Stucco repair in Chico, CA
Cracked, stained or bulging stucco usually points to something behind it. We open it up, fix the framing, sheathing, lath and window flashing, then patch and blend the finish.
Stucco repair starts behind the wall
Stucco is a durable exterior, but it is only as good as the wall it is attached to. Water that gets in around a window, at a roofline or at the base of the wall soaks into the paper and sheathing behind it and can rot the framing long before you see more than a stain or a crack. CCB Construction is a residential construction and remodeling contractor based in Chico, and we handle stucco as part of exterior repair: find the source, open the wall, repair the framing and sheathing, replace the lath and weather barrier, fix the window or door flashing, then patch, texture and paint. Tyler Carlisle runs every job himself.
Our crew handles the whole repair: cutting out failed stucco, fixing the framing, sheathing and lath behind it, and patching and texturing to blend with the wall. Window trim and carpentry that come with it are in the same scope.
Common stucco problems we see
- Hairline cracks. Fine cracks from normal shrinkage and settling are common and usually cosmetic. They can be sealed and painted with an elastomeric coating.
- Larger or stair-step cracks at the corners of windows and doors, which often follow movement in the framing or a missing or failed flashing detail.
- Staining and soft spots below windows, which almost always mean water is getting behind the stucco.
- Damage at the base of the wall, where stucco was run down into soil or concrete and the weep screed is buried, so the wall can't drain.
- Old patches that don't match: smooth patches on a textured wall, or a patch that cracked around its edges.
- Holes from old utility lines, satellite dishes, light fixtures or removed windows.
Repairs that usually go with stucco work
Stucco repair rarely stands alone. A leak below a window usually means the window needs to be pulled, re-flashed and trimmed. Rot at the base of the wall can mean new sill plates and sheathing. Stucco around a new door or window opening needs framing and header work first. And when the patch is done, the wall needs paint so the repair disappears. We put all of that in one scope, so the repair holds and you aren't coordinating three contractors.
What drives the cost of stucco repair
We give a fixed price in writing after a walkthrough. These are the main factors.
- How much is wet or rotted behind the wall. This is the biggest unknown. We probe and inspect during the walkthrough and price additional rot found after opening up as a written change before we repair it.
- Patch size and location. Small patches at ground level are simpler than large areas on a second-story wall that need scaffolding.
- Window and door work. Removing, re-flashing and reinstalling a window adds carpentry and trim.
- Texture matching. Older traditional stucco and newer finishes have different textures, and matching them well takes time.
- Paint. Most repaired walls need to be painted edge to edge, not just spot-patched, for the repair to blend.
How a stucco project runs with us
First, a walkthrough of the walls, windows, rooflines and the base of the house, plus the interior side where there are stains. Second, a written scope with a fixed price listing demolition, framing and sheathing repair, weather barrier, lath, flashing, the stucco patch and paint. Third, the work: landscaping protected, stucco cut back to sound material, repairs inside the wall, new paper and lath lapped correctly into the existing, the stucco applied in coats with cure time between, then texture and paint. The site is cleaned up daily. Fourth, a final walkthrough together.
Chico-specific things we plan around
Stucco is common on ranch homes and tract houses around Chico, and the age of the house usually tells you what kind of stucco system is on it, which matters when patching. Chico's dry summer heat can make fresh stucco cure too fast, so we plan applications for cooler parts of the day and keep the patch damp as needed. Winter rain is when leaks show up, and it is also when exterior work has to wait for dry stretches. Older homes built before 1978 may have lead paint on stucco and trim, which affects how it is removed. If the work is part of an addition or a new opening, a permit through the City of Chico or Butte County may be required, and we handle that.
Questions people ask
Are cracks in stucco normal?
Fine hairline cracks are common and usually not a structural concern. Cracks wider than that, cracks that keep growing, cracks at window corners, or cracks with staining or soft stucco nearby are worth having looked at, because they can let water into the wall.
Can you match my existing stucco texture?
In most cases, yes. We match the texture as part of the patch, then paint the wall so the color is consistent. A wall painted edge to edge hides a repair far better than a color-matched patch alone.
How long does stucco repair take?
Small repairs can be done in a few days, but stucco needs cure time between coats, so even small jobs span more than one visit. Repairs that involve framing, windows or large areas take longer.
Do you re-stucco whole houses?
Yes. We do patch repairs, full wall sections and whole-house re-stucco. A full re-stucco usually starts with checking and repairing the framing and lath underneath, and that is in the scope before we start.
Related work
Where we work
Chico and the rest of Butte, Yuba, Sutter, Shasta and Sacramento counties, including:
- Home remodeling in Oroville
- Home remodeling in Paradise
- Home remodeling in Durham
- Home remodeling in Magalia
- Home remodeling in Gridley
- Home remodeling in Yuba City
- Home remodeling in Marysville
- Home remodeling in Redding
- All areas we serve
Start a project
Tell us about the job, add a couple of photos if you have them, and we will reach out within one business day to set up a walkthrough. You get a written scope and a fixed price before anything is scheduled.