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Homeowners • Stucco maintenance

Home Stucco Maintenance, Season by Season

You do not need special tools to look after a stucco house, just a few minutes each season and an idea of what to look for. Most problems we repair could have been spotted from the yard years earlier.

  • Seasonal homeowner checklist
  • Landscaping & sprinklers
  • Gutters & downspouts
  • When to call us
Call (888) 592-1304The checklist
Darrin Straub

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Residential or commercial. We’ll get back to you to set up an evaluation.

We never share your information. Prefer to talk? Call (888) 592-1304.

Your house, your eyes

What a homeowner can catch early

Stucco usually gets into trouble because of what surrounds it. Shrubs pressed against the wall hold moisture. A sprinkler head aimed at the house soaks the same spot every morning. Mulch piled over the weep screed blocks the path water uses to drain out. A gutter overflows onto the wall below every storm. None of these show up as damage right away, which is why they go unnoticed.

A quick walk around the house each season catches most of them. Look along the bottom of each wall, under every window, at the corners where a roof edge meets a wall and around anything that passes through the stucco, like lights, faucets and vents. Check that sealant joints are still soft and attached, that downspouts empty away from the house and that no new cracks or stains have appeared since last time.

Take a photo of anything that looks off and compare it next season. When something is changing, call us. We can check it with moisture readings and fix it, from kick-out flashing to sealant renewal.

Traditional two-story stucco home with landscaped yard
1999Looking after Georgia homes
Around the house

Six things to keep an eye on

These cause more stucco damage on homes than anything wrong with the stucco itself.

Landscaping clearance

Keep shrubs and vines trimmed back from the walls so air moves and the stucco can dry after rain.

Give the wall room

Sprinklers

Adjust heads so they water the lawn and beds, not the house; daily spray on stucco keeps it wet.

Aim away from walls

Grade & mulch

Keep soil and mulch below the weep screed at the base of the wall so water can drain out.

Keep the weep exposed

Gutters & downspouts

Clean gutters and extend downspouts so water does not overflow onto walls or pool at the foundation.

Water away from walls

Sealant joints

Press the caulk around windows, doors and fixtures; if it is cracked, hard or pulling away, it needs renewal.

Soft and attached is good

Signs of pests

Small holes, tunnels or debris near the base of foam trim or EIFS are worth a call to your pest control company.

We repair, they treat
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Seasonal checklist

What to check each season

Georgia weather gives each season its own job. Spring storms test flashings and gutters, summer heat and sprinklers bring moisture and mildew, fall leaves clog gutters, and winter freezes can widen cracks that already hold water.

Spend ten minutes per season on this list and keep photos. If anything is new or growing from one season to the next, that is the time to call.

A homeowner's seasonal walk-around
SeasonCheckWatch for
SpringRoof-to-wall corners, kick-outsNew stains after storms
SummerSprinklers, shrubs, shaded wallsMildew, damp spots
FallGutters, downspouts, gradeOverflow streaks
WinterCracks, sealants, window cornersWidening cracks, gaps
Simple routine

Look, note, call if it changes

A three-part habit that keeps small issues from becoming wall repairs.

Walk the house

Each season, walk every side of the house and look low, at windows, at roof lines and around fixtures.

  • Base of every wall
  • Under each window
  • Where roof meets wall

Keep a record

Photograph cracks, stains and joints from the same spot each time so you can compare changes over the year.

  • Same angle each time
  • Note the date
  • Mark new items

Call ASR when needed

When something is new, growing or stained, we check it with moisture readings and recommend the right fix.

  • Moisture readings
  • Plain advice
  • Repair if needed

Spotted something on your walk?

Send a photo and we will tell you whether it needs attention.

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Reviews

What our customers say

Homeowners and long-time commercial clients on working with ASR.

“We had the inside and outside (Hardie Siding) of our home painted by Advanced Stucco. Additionally, they made some necessary repairs and improvements outside. Very thorough job!! We’re extremely happy with their work, professionalism and punctuality.”
Google review
AngelaGoogle review
“Willy came today at precisely 8 o’clock and did an outstanding job on everything! I am more than satisfied and will look forward to calling in your company’s service again.”
Casey W.Customer letter
“I have worked with Darrin on several occasions over the last few years. He is extremely knowledgeable and highly professional. He is reliable and reasonably priced. He does good work.”
Frank B.Customer letter

Read more reviews

Questions & answers

Home stucco maintenance questions

Practical questions from homeowners about keeping stucco in good shape.

How do I maintain the stucco on my house?
Keep landscaping trimmed back, aim sprinklers away from walls, keep gutters working and mulch below the weep screed, and check sealant joints each season. Have a professional look at anything that changes or stains.
How far should plants be from stucco walls?
Leave enough space that leaves do not touch the wall and air can move behind the plants. Keeping shrubs a short distance off the wall lets the stucco dry after rain and makes inspections easier.
Why is the bottom of my stucco wall stained or crumbling?
Usually because soil, mulch or pavement is too high and the weep screed is buried, so water cannot drain and wicks into the stucco. Lowering the grade and repairing the damaged band often solves it.
Should I seal or paint my stucco?
Not as routine maintenance. Painting with the wrong product can trap moisture. When a coating makes sense, we recommend a breathable or elastomeric product suited to your walls.
When should I call a stucco specialist?
Call when you see stains under windows or at roof corners, cracks that grow, soft or hollow spots, or water damage inside along an exterior wall. Reach us at (888) 592-1304 during business hours, Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Questions about your stucco?

If your seasonal walk turns up something you are not sure about, send us a photo. We will help you decide what to do next.

Call (888) 592-1304Request an estimate
Get started

Request a consultation & estimate

Tell us about your home and what you are seeing, and we will set up an evaluation.

Darrin Straub

Send us your project details

Residential or commercial. We’ll get back to you to set up an evaluation.

We never share your information. Prefer to talk? Call (888) 592-1304.