Stucco is an extremely durable siding option, but one of the best ways to extend the lifetime and aesthetic look of your stucco is through proper maintenance techniques. There may be a need for occasional patching or stucco repairs, cleaning and inspecting your stucco and with the proper tools and knowledge, any homeowner can independently maintain their stucco. Our team of Phoenix stucco contractors at Titan Stucco is breaking down proper maintenance techniques, how you can independently maintain your stucco, and how our team can help.
Cleaning Stucco
Stucco is a porous material, and as such can collect grime and dirt in the surface which leads to stains and other marks on your stucco. Regular cleaning can help eliminate dirt and dust from your stucco, both indoor and outdoor, to help protect from stains and other wear and tear.Regular Cleaning
For regular cleaning of your indoor stucco, you can typically use just water to scrub away and grime and dust. Utilizing a dampened nylon brush, soaked in water, you can scrub any dirty areas and fully saturate the surface. Then, using a microfiber cloth, wipe away the water. These steps can be repeated as necessary until any dirt and dust are removed.Heavy Duty Cleaning
If you notice that your stucco has more deeply set stains that are difficult to remove with just water and a sponge, you can try a more heavy duty method to remove these stains. There is a chemical formula known as TSP, trisodium phosphate, that works particularly well to remove deep set stains from surfaces like stucco. Using TSP can be harmful, so homeowners should thoroughly read instructions and take all necessary safety precautions, such as fully ventilating the area and wearing proper gloves, goggles and clothing items to protect the skin. TSP must be diluted at a 15:1 water to TSP ratio. You can then utilize the diluted formula to scrub the walls with a sponge, and allow the surface to dry for 1 to 2 hours.Outdoor Cleaning
If you have stucco siding on the exterior of your home, or even on garden walls, the stucco will obviously be dealing with a lot more dirt than indoor stucco, and will need to be cleaned even more regularly. The process will take less time the more regularly you do it, and will be even easier with the proper equipment. You can utilize either a garden hose with a spray nozzle or a power washer on the lowest setting and follow the steps below, for the best results:- Fully saturate the surface of the stucco utilizing your power washer or garden hose set to spray in a mist formation.
- Using a more concentrated spraying formation, begin to spray off dirt and grime from the top of the stucco to the bottom.
- After you have sprayed and cleaned the surface, remove any lingering buildup delicately with a bristle brush, ensuring you do not grind down the surface of the stucco with rough scrubbing technique.
- If there are deep set stains, you can apply a diluted TSP formula, utilizing similar steps to the above, to the stained area.
- Allow the stucco time to dry, and spray one last time to finish the process.
Sealing Stucco
When stucco is first applied to your home, it will be coated in a sealant, which will protect the porous material from moisture intrusion by having a sealant absorbed into the surface to prevent seeping moisture. Sealants are highly effective at helping to maintain your stucco, but for peak results they should be reapplied every five years.Repairing Stucco
Stucco can be susceptible to cracks, chips, and holes as it ages and faces general wear and tear. These are often not a cause for concern, but should be repaired as soon as they are seen to prevent further, more severe damage. It is important to regularly inspect your stucco to see if any new cracks or chips have formed. If they have, and you can recognize that the crack is minor and minimal moisture has seeped beneath the surface, you can apply a stucco patch to the surface to repair the crack and prevent further cracking or moisture leaking. A stucco patch can be found at a local hardware store, and will provide more thorough instructions for use. If you are unsure if the crack is more severe, or if you are unsure about using the patch, a local [Phoenix stucco repair](https://titanstuccoaz.com/stucco-repair) contractor can be called in to determine the best course of action. Since cracking can cause future structural damage to your stucco, it is always worth a professional opinion to be safe when repairing your stucco.Maintaining Stucco Color
Even with proper cleaning to avoid stains on your stucco, the color of your stucco can fade overtime. There are a few steps you can take to remedy the fading color, stains and blotchy spots on the coloring of your stucco.- Landscaping: It is important to have a barrier around the outside of your home, so the stucco is not interacting directly with dirt at the base of your home. Landscaping can protect against this interaction. It can also provide an area for water to be absorbed, since water bouncing up and hitting the stucco siding can cause stains to rapidly form.
- Painting: Stucco should be repainted every 3-7 years in order to maintain the optimal color. You can schedule these paintings with a stucco professional, and make sure you are prepared and do not let the stucco go too long in between paintings.
- Fog Coating: If you have traditional stucco siding that is unpainted, you can have the stucco fog coated to revive the faded stucco and make it look like the new finish color.
