Stucco installation can be a great surface option for many homes, but the majority of stucco applications that were completed more than ten years ago were improperly installed. The truth is that stucco, when installed incorrectly, can lead to leaks, mold, and structural damage. These issues can cost a fortune to fix and are often diagnosed after the damage has already occurred. A good rule of thumb is to call professional inspectors that specialize in stucco, prior to buying or selling your home. Although many inspection companies do not have this specialty, your friends at Burgess Inspections, Inc. do. Only a qualified inspector will be able to effectively diagnose a stucco-related problem. Here are three things they will examine.

1. Visual Inspection

This may seem like an obvious step, but the first thing a qualified inspector most likely will do is walk completely around the home and look for signs of moisture (staining, cracking, flashing and stucco running below grade).

2. Thermal Imaging

An inspector can obtain a thermal image of the home using special equipment. This often will show areas that have levels of moisture above normal ranges.

3. Moisture Investigation

Some moisture issues can be identified visually or through the aforementioned thermal imaging. However, the amount of moisture in particular areas needs further investigation. A method to identify the amount of moisture in particular areas involves drilling holes and inserting a probe into an area suspected of high moisture.

Stucco is an incredibly common feature of older homes, and can be detrimental to the buying or selling process if issues are not identified timely and correctly. Merely eyeballing your stucco, or waiting for a problem to surface, is not the right answer. Be sure to contact the experts at Burgess Inspections, Inc., the qualified inspection experts, at (844) 804-9219 to check for stucco issues before a problem arises. After all, the nominal cost of an inspection pales in comparison to the cost of a delayed sale or purchase and the potentially significant costs of damage repair.

 

Sources:

libertyinspectiongroup.com