You’ve probably heard the horror stories before. Perhaps a friend or neighbor noticed a little bit of stucco damage on their house, but they didn’t get it repaired right away. Next thing you know, the small spot on the house needing stucco repair in Philadelphia PA had turned into a larger and more expensive problem.
The good news is you can avoid this sort of nightmare by performing regular inspections on the exterior of your home. This includes:
Paying particular attention to the stucco around windows, doors, chimneys, corners, and where the walls meet the roof line.
Climbing a ladder so you can get a close look at the stucco near the roof.
Inspecting the stucco whenever you suspect there may be damage, such as after a wind storm or if a dead tree limb falls on the house.
You can do these sorts of inspections yourself every month. To be on the safe side, you may also have an expert do an annual inspection to catch any problems you may have overlooked.
So what types of things are you looking for that may signal your home is in need of stucco repair in Philadelphia PA? Here are the most common warning signs…
Warning Sign 1: Discolored Stucco
Discoloration is a possible sign that moisture has seeped behind the stucco and has started to discolor it. In some cases, the discoloration may be a slightly darker shade then the stucco. In other cases you may actually see dark brown or black streaks, especially under windows, which are sometimes referred to as “stucco tears.” These streaks may indicate a problem with mold, mildew or other moisture, which means you need to get an expert to do stucco repair in Philadelphia PA as soon as possible.
Warning Sign 2: Crumbling, Buckling or Cracked Stucco
You may see some very fine cracks in your stucco, which isn’t entirely abnormal. What you’re looking for, however, are obvious signs of damage such as crumbling stucco, buckling stucco (which may indicate water damage) and larger cracking. It’s best to call a Philadelphia PA stucco repair contractor immediately when you spot these problems, as small bits of damage can expand over time.
Warning Sign 3: Uneven Drying
After a rain, your stucco will be slightly darker looking than it is when it’s dry. This is normal, as stucco absorbs moisture and then lets it run off and evaporate without any problems. What may indicate a problem is if you notice one part of your stucco exterior remains dark even after the rest of the stucco has dried. If you spot this, contact Heiler Painting to get their expert opinion.