Finding out that their walls have water damage is never fun. Owners of stucco houses built between the 2000s and the middle of 2010 are already being impacted. Water damage from improperly built stucco systems may be expensive and hazardous.
Your home’s structural integrity may be at jeopardy when water seeps through your walls, and health risks might arise. This makes being able to tell whether water has been trapped in your walls crucial. You need to get a professional for stucco repair if there is water within your walls.
If your damaged house can be repaired as soon as possible, all the better. With time, water damage grows worse, increasing the expense of cleanup.
The seven apparent indications that your stucco has water damage should be known to you. Bubbling, cracking, softening, staining, moss development, and mold growth are all signs of water damage to stucco.
1. Crack Formation
Cracks does not always indicate that water has harmed your stucco. They may not even indicate injury. Numerous factors, including your home’s sinking foundation, may cause stucco to fracture.
Of course, none of this implies that it should. Disregard any cracks in your stucco that you see. They wouldn’t be on this list if it did. If you see trials becoming larger, you should search the area for further indications of water damage.
If there are hairline fractures, there may have been damage. You may be able to leave the cracks alone or just hide them if no more symptoms are discovered. The main problem is larger fractures. They can result from moisture accumulation, which makes your stucco expand and compress.
Furthermore, you still need to get the bigger break repaired even if there are no additional indications of water damage. Even though the break may not have been brought on by water, it might nevertheless cause damage to your walls by allowing water to penetrate them.
2. Staining
The presence of stains on your walls is a clear sign that dampness is affecting them. When water flows, such as from the corners of your windows, you might notice streaks that seem dirty. In this instance, there might be an issue with the installation or flashing.
Black patches may sometimes be noticed in addition to streaks. These discolored spots can be due to moisture trapped within the wall. Painting over the discoloration won’t help since it is the consequence of a more serious problem.
Your stucco walls may seem damp in the discolored area. If it occurs just after a thunderstorm, it needn’t worry you. However, if the regions that look damp persist, it might be an issue. The proximity of cracks is an excellent spot to start looking for dark patches while searching for them since here is where water may be entering the wall.
3. Moss Growth
A consistent indicator that moisture is harming your walls is staining. Examples of unclean streaks are the corners of your windows, where water rushes. In this instance, an inadequate installation or flashing may be the issue.
In addition to streaks, one may see black patches. These discolored areas can be caused by moisture trapped within the wall. Since the discoloration is a symptom of a more significant issue, painting over it won’t solve it.
The dampness of your discolored stucco walls can be apparent there. This is usually not a concern if it happens immediately after a thunderstorm. The wet-looking areas might be problematic if they continue to emerge. When checking for black patches, the area around fractures is a great place to start since here is where water may be entering the wall.
4. Mold Growth
Instead of moss, mold development often signals that water is trapped within your walls. Mold prefers dark, damp conditions, like those found behind wet walls. If you see black spots on your stucco, mold can be present. Even though mold may be seen outside, your walls have more mold.
Mold could be better for two main reasons. First of all, it may be detrimental to your health. The mold in your walls might endanger the people who reside in your home. The second sign is likely the deterioration of the wooden timbers within your walls. As the beams deteriorate, your walls’ structural integrity declines.
5. Surface Crumbling
If the surface of your stucco is decaying, it should be rather visible. Water is not always to blame for surface damage, even though it is often a sign of underlying injury. However, it serves as a reminder that a problem within your walls must be addressed.
When the top layer of your walls crumbles, your walls are more vulnerable to damage. Additional damage causes more layers to come off. Additionally, damage increases as more layers are removed. In a vicious cycle, damage is being done to your home.
You may determine if water damage is the root of the cracking if the recently exposed layers feel moist or mushy to the touch.
Another concern is that because of surface cracking, less layers protect your property from water. Due to its porous nature, stucco allows water to flow through. You want to keep the water out since that would efficiently be expelled from the walls..
6.Soft Spots
Soft spots on your stucco often accompany other signs of water damage. If your walls contain moss or mold, they will surely have soft areas. If there is staining, it usually occurs on a soft surface.
However, if you see fractures or other damage that wasn’t necessarily caused by water, you should inspect the area for soft spots. If you find them, you have probably found the criminal.
7. Surface Bubbling
Bubbles are a sign of water damage, and they often occur together with mushy areas and cracks. It occurs when hot moisture escapes under or between your stucco’s layers. Bubbles are often seen at the bottom of walls where water gathers.
CMB Edison Stucco & EIFS Repair Remediation
If there is evidence of water damage on your stucco building, contact CMB Edison Stucco & EIFS Repair. After checking your walls at home, we’ll let you know what to do next.