues - Most paint warranties don’t cover application over damaged substrates

Stucco Repair + Painting

Most of our stucco repair work is done in conjunction with exterior painting projects. When you combine services:

• One Assessment - We identify all issues during initial inspection
• Coordinated Work - Repairs are completed and properly cured before painting
• Seamless Results - Fresh paint unifies repaired areas perfectly
• Cost Efficiency - Bundled pricing for combined services

Preventive Stucco Maintenance

Keep your stucco in good condition with these tips:

• Regular Inspections - Check for new cracks annually, especially after monsoon season
• Address Issues Promptly - Small cracks become big problems if ignored
• Maintain Caulking - Keep window and door caulking in good condition
• Proper Irrigation - Keep sprinklers away from stucco surfaces
• Elastomeric Coatings - Consider flexible coatings that bridge minor cracks