https://www.pinterest.com/kirkgiordanoplastering/all-about-plastering:
-https://youtu.be/1JqhN98YZU8: fixing bad stucco patches.
-https://youtu.be/pEUhr1b_KE4: fixing bad plaster patches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPvm5BUm5-8:
-https://youtu.be/xPvm5BUm5-8: Sand finish saved another bad patch job.
-https://youtu.be/1enMWniNYkI: stucco texture fixes bad patching.
-https://youtu.be/xTB2RxBdKGA: how to repair bad stucco textures.
-https://youtu.be/53jGR8Pfr5w: stucco feathering in stucco transitions.
Hello, our faithful subscribers and plasterers around the world! 🌎
In this video, I’m showing just a couple ways to repair hairline cracking on your stucco home.
Note: You may also type in any question you may have on Stucco/Plastering issues on our channel, and like magic, a video will appear to explain how it's done. Then kick back, relax, and enjoy the show! 🍿
Oh yeah, don't forget to save the world, like, and subscribe. It's not only good karma, but It also makes you feel warm and fuzzy all over. 💃🕺🏻 😉
Below are just a sample of our videos for your learning experience:
Plastering a new finish coat sand finish: -https://youtu.be/chU9So3vy9s
I’ve plastered every wall, man: -https://youtu.be/g2-XwN80ZOo
Plastering over concrete walls: -https://youtu.be/_SAA11s0BPs
Teaching Internal plaster ceiling repairs: -https://youtu.be/GVj1uYAfMuQ
Plastering professionals weekend warriors: -https://youtu.be/t9FbRK1VuPQ
Even Santa Claus plasters on Christmas🎄: -https://youtu.be/mgq-bnxNimk
Jason and I took the liberty of researching the best tools at the lowest cost used by us. This removes the guesswork for you out of buying plastering and other stucco tools.
Amazon quickly provides this luxury. Usually, two day delivery with Prime right to your front door... makes a person downright lazy but happy. 👍
Plus, this helps support us a bit so we can keep making these teaching videos. Below are just some of the tools, hawks, and trowels we recommend through Amazon.
🎁Remember, once on the Amazon page, you can buy not just the tools we recommend but anything your heart desires.
Plastering Hawk large: https://amzn.to/2Up8PFO
Plasterings perfect Trowel: https://amzn.to/39dFjZ0
Green sponge plastering float: https://amzn.to/2vKN2QM
Two-handled plastering Darby: https://amzn.to/3ddDGh8
DEWALT Air Compressor: https://amzn.to/2KiBt6X
Senco wire netting Stapler: https://amzn.to/3bnDtXv
BTW, I'm Jason, the beard behind the camera, and also a licensed contractor. My dad and I have switched to powerful, modern, and long-lasting all battery-operated Milwaukee tools for good reasons. Take the Dual Chemistry M18 Job-site Radio. For me, this is one of my favorite tools for any job site: http://amzn.to/3aVmD1T. I plug my cell phone in the top, then listen commercial-free to my music all day... or my dad's favorite artists. 😏🤔 We turn it off when filming. 🎥
We've also replaced our corded break out tool for the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Rotary Hammer: https://amzn.to/3ecdjsy. Here's a video about why we love it: -https://youtu.be/TdsGwupieXE
We exclusively use this battery-operated mortar drill - it's a drag searching for outlets, unrolling a hundred-foot extension cord, and rewinding it up: https://amzn.to/2OzBxS0.
#kirkgiordanoplastering, #howtoplaster, #plasteringtutorials, #beginningplastering, #plasteringforbeginners, #plasteringvideos, #learninngtoplaster, #plasteringbytheexperts, #plasteringadvice, #renderingplaster, #learningtoplaster, #DIYplastering.
Subscribe for more stucco content 🧞♂️
https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=StuccoPlastering
https://www.facebook.com/kirkgiordanoplastering
https://www.instagram.com/giordanoplastering
https://www.StuccoPlastering.com
https://www.BayAreaPlastering.com
https://www.GiordanoPlastering.com
Kirk and Jason Giordano with over 850 free Stucco/Plastering videos. Together we have created the most comprehensive encyclopedia of Stucco and Plastering videos ever produced globally, all by your favorite plastering messengers of YouTube.
Bringing peace, love, and brotherhood back into plastering.🎭🏝🎆
What a mess!!!!
Howdy Chris, such is life, its all about maintenance.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
I like learning like this
Howdy Brandon, cool beans I have a million tips of similar nature.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Sat here in the UK watching this full of beer,like you a lot Kirk I'm an ex plasterer who loves your vids
Howdy, my fellow plasterer for Manchester, when my ex-lovely wife grew up in Manchester in a small village for 20 years.
I'd move to this village myself if the temperature were between 80 to 85 degrees.
Don't you realize the power of suggestion, I have to stop responding now and go to the corner gas station for some beer myself,
Cheers, my friend, I too like your style.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
That’s a very helpful video.
Atta boy Clint, thank you.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Artist at work right here, love this guy.
Howdy Mohammed my friend, I like your style my brother, thank you.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Enjoyed your video, any chance of a followup to see how it dried? and later re-painted?
Howdy Chris, doubtful as stucco has to cure before painting at least 28 days,
besides, I show how it's accomplished, results will vary form individuals from the years of training.
FYI, I have not completed every patch to be a perfect match when painted, no one can claim this absolute perfection to be a fact.
Maybe if Jesus was a plasterer instead of a carpenter, this talent could be claimed.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
@Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. Thanks for the followup – I am using a product in NZ called CEMIX Quick Patch. I find this a bit smooth in the final texture but nicely fills in the cracks after I make them bigger. I am wondering if I can just add more sand and I should then be able to recreate the original texture on my home? I am going to give it a try no harm anyway. House is damaged from Earthquakes.
Howdy Chris, the fact is you will have to decide if it's too sandy or just right.
FYI, the more water you keep on the green sponge float the sand gets rougher as the water pulls it to the surface.
You want less sand tap the green sponge float out to clean and dry as much as possible then lightly hit your newly applied stucco area, this will remove the excess sand.
Take a few minutes of practice.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
watching you from Arizona loving every second I've learned a lot using an AR painting contractor business thank you so much
Howdy Mike, thank you, our pleasure to help folks with what has taken years to learn, your smart don't learn by trowel and error.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Where do you buy your gloves
Howdy John, click the Amazon Link above in my description, generally they cost about 6 dollars at the materials yards, they sell on Amazon for about 3 dollars or you can buy a bundle of 12 for about 23 dollars.
I took the time to research the cost for our Amazon site, but the site changes often, this is out of my control.
Click on and you will see the gloves, as you scroll down sometimes it helps to keep clicking on the same pair until you find the pair that sells for less than 3 dollars.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Kirk I respect what you do but I have to say that your work is not top notch. You are good at explaining things but some of your work is sketchy.
I'm a lath/Plaster contractor here in San Diego CA and would love to invite you if you're ever in the area to see our work.
I'm sure you will learn a lot. I have 3 of the best plasters you will ever see. They do some amazing work.
Howdy, my fellow plasterer.
No doubt, I'm good at what I do as I have to guarantee my work for life.
I have a few of my own plasterer that are better in some areas of plaster than myself. I don't claim to be the best at any particular application, I started doing video's as my son wanted me too. I wasn't comfortable at first as I didn't like pictures taken of me at that time.
however folks encouraged me to continue posting, so I do.
My method of applications was taught to me by a handful of the best plasterers I have known out of hundreds of plasterers I have worked with.
At one time I had a Tommy gun and hired 15 plasters for a few years, this got old.
Plus I have worked in the union for at least ten plastering outfits, when I was a young buck, I have seen men who weigh less than my one leg out plaster me, some with insights that are mind-blowing.
So no, ol Kirk is not the best, I just happen to have a channel that presents what I have learned over a 40-year career.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Greetings from central CA.
Aloha Brian, no worries my brother.
Getting plastered with Kirk
Kirk and Jason Giordano’s sound plastering advice
Hey your Amazon tools link is broken I think you meant /tools? Was looking for the flexx caulking link!
Aloha A.K. assault rifle, I clicked on the link, it seems to be working okay on my end,
will have my computer man check it out just in case.
Thanks for the tip.
Getting plastered with Kirk
Kirk and Jason Giordano’s sound plastering advice
@Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. hahaha and the one at the top works fine but the one in the middle after the "FYI" is the broken one
Morning AK, thanks brother for the tip.
Get Plastered like stucco
Kirk and Jason Giordano’s Plastering tips
Since both cracks seem to start from the window sills. Interesting. Was it maybe caused by leaks behind the wall and then expansion.?
Aloha Dave, this is a possibility. Like lightning, the lightning bolts strike the closest object in its path.
Similarly, the home movement will start after a home lifts because of rain, then settles to the nearest seam possible, hence usually a window.
This movement can't be seen but can be noticed by new cracking. How can one tell if the cracking is new or just a month to 6 old?
Look at the crack, if no dust is settled in the crack, strong possibility it can be new, it usually takes 6 months for the dust to accumulate into cracks.
Getting plastered with Kirk
Kirk and Jason Giordano’s sound plastering advice
Kick ass. Thanks for the reply
Howdy Dave Daved Dude, no worries, just killing time my brother.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Hey Kirk, really enjoyed this video. I've been working with Bob Bell from Rockridge on a couple projects. He says he used to work with you in a couple jobs. He says hi and sends his best.
Aloha Van Dude, yes I do know Bob Bell, tell my pal, ol Kirk Says, "howdy"
Getting plastered with Kirk
Kirk and Jason Giordano’s sound plastering advice
Safety squints 1:27
Aloha Bob, ezackory, I need my eyes for future use.
Getting plastered with Kirk
Kirk and Jason Giordano’s sound plastering advice
Kirk are you the voice over for TC in the cartoon Top Cat? https://youtu.be/JzSHWu9NbnA
Morning Rana, this is the second time I have heard this, I wish I was, as man you got to love Topcat.
Get Plastered like stucco
Kirk and Jason Giordano’s Plastering tips
No fancy tools with maybe some fancy glasses for safety
Morning Rob, no doubt, excellent tip, my good glasses were sitting in my truck on the dashboard being useless.
Get Plastered like stucco
Kirk and Jason Giordano’s Plastering tips
Want to talk about bulging?
I know I'm not the only one to laugh at that.
Howdy Lord dude, you, my friend, I have noticed have a good sense of humor, you're blessed.
It was rather funny
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
I heard schaffers new zealand caulk, is good.
Howdy LOard Dude, I'm sure most caulking are good.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Love your videos, Kirk!!! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.
Evening Michael, our pleasure or sure.
Sound advice from the plastering messengers of youtube
I just love how he work with white shirt and doesn’t get dirty, a tru master.
Howdy Miguel, thank you.
Sound advice from the plastering messengers of youtube
nice job
Howdy Mohanad, thank you
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Great job. excellent video.
Evening Robert, thank you
Sound advice from the plastering messengers of youtube
I had a guy that put the sanded caulking in that cracks but left it smooth on a rough stucco and each of his repairs are very noticeable after I painted, Now what should I do to fix this horrible job?
Evening my friend sounds like he used his finger to smooth out the stucco, this makes the caulking smooth.
The proper way is to use a green sponge float to bring the sand out.
Sound advice from the plastering messengers of youtube
I had a dream you came to my house and put the wrong product in my cracks
and the whole wall fell apart next day.
Howdy Dino, your kind of goofy, hang in there.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Kirk, love the videos
Question for you I have old world stucco I’m preparing for new acrylic to re face, I use a primit adhesive coat between the two layers old and new, but would browncoating the entire surface be better? Or would it come apart with time ? Thanks big fan !
Howdy old-school, I would suggest pressure washing, then apply a bonding agent or the primer which comes with all acrylic stucco finishes, then you're ready for the acrylic stucco to be applied
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
I have always worked as a concrete man and over the years plenty of ppl have asked me about stucco work and never considered it till I started looking up your videos but generally ppl always ask me about EFIS could you make a video about that
Evening Ray, I have some videos on this subject, type in your keywords on our channel a few videos's on that subject will magically appear.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
You are the only person I think can help me. I've mixed up every combination, have watched 50+ videos, and have worn myself out buying heavy bags of San and cement. What should I use to go over cinder blocks, that I can carve a rock design into once it's almost hardened?
Most recent mix I tried is Portland cement, mason sand, and some liquid air admixture because the guy at the store said it would improve plasticity. Fist coat 4 to 1 sand/cement ratio. Second 1 to 2.
(My project is small, only 16 inch by 20)
@Emily Stubbs Aloha Emily, “help me obewonkanobe, your my only hope,”
You basically need two trowels full of cement plaster. You can use any cement plaster for such a small area, the idea is to apply and prolong the set time.
Rapid set Stucco sells 10 and 25-pound boxes, which is all you need.
The name Rapid set means it set too fast for your needs.
However, you can also purchase the retarder which won't allow it to set for an hour if you add enough.
Home Depot carries the rapid set with retardants small bags too.
Another alternative is to apply a bonding agent over the cinder blocks, this will kill the suction, hence slow down the drying time, which should allow you the time you need.
home depot sells Quikrete bonding agent for 10 bucks for a quart.
And finally, you can wet the wall an hour before and keep wetting, when someone dry, where it's not dripping, apply your choice of cement plaster.
The bonding agent is your best bet.
BTW, they make paint rollers which when the stucco is ready, you roll the wet roller over your cement plaster, there are many patterns to choose from.
And plastic templates or forms which you just wet them and light press into the cement plaster, if you dont wet the form or template when it's removed the cement plaster will stick to it and your design can look bad so remember wet the tool before using.
best wishes,
Get plastered like stucco with the Giordano family
Sound advice from the plastering messengers of youtube
Hey Kirk, I’ve been watching and learning from your videos for a while. Could you give any tips on using stucco as a finish on interior walls? Concrete effect plasters are ridiculously expensive. Thanks.
Evening Kevin, buy bags of Santa Barbara finish by La Habra or Marble finish by BMI, both have 30/30 sand.
This is the only sand one can smooth out, often it takes two coats.
Or buy a bag of veneer plaster such as Diamond and add color, this has no sand and much much easier to apply than the two cementitious materials I mentioned at first.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Can you repair 10 year old white stucco chips from water pressures
EveningHiram, yes I can, have a nice day.
kidding, order a bag of crystal white color finish from The La Habra cementitious finish material.
More than likely you will have to call Plastering yards near you.
FYI, crystal white is the only color that one can trowel on and not be noticeable.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Hi Kirk.
I have been watching your videos, and they helped me with cracks on stucco. I am still very new to caulking repair. I think I watched all of your videos, definitely almost all of them. But, I was not able to find guidance for my next repair project. I have wooden posts, heavy duty wood, in contact with stucco. I have cracks between the wooden posts and stucco. Now, there is already old sealant applied. It looks like some silicone based sealant but cracks reappeared. I think all cracks are still not larger than one inch, and they can be resealed.
Which sealant would you recommend between wooden posts and stucco? Should I remove the old sealant first, or I can just apply new one sealant the old one?
Thanks in advance and special thanks for your videos. They are very helpful to someone who is a novice like myself.
Morning my friend, I would not go over the existing caulking, remove the old add new, what happens when the new shrinks, nothing, simply add more as all caulking over 3/8 thick can and will shrink.
They do have some caulkings that will go deep and not shrink but they are polyurethanes and difficult to blend in and hard to clean up.
Try the Sika caulkings if you wish non shrink.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Hey, just wondering when and when not to use bonding compound
Morning Trash digger, anytime your going over a painted surface is when a bonding agent is necessary.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Kirk, thank you so much for all your videos I get hooked every time I start watching one. I have a question about what texture I can do by myself. Don’t have anyone to help out so I was thinking a dash finish would be the easiest. Is that what you would recommend or would another one be better for one person? Thanks!
Morning Aldeane, no doubt about it a sand or float finish.
both words mean the same finish.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Hey Kirk! Thank you for being as committed to profession and your videos, I’ve learned a lot! I do have one question though, is it common or possible to apply stucco to a large glass window? I saw a restaurant in my area that has large glass windows across their entire building including the kitchen so they covered it all up with that and made a really nice logo with the stucco.
Morning Joseph, interesting question.
I would not do it personally as glass cracks with movement, the stucco would add too much weight, this would create movement plus glass has not the strength to hold stucco, dont do that.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Look forward to more videos!
Morning Levi, we aim to please.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Thank you for the informative video's Kirk. I'm not in the trade nor do I know much about anything but I do have a question of curiosity. Is there a scenario that could prevent this cracking even though it lacks a weep screed?
Morning Adoidont, No, nothing can prevent cracking, in concrete or stucco or even tar roads as all are subject to movement, with rain of a day let alone many months this water will lift the ground by expanding when dryer conditions occur, settling will happen, this cant be seen with the human eye, however, this is one of the main reasons for stucco and or concrete cracking.
The good news is about 98% of all cracking is superficial and won't affect the integrity of stucco homes. In other words, cracking in stucco walls is normal, perhaps in some cases, unsightly, but normal.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Thank you for your videos. I watched more than a few and picked up enough tips and tricks to do some stucco repairs on my own at my mom's house.
Atta Boy Robert,
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
Hi Kirk, Thanks for your dedication to stucco construction. I'm in New York and almost all stucco contractors do styrofoam underlay then trowel on the stucco. My home has an 18 year old stucco finish that is on brown coat/scratch cement with wire lathe underlay. My stucco was applied by spraying it on from a hopper with an air compressor giving it a popcorn like texture . No stucco contractors in NY spray on stucco. After 18 years the finish is flaking pretty bad. I'm 69 years old would like to redo the house in the best way that will last another 20 years.
My problem is, if a contractor trowels on the stucco patch work (multiple patchs are about 2 feet long and 2 feet high)it won't match the popcorn finish. Can the flaked sections that have been repaired, blend in?
My second thought is to have a contractor pressure wash the entire house and then trowel over the entire house with a new coat of stucco over the existing stucco. Is that insane? Will the new finish peel off in 5-10 years because of adhesion issues or because the weight of the new coat will be to heavy? I know it will be expensive but if i don' t have to redo it for 20 years I'm ok with it. Thanks, Aristotle
Morning Aristotle, an experienced plaster should be able to do either.
One can pressure wash all the loose areas then blend in these, yes, it does take time in too understand how much is bad compared to whats still solid and will remain so for the long run.
Or yes you can hire a plastering company to pressure wash the entire home and re-skim it giving the complete home a new finish.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
@Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. thank for your expertise and sound advice
Who ever thought buldges and cracks were bad things lol… But seriously i love when you show us the different products you are using…now when i go into Lowes i will appear intelligent lol
Morning Lana, I've been to Lowes in Sonora, those guys know their products and are really friendly too.
Peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner’s and Plastering experts
I'm getting ready to start repairing a BAD stucco job on my 1920s home. No metal lathe: plaster, tar paper, and then plaster/ stucco. Do you find this to be common in 1920s era construction? It's Wisconsin… so perhaps the colder elements played into this choice? I'm thinking I should rip it all down and start from scratch. What do you think?
Greetings Kristin, when you start explorations, the current paper if okay or completely deteriorated will determine whether all the stucco should come off.
Bringing peace, love, and harmony to plastering
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner or the Plastering experts
Hey Kirk – if you and or Jason are up for listening to a podcast about exterior stucco – maybe while you driving to/from a job site (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stucco-much-more-than-meets-the-eye/id999167292?i=1000393174184) – I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on some of the specific points made about cracking: 1) use of control joints and spacing, 2) use of different types of lath, 3) cutting lath every x number of feet horizontally to allow expansion and contraction more easily, etc. The podcast is hosted by Kristof Irwin – a mechanical engineer in Austin, Tx. His guests are Matt – a structural engineer, and Brian – an architect; they both appear to have a fair amount of experience with stucco in their particular roles in construction, though probably not ever as an applicator.
Hi North dude, before I answer the extended version of why homes and or building crack I must first say, "hairline cracks are cosmetic and do not affect structural integrity."
A more detailed answer is of why homes crack often occurs as a house moves, oh yes, all homes will move just a hair, especially when it rains, the water lifts the house only a fraction, this can't be measured by man's instruments or seen or recording in any way, then when the dryer conditions return? Settling cracks begin, no big deal we all get them, caulking cracks instead of filling with stucco will flex better when the home is moving however with a big patch only plaster or mud will repair it.
Movement or vibrations to stucco or concrete is not good, but natural.
We have many video’s offers simple caulking repairing tips, I’m amazed at how many homes I see with poor caulking applications, but this is another story.
Movement is a crucial cause of cracks especially in cementitious color coats, decks, sheetrock, tile or comp roofs, floors, headers whether for structural or cosmetic reasons "SHOULD BE INSTALLED" before stucco color finish coats as a rule.
Often hairline or large stress cracks are due to settling.
Poorly built foundations, high winds and especially "rain" which causes the ground to expand and then shrink when dryer conditions occur.
Installing new roofs especially tile roofs, opening, and closing doors let alone slamming them especially the big beautiful solid oak or similar ones (causes vibrations,) who has not slammed a door by accident or anger?
Traffic driving to and from, again this is the ground movement which can't be seen or felt, even furniture being moved around inside the home if heavy enough causes the unseen vibrations.
Glass, concrete, and stucco usually don't flex much, they instead shatter or crack with movement and or vibrations.
A seismic engineer can determine by researching an existing foundation that a current wood home can handle the extra weight of new concrete.
However, no amount of competent engineers or other top specialists can say for sure that a home where new stucco was applied won't result in issues or cracks in the future.
Also, note the concrete sidewalks or driveways or even the tar streets, if these two are cracked it’s the earthmoving, stucco walls and or driveway can crack without earthquakes, again, the main reason all solid substrates hairline cracks are the seasons, rain lifts, when dryer conditions occur all substrates settle, viola settling cracks.
I have also seen homes lifted off their foundations by the roots of redwood trees as these roots do go down however many appear on the surface and follow the horizontal ground lifting anything above them as they grow.
These above reasons just touch the surface of why stucco cracks.
What about homes built on fault lines, this is not an excuse instead of a simple fact.
Even the best contractors or homeowner can go by the book and even above and beyond building codes and still get some hairline cracking in new stucco jobs.
More reason's why stucco cracks can indeed be blamed on plastering contractors or lathing errors, such as by placing staples or furring nails in the field instead of the stud where the weight per square inch is necessary.
Placing stucco netting on backward, is a big, no-no, using nails and or staples where the leg does not penetrate into the stud at least 7/8 also creates issues.
The General contractor can also build with still, green studs if that's all that's available.
Butted plywood sheathing together is another cause for cracking. In areas of intense heat, it’s necessary to gaps the plywood sheathing, as when the sun bakes a wall for ten hours daily this causes all sheathing and studs to expand, thus this slow expansion has enough push to create not just vertical cakes but horizontal cracks.
How many times have I seen contractors actually space the plywood sheets, Perhaps 1 out of 10 jobs in my area, but we live in a cool climate, so it’s not so critical?
Yes, I do have video's where I show this spacing too.
Vertical cracks are quite typical and normal around doors and windows that shut or slam when opening and closing,.
Wind and especially a week let alone a month of rain is possibly the most significant movement to any home as this creates ground swelling then settling which can't be measured by machine or the human eye, yet, after storms, the new cracks with no dirt tell the story.
Foundations not poured properly or with weak concrete also concrete with a PSI strength under 2,500 PSI does not help either, our plaster sand mixed that is not rinsed free of salt, or certain sand not meant for structural strength does not help either.
About 1975 I believe weep or drips screed became mandatory, to keep the stucco from going to the ground, these weep or drip screeds also create an expansion joint and give us a stopping point plus allow the water in newer stucco system to wet out, newsflash I have seen my share of homes with these screed placed in proper positions hairline too.
I have seen and videoed a few homes which have horizontal cracking every 4 feet,
There are about 20 solid reasons why horizontal cracking can and does occur.
The main reason being, the studs and or sheathing was green when the framing took place.
Now take 2 to 40 days or more with intense heat bearing down on a stucco wall for many hours per day, this extreme heat will expand the wood, thus pushing on the plastered walls, voila cracking occurs.
FYI, if a person lives in an area that does not get hot, expanding sheeting may not occur.
I live in an area where we have only about 10 hot days per year that it reached 95 or above,
However in some of the valleys "inland" where I sometimes work I have seen the horizontal cracking often as the sun is more intense especially if a home is on top of a hill and facing directly toward afternoon heat.
FYI, with stucco the slightest movement and or vibrations cause hairline cracks, this does not affect the integrity of the waterproofing membrane, however, most folk panic as they have no clue why this happens. Thus any home movement is sort of like Kryptonite to Superman, not good.
I have been in the plastering trade for almost 40 years and have removed exterior plaster from at least 20 homes, no fun, obviously, I don’t do this horrible demolition anymore, but by doing so, I have seen my share of reasons why stucco walls crack.
FYI, if a person does not want to deal with any stucco cracking in their lifetime, they can build a wood home. However, they are prone to wood-rot, and more problematic issues than plaster by far.
Kirk Giordano plastering
https://youtu.be/EE7alMSzuNs, https://youtu.be/2sBHTy-v9ic, https://youtu.be/C3Jqe6sQt2s, https://youtu.be/7mxGCVfLZAY,
Excellent detail, Kirk. I appreciate your family’s expertise in this space.
I love it, he's like the Bob Ross of repair work. Subscribed
Greetings Jessica, I like your style.
Bringing peace, love, and harmony to plastering
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner or the Plastering experts
We have a new smooth coat stucco wall (18" high) on top of new block wall with bella crete caps above it and a sidewalk below which was all built a month and a half ago. The stucco appears to be separating from the wall on one side. We have tons of this wall but it is only separating in the area between a section of wall that has the caps and sidewalk. Given that the stucco is bound by the caps at the top and the sidewalk at the bottom, I am wondering whether pressure between the stucco is causing separation.
Greetings James, my guess without seeing the area is that area did not get cleaned properly as perhaps the person that was to clean or prep the walls for stucco thought it was not necessary, as it did not show. Or perhaps a bonding agent was applied but not to this area for unknown reasons.
Bringing peace, love, and harmony to plastering
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner or the Plastering experts
This is just what I needed for some cracks on a new stucco wall matching the existing house. Small cracks between the new/old. Will fill it with sanded caulking then do my finish coat.
Greetings Eric, easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Bringing peace, love, and harmony to plastering
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner or the Plastering experts
Worked great!
Hope all goes well for you kirk. Where you moving to London??? Thanks for your reply’s . Keep strong man god bless you and your family
Greetings Stuart, I was planning on someplace more tropical than London, like Florida, Mexico or even Costa Rica.
Bringing peace, love, and harmony to plastering
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner or the Plastering experts
I here you kirk, good luck mate keep on plastering. Peace to you and your family regards stuart . I’m still plastering and the grand old age of 57 peace bro
Good evening Stuart, Dude, I have trowels older than 57 years old, your still a spring chicken my friend.
Bringing peace, love, and harmony to plastering
The complete plastering encyclopedia on video, by the plastering messengers of Youtube
Sir Kirk tis I Lord Cromwell wishing you a glorious day.
Good evening Lord Cromwell, thank you for my friend, cheers to you too.
Bringing peace, love, and harmony to plastering
The complete plastering encyclopedia on video, by the plastering messengers of Youtube
Plaster Thailand girl…https://youtu.be/mCoGarG5PcQ
Omg. So cool
Good afternoon Jerry, thank you, my friend.
peace, love, and harmony to all
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY’er, apprentice plasterer or the Plastering experts
My friend next door had his really nice house repainted, but first they fixed all the cracks on the med sand finish but now you see a nice new painted house but you see every crack repair.
40 years Kirk? You started before your teenage years?
Your camera guy don't zoom in
Howdy Melinda, sorry, sometimes this does happen.
Introducing peace, love, and harmony back to the plastering world.
Sound Plastering tips for the DIY beginner or the Professional Plastering experts,
With over 800 videos
Kirk, Did you use Weld Crete before the Morr-flex? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I have the opinion that a very well skilled Pro like mr Kirk, can make things look so easy,, love these videos all the best
I am missing how to finish and hide this repair to match the wall color. Do you need to repaint whole house after couple crack repairs.
Yes that wall- fix them all and paint the wall- OR – you can touch up with some spare paint but the sun will have faded the wall Color so it will be noticeable- always better to just paint the wall.
love it
Would you use the same process for paint on cement on brick work. I guess you remove the paint around the crack ad then blend cement into the crack like here. Right?
@Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. wow! Thanks for the reply!
Know your materials and what the hell your doing. Nice advise thanks.
many years of hands-on experience talkin.
Thanks, Kirk!
@Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. Awesome! Thank you! I will check it out. Also, I will make a video with my question. 🙂 Meanwhile, I am doing my roof next week, and then if the weather is warm enough, the stucco, otherwise, I will wait for spring weather to be a bit warmer. What is the lowest temp you would do any crack repairs?
I am adding go the conversation. I noticed that drilling into the bricks from the inside (like bathroom bars and such) on thd other side of the wall could be causing the cracks or start them.
@Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. Thanks! You are older than me by 1 year! 🙂
Thank you sir!
No worries, Revere
Whoa! this is new to me, plaster cement over caulking? I would think the cement would not stick. Learned something new, need to do some tests will this technique. thank you.
You are correct
Painter's tool best tool