Stucco Repair in California

Most California homes with stucco have cement stucco applied in layers over paper and metal lath on a wood frame. When it fails, the surface crack is rarely the whole story: water that gets behind the stucco can stain it, soften the sheathing and corrode the lath. A good contractor looks at what is behind the damage, not only what shows.

Start with what you can see. Hairline cracks are common and often cosmetic. Cracks wider than a credit card, stains at the base of the wall, bulging, or sections that sound hollow when tapped call for a closer look. Photos of the damage, with a coin or ruler for scale, make quotes easier to compare. See crack repair and stucco repair for what the work usually involves.

Know your options. Small damage can be patched and blended. Widespread damage may call for re-stucco, a new finish over a repaired base. Older homes may have lath and plaster inside, and some newer buildings have EIFS, a foam-based system that is repaired differently. A new color coat hides patches and refreshes the wall.

Check the license. Stucco work is in the Lathing and Plastering class (C-35), and general building contractors may also do it. Look up any contractor on the California Contractors State License Board site and ask for proof of insurance. A listing on this site is not a license check.

Compare like with like. Get at least two written quotes that cover the same scope: area, how damaged stucco will be removed, what will be checked behind it, how the finish will match, paint, permit and warranty. Our cost guides cover general price ranges.