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Back in the days, synthetic stucco was a good solution for finishing home exteriors. It was a popular exterior finishing material and most homeowners out there were fairly happy with the results they had got.
But, in today’s climate, synthetic stucco is nothing but a myth. It has become history and no one uses it anymore. So, the homeowners who used it earlier are noticing all kinds of defects in their stucco construction. So, what is this synthetic stucco that we’re talking about? Let’s discuss this in greater detail.
What Do You Mean By Synthetic Stucco?
According to professional services for a home inspection in Rochester NY, synthetic stucco can be defined as an external finishing and insulating system. Just like traditional stucco material, it’s another type of cladding material that quickly gained importance & popularity back in the early 1960s. After its popularity, the material became widely used in the construction industry, especially during the 1990s.
Compared to traditional stucco, synthetic stucco was much more cost-effective and the overall aesthetics were not that far away from traditional stucco. It was designed to be installed over a masonry surface but later synthetic stucco was also used for wood frame cladding. And that’s where the drawbacks came to life. Since it was never designed to be used on a wooden surface, the process was a failure right from the get-go.
What Are The Problems With Synthetic Stucco?
One of the major problems that are pretty prominent with synthetic stucco is water damage. When compared to traditional stucco, synthetic stucco uses a waterproofing membrane in its construction. So, when water starts to seep inside synthetic stucco, the water becomes trapped and cannot exit, leading to wood rot, metal corrosion and mould infestation. Traditional stucco on the other hand doesn’t use any plastic membrane over its surface, allowing the surface to breathe over time.
How To Spot Issues Inside Homes That Use Synthetic Stucco?
According to a professional home inspector, the easiest way to spot issues inside a house that uses synthetic stucco is to locate any signs of water damage. Water damage generally occurs in the ceiling, attic, around windows & doors. The presence of any water damage means that water is seeping through the synthetic stucco material and therefore must be stopped at all costs.
Another way through which the failures of synthetic stucco can be located is by expertly looking for any cracks, bulges, dark streaks, old patches or exposed fibreglass mesh on the walls. All of these are signs of failing synthetic stucco.
And that brings us to the end of our comprehensive guide. We hope you enjoyed our small yet insightful write-up and if you need any additional assistance, don’t hesitate to let us know.
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