Redondo Beach · Masonry Services
Stucco
Stucco application, stucco repair and remediation across the South Bay. Color and texture matched patches, full recoats, and moisture damage put right.
Stucco · Redondo Beach
Stucco Matched So the Patch Disappears
Stucco covers more houses in Southern California than any other exterior finish, and it is the one most often repaired badly. A patch that is the right color and the wrong texture is just as obvious as one that is the right texture and the wrong color, and a patch applied over a moisture problem will fail again within a year or two. Redondo Beach Masonry handles stucco across Redondo Beach and the beach cities: three-coat application on new walls and additions, stucco repair on cracks and damaged areas, full recoats where the wall has aged out, and remediation where water has got behind the finish. We match texture by hand on a test area before we touch the elevation.
Why Go With Us for Stucco
Matching stucco is a hand skill, not a product choice. Dash, lace, sand float, smooth and skip trowel each go on differently, and within lace alone there is a wide range from fine to heavy. Our plasterers sample the texture on a hidden section first and adjust until it disappears into the surrounding wall, then match the color coat. The other half of the job is knowing when a crack is cosmetic and when it is telling you about a leak. We look behind the finish before patching over anything, because covering a moisture problem is the most expensive short cut available on a stucco wall. Repairs often go in alongside concrete or brickwork on the same property, and one crew handling all of it keeps the finishes consistent. Stucco is usually the finish coat on something else we built, whether that is a block wall or a BBQ island that needs a face matching the house. If the exterior needs more than one trade, the full range of masonry services is worth reading before you book anything.
- Crack repair and section patching
- Texture matched by hand on a sample area
- Moisture remediation with flashing corrected
- Three-coat application on new walls
- Full recoats and fog coats
- Stucco finishes over block and concrete
Reasons to Repair or Recoat Stucco
Stucco gives plenty of warning before it becomes a serious problem.
Cracks are opening up
Hairline cracks are cosmetic and normal. Anything wider than about a sixteenth of an inch lets water into the wall, and diagonal cracks running from window and door corners point at movement rather than surface aging.
There are stains, bubbles or soft spots
Discoloration, blistering, or stucco that sounds hollow when tapped means water is already behind the finish. That is remediation work, not patching, and the sooner it is opened up the smaller the repair.
The color has gone patchy
Decades of sun and salt fade a color coat unevenly, and old repairs stand out more each year. A fog coat or a full recoat resets the whole elevation rather than leaving a wall that looks mended.
You are adding on or altering the exterior
New walls, filled-in windows, and additions all need stucco that matches what is already there. This is where texture matching earns its keep, because a new wall next to an old one shows every difference.
Something hit it
Car bumpers, ladders, sprinkler overspray at the base of a wall and impact damage are all routine repairs. They are small jobs, and doing them properly at the time is what keeps them small.
Send a photo or call (310) 651-7257 and we will tell you which of those you are looking at. Call: (310) 651-7257
How We Work
Site walk, written scope, permit, build. One crew lead from the first visit through final cleanup.
1. Inspection and moisture check
We look at the cracking pattern, sound the wall for hollow areas, and check the likely water paths at windows, roof lines and grade. That determines whether this is a patch, a recoat or a remediation.
2. Prep, lath and scratch
Damaged material comes off back to sound substrate. Where the paper or lath is compromised, it gets replaced with correct lapping and flashing. Then scratch and brown coats go on and cure.
3. Texture match and finish
We sample the texture on a test area and adjust until it matches, apply the finish coat across the repair, and blend the color. A fog coat evens the whole wall where the surrounding stucco has faded.
Stucco Work We Cover
Stucco repair
Crack repair, patching damaged sections, rebuilding around windows and doors, and fixing sprinkler and impact damage. Texture matched by hand and color blended into the existing wall.
Stucco remediation
Full removal and replacement where moisture has compromised the paper, lath or framing behind the finish. This includes correcting the flashing and drainage detail that let water in, so the repair holds.
New stucco application
Traditional three-coat stucco over lath on new walls, additions and garden walls, including scratch, brown and finish coats with proper cure time between them.
Recoating and fog coating
A finish coat or color coat over the whole elevation to reset a faded, patchy wall. Far less disruptive than replacement and it makes previous repairs disappear.
Texture matching
Dash, lace, sand float, smooth and skip trowel matched by hand on a sample area first. This is the difference between a repair you can see from the street and one you cannot.
Stucco over block and concrete
Finishing block walls, poured concrete walls and planters, which gives a masonry structure a clean rendered surface that matches the house.
What Affects the Cost of Stucco
Stucco is quoted by the square foot, and repair and remediation price very differently. What matters:
- Area. A patch around one window and a full elevation are different scales of job, with different setup costs.
- Repair or remediation. Surface patching is straightforward. Removing back to framing and correcting flashing is a considerably larger scope.
- Texture. Simple sand and dash finishes go quickly. Heavy lace, Santa Barbara smooth and specialty trowel finishes take skilled hand time.
- Access and height. Second-story work and tight side yards need scaffolding, and that is priced in on its own.
- Color. A patch blended into existing color is cheaper than a full recoat, but a recoat is what makes an aged wall look uniform.
- Substrate condition. Sound lath and paper keep the job simple. Rusted lath or damaged sheathing adds material and labor.
Free estimates on stucco anywhere in the South Bay. Call (310) 651-7257.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does stucco last?
Traditional stucco lasts 50 to 80 years with proper maintenance. Synthetic EIFS stucco lasts 20 to 30 years. Regular inspection and prompt stucco repair of cracks prevents moisture intrusion.
What causes stucco to crack?
Common causes include foundation settling, improper mixing during installation, moisture damage, and thermal expansion. Hairline cracks are cosmetic, but cracks wider than 1/16 inch need professional stucco repair to prevent water damage.
How much does stucco remediation cost?
Stucco remediation, fully removing and replacing damaged stucco, costs $8 to $12 per square foot. This is more extensive than simple stucco repair and is needed when moisture has compromised the substrate underneath.
Can you match my existing stucco texture?
In almost every case, yes. We sample the texture on a small hidden area and adjust the mix and the application until it matches, then blend the color. Lace, dash, sand float and smooth finishes all get matched by hand rather than out of a bag.
Is salt air hard on stucco?
It is. Coastal properties in Redondo Beach see faster color fade, more efflorescence, and corrosion of the lath and any exposed fasteners. Walls on the ocean side of a house typically need attention sooner than the sheltered elevations, which is worth knowing before you recoat the whole building.
Planning masonry work in Redondo Beach?
Tell us what you have in mind, a wall, a patio, a repair or a full backyard, and we will come out for a free on-site walk and a written price.
Or call us now: (310) 651-7257