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Thread: Crack in Stucco

  1. #1
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    Default Crack in Stucco

    See attached photo

    I am thinking about purchasing a house and it has stucco in the front and hardi plank (or some other plank siding) on the sides and back. Built in 2002, my first question was why the different siding. So I looked at an older picture and I see a vertical crack above the center of the garage door. I have an older picture where the crack is clear, and a recent picture after the home was painted and it looks like the crack is there still.

    I don't know if they covered something up. It doesnt seem big, but would there be problems behind the stucco and how do I find out?

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  2. #2
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    Default Re: Crack in Stucco

    That's a w...i...d...e span in the wall assembly.
    You sure it's not a control joint
    Defection may make hard surface crack.

    Robert Young's Montreal Home Inspection Services Inc.
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  3. #3
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    Default Re: Crack in Stucco

    Quote Originally Posted by ROBERT YOUNG View Post
    You sure it's not a control joint:confused.
    While that is not a good photo (a bit out of focus), I agree with Robert - looks like a control joint.

    A control joint should NOT be caulked in the control joint (it's 'caulk' there as there is nothing to 'seal').

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Crack in Stucco

    Mart,

    To try and answer your other question. Typically cost determines the type of siding on a house. Around here, plywood T-111 was very common in the '60s-'70s. The front would often be some other type of siding (typically more expensive) and the plywood was on the sides and rear. Fast to install and inexpensive to purchase.

    Lap siding takes longer to install than panel (plywood or OSB), so I can't say for sure why the builder installed lap siding.

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  5. #5
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    Default Re: Crack in Stucco

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist View Post
    The front would often be some other type of siding (typically more expensive) and the plywood was on the sides and rear. Fast to install and inexpensive to purchase.
    There is a good example of this in my neighborhood - a large house which looks like a brick castle, with large front turret for the the stairway to the second floor ... really quite nice looking house ... on three sides ... the right side (which no one sees) is cedar board on board going up two stories (not cheap by any means, but less expensive than two-stories of brick on that side).

    Once I noticed it, no matter how nice the house looks from the street (that side is almost not visible from the street), when I think of that house I think of that cedar board on board siding instead of brick on that one side ... and 'cheapo' comes to mind.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Crack in Stucco

    Quote Originally Posted by mart johns View Post
    Built in 2002, my first question was why the different siding.
    Gunner made a realistic explanantion.

    Quote Originally Posted by mart johns View Post
    I looked at an older picture and I see a vertical crack above the center of the garage door. I have an older picture where the crack is clear, and a recent picture after the home was painted and it looks like the crack is there still.
    Expansion joint.

    Quote Originally Posted by mart johns View Post
    I don't know if they covered something up. It doesn't seem big, but would there be problems behind the stucco and how do I find out?
    Moisture meter or/and infrared thermal camera.
    Without IR. Look for,at cracks, penetrations, protrusions, for color and texture changes in the paint, substrate on the envelope and inside the garage drywall.
    I see mechanical damage on the trim at the lower left hand side to which I would be paying particular attention to due to the damage at plane changes and intersections.
    ,

    Robert Young's Montreal Home Inspection Services Inc.
    Call (514) 489-1887 or (514) 441-3732
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  7. #7
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    Default Re: Crack in Stucco

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    There is a good example of this in my neighborhood - a large house which looks like a brick castle, with large front turret for the the stairway to the second floor ... really quite nice looking house ... on three sides ... the right side (which no one sees) is cedar board on board going up two stories (not cheap by any means, but less expensive than two-stories of brick on that side).

    Once I noticed it, no matter how nice the house looks from the street (that side is almost not visible from the street), when I think of that house I think of that cedar board on board siding instead of brick on that one side ... and 'cheapo' comes to mind.
    In my neck of the wood traditional hard coat/two/three coat stucco is mixed with planks in dimensional patterns. Western European. Wood lath was used prior diamond lath and chicken wire. Thousands of years old.
    Daniel covers some examples. All the best Mr. Friedman.
    Stucco Wall Methods and Choices - Best Practices Guide

    Robert Young's Montreal Home Inspection Services Inc.
    Call (514) 489-1887 or (514) 441-3732
    Our Motto; Putting information where you need it most, "In your hands.”

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