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>Is it possible to install wood siding over a bad stucco job?
>Repairing the stucco never seems to look just right and tearing it off is costly.
>I’d sure like some input!
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Specifically, what's wrong with the stucco?
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Thanks for the interest Mike. The stucco is simply falling off and cracking, right down to the hard coat and mesh. In some areas it is obvious that water is getting behind the stucco. I've managed to stop the water by fixing the roof drainage off the ashphalt shingles. Also, some walls were poorly floated and you can see uneven surfaces. Bottom line, my wife and I hate it with a passion. The house was only built in 1995.
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It is always better to spend the extra effort/money and do a job right. trying to cut corners now will cost you far more later.
Just some advice,
Pete Draganic
*I think if you put siding over the existing stucco will be one of your worst nightmares. You think you have moisture penetration problems now, just wait. BTW: what siding, installed, could you get that would cost less than new stucco?Just hire a couple of $8-10 hour guys with sledges and prybars. Under close supervision, you'd be ready for a new coat in a day. Have a crew come in and float new in a day. $300 bing, bang, bong, you're done.A 3 year old house? Where's the builder in all this?
*Ditto on what Rich said.1. Three years and the stucco is bad? What's happening with that? Hopefully the cause is a bad stucco contractor, and not drainage. Check you roof and overhang for possible water infiltration. Get a second opinion. This is real important. No sense in putting in new siding when the walls leak! Sue the general contractor. I would never install siding over stucco. The trim would not match (See below), and the uneven surface would translate back into the siding. Rip it off, TL.2. Rip off the old stuff. I have a love hate with stucco. Sure it paints up nice, but I prefer the look of traditional siding. Repairs of stucco never seem to look very good do they? I'd just rip it down, tear off the stucco lath (probably paper and metal chicken wire), down to the studs or sheathing (assuming you have sheathing).3. Install sheathing. Wrap the home with Tyvek/Tar Paper, and off you go! Here in SoCal, sheathing is code, and we need 3/4". 4. Trim Elevation. Bear in mind that the thickness of stucco (about 3/4") is different than many claboards/shingles, which will thow off your trim. Here in SoCal, many stucco homes have no trim whatsoever (a trend I despise), so this may not be a problem. You may be better off just re-stuccoing, rather than trying a new exterior covering, unless you are willing to re-trim, which would not be that big of a deal.Hope this helps...
*SUE THE CONTRACTOR? Scooter, I'm not jumping you at all but how about a call to him before the lawyer? Besides that could end up in such a huge mess it's not worth the headache. I'm sure you meant to type in my advise and are a slow typer like myself, I too try to limit my responces because it takes to long to type my full responses.I guess I'm representing "The Society to NOT Throw Other Contractors Under the Bus" tonight, but, I guess I could be the next victim of an incomplete explanation of a problem.
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I need to add snow guards to the roof of a recently built home. The roof covering is cedar shakes, with ice and water sheild under.The roofer, who installed the original roof, is saying he can not install them to the roof sheathing without tearing the roof off. He suggested that they be installed on top of the shakes fastening throught them to the sheathing. This doesn't stike me as a good method. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also what deterimes a good schedule for the installation of bronze snow guards?
*I'm not a big fan of stucco, nor am I a fan of vinyl siding. Maybe you can cover the bad stucco with vinyl. two wrongs make a right , right ?All aside, your cheepest would be new stucco, but where is the original builder in all of this ? And if this is an example of his work maybe you do not want him to come back and fix it.
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>Is it possible to install wood siding over a bad stucco job?
>Repairing the stucco never seems to look just right and tearing it off is costly.
>I'd sure like some input!
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TL,
Sad but true, Rich and Scooter are right.You need to find out what, if any, are the underlying problems, or your troubles have only begun.Lots of things can cause stucco failure, from moisture problems to structural problems to incorrectly applied wire lathe to bad application. If it's already that bad, it shouldn't be too hard to get off. Check the house over well once you get it stripped, make sure you understand the cause of the failure. If there's an underlying cause, you want to address that before you put the siding on.
Good Luck