Expansion Gaps Smooth Stucco Siding

If there are minor cracks in your stucco this is a project that most san francisco homeowners can tackle if they want to.

Expansion gaps smooth stucco siding.

The process of smoothing stucco in most cases there s no need to remove the old stucco to create a smoother surface. Caulk can be either sanded or unsanded. The pro s first step will be to power wash the home. The manufacturer requires a 3 16 gap at the end of each piece of siding.

Use sanded caulk any time you use sanded grout and in joints 1 8 inch or wider. This means that the boards should be touching each other when they are installed. Such gaps can allow for excessive amounts of water to get past the stucco and therefore should be caulked on an annual basis. For these small cracks get a flexible paintable exterior grade caulk.

Quikrete has a stucco repair product that is textured to match the surrounding stucco and can fill gaps up to 1 2 an inch wide. Hardie boards should be joined in moderate contact. There is no need to leave a gap for expansion. One reason for the porous nature of the gap can be attributed to old asphalt saturated fiberboard that had fallen apart.

It has a grainy texture and appearance. This affected most of the fiberboard between the patio and house. Clean out the crack using a scraping tool and a wire brush so that there is no loose material and the caulk has a good surface to bond to. But on the exterior gaps in stucco siding can lead not only to further degradation of the stucco but also to a host of nasty issues mold growth for example or pest infestations.

Gaps are normal and should be expected since dissimilar materials expand at different rates. Unsanded caulk has a smooth appearance and texture. This includes butt joints and places where the siding terminates vertically against windows doors and other fixtures. Wet your finger and gently wipe the caulk in the gap to give it a smooth rounded appearance.

A stucco pro will simply apply a new texture over the existing one. James hardie recommends that a slip sheet joint flashing is installed behind each butt joint in the siding. Where stucco meets a window door electrical box dryer vent or any other wall penetration you may notice a small expansion gap. Sanded caulk has particles in it that help it adhere to wet surfaces and expand in larger gaps without cracking.

Asphalt saturated fiberboard designed for expansion joints.