If you're considering installing stucco in your home, you may be thinking about whether stucco should be placed on the ground. We've studied this subject thoroughly and have some crucial installation maintenance, design, and guidelines for you to follow.

If you are installing stucco, you must ensure that it doesn't touch the ground or, otherwise, is below grade. There should be at least two inches between concrete and stucco in homes that are set on foundations made of concrete. There must be at least four inches between the stucco and the soil for homes that are built on the soil. However, 6-8 inches is the recommended space.

The requirements for installing stucco might be daunting; however, stucco could damage homes if it's not installed correctly. This is why we provide more details on the issues below-grade stucco could cause in this article! Continue reading to find out how stucco can crumble, as well as how to determine whether stucco is damaged and how long it will last and whether painting stucco is not a good idea.

What Causes Your Stucco to Crumble?

Stucco is prone to cracking when water seeps into the exterior layer. Water can seep into the exterior coating when there are fractures within the stucco or get into the exterior coating through the soil if the stucco is below grade. If water penetrates the stucco, it creates an accumulation of moisture that causes the stucco to break down. Other causes that make stucco crumble are the time of stucco's life, construction settling, and insects.

There is a way to lessen the risk of your stucco deteriorating by making sure the stucco is erected in a position that is above ground or grade to stop groundwater from getting into the stucco and creating trapped moisture.

How Do You Know If Your Stucco Is Bad?

Have you had the misfortune of looking at your stucco and noticed cracks? The stucco cracks can be a sign that the stucco is not in good condition. At first glance, an opening in your stucco may appear to be that big of a problem, and in certain cases, there is no need to worry! A tiny crack in stucco usually isn't a major issue; however, cracks that exceed one-fourth of an inch could indicate more serious issues. This can be due to structural cases that could cause settling issues, like house settlement as well as water-related damage.

Stains, soft spots, and stucco moss, as well as stucco cracks, indicate that the stucco is damaged. Similar to stucco cracks and splinters staining, soft spots and moss are all signs of water-related damage. Furthermore, impact damage that can range from lawnmowers' damage or birds to damages caused by them can also indicate bad stucco.

Certain of these indicators, like staining and cracks in stucco, could be misinterpreted as appearance problems, but they're actually structural problems. If your stucco shows any of these signs, it's best to check it out to determine if they are indicative of structural issues.

How Long Does Your Stucco Last?

The average lifespan of stucco is for 50-80 years. This makes stucco among the most durable finishes available! But, even though it can last for a long time, it is important to inspect your stucco each year to ensure that there aren't any holes or cracks since they can cause significant destruction to your home.

Is Painting Your Stucco a Bad Idea?

Painting stucco isn't the most effective idea. One reason that painting stucco isn't a good idea is because stucco absorbs any kind of moisture. This means it is when paint gets applied to stucco, it will absorb the paint. This also means that you'll have to paint the stucco several times to cover the entire surface, and that requires lots of paint and lots of time!

Another reason it is not advisable to paint stucco is that it could keep moisture that absorption when the paint is applied. The moisture that is trapped can cause paint to peel off, and peeling paint isn't going to give your home the most appealing appearance. Due to the peeling, homes will need to be painted every couple of years.