Services

Guides to Snap Stucco Removal

Stucco is normally the mixture of lime, water, and sand which is used for coating ceilings, walls, and any other decoration purposes. It is usually applied when it’s wet and later converted into a dense solid form. Poland cement plaster, also known as stucco is sometimes removed from the house to know whether the flashing was properly installed, or repair the damaged water wood framing member, or to replace the leaky windows or any other reasons that would request for the removal of the stucco around the window. The main purpose of making use of snap stucco is to cover unfinished construction materials or less appealing ones which include clay brick, concrete, cinder block, etc. and then convert them into a beautiful and good looking form. It is very possible to repair, patch or restore the stucco membrane. Removing the snap stucco varies depending on the framing, substrate and overall remediation plans. This article will be talking majorly about how to remove the snap stucco removal, its remediation, and the repair.

It is very important to know the expectations of the building owner and let them know of the finishing options. The finishing options to the snap stucco repairs around the windows depend on the desire of the finish appearance and it is advisable to discuss it thoroughly before the work gets started.

Evaluation

A qualified person should make a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of the exterior plaster before making any decision for the final scope of repairs. In order to do this, an important item needed to make sure this job is a success is the type of finish coat which can either be acrylic or cement on the building and the overall condition of the wall. If the building was already painted, you need to know which type of paint was used. A building that was painted with elastomeric paint will surely limit the repair options.

Stucco Removal

While removing stucco, it is advisable to make use of eye protection, protective clothing, and a respirator because stucco removal can be very dusty. The removal of the stucco is best approached by power down the stucco with a power saw using a masonry blade. It is to be noted that the masonry blade should be set to just shy of the thickness of the stucco membrane which is usually ¾ of an inch. By doing this, the underlying WR, weather resistive, will be protected from damage. It is also advisable to change the blade depth frequently because the masonry blades wear down very quickly. 12 to 24 inches should be left from the window frame when cutting the stucco. Also, vertical cutting down of the stucco should be a little bit farther away from the window as they need to reach the next framing member. Once cutting down with the sawing process is down, a cold chisel can be placed in the saw cut and use to make a fracture or break the last remaining uncut thickness of plaster. After that, the stucco can then be pulled off the wall with very little damage to the underlying weather resistive membrane. And in case the area to be removed is large, it is suggested to cut the stucco into squares so that it can be easily handled.

Meanwhile, in some rare cases, the weather-resistive, WR, the membrane may be adhered to that back of the stucco, in a case like this; there will be need to remove the stucco back to the point where it is not bonded with the weather-resistive membrane. After the peeling, the cut stucco will be smooth and straight. The edges need to be jagged and rough so that it can create a strong bond between the existing stucco and the new one. Not only that, by roughing the edges, it can also reduce the chance of separation cracks. The small section can be chipped out by making use of a hammer, leaving some of the metal lath exposed but not in all cases.

Tears, holes, or other damage to the WR membrane should also be minimized, to do that, the weather-resistive needs to be peeled back. Also, it is very important to leave some of the existing weather resistive membranes for proper lapping and integrating with the flashing. At least, a minimum of six inches overlap on the vertical joints and two inches overlap on the horizontal joints of the weather-resistive membrane will be needed when the final lathing takes place.

Stucco Remediation And Repair

The remediation or the installation of the framing, or the window, or the sheathing or/ and all another flashing should be fully inspected over and over again by a professional before the weather-resistive installation takes place. There are numerous options, methods, and products for flashing windows and many of these options are in the stucco resources guide. The weather-resistive, WR was recommended by the NWCB and all the flashings should be installed in “shingle” but that is if it is possible at all. This also indicates that all the upper layers overlap lower layers to direct water down and with time without at a “weep” point. This surely will include all the “peel and stick” type flashing membranes, polyvinyl chloride – PVC, flashings, and metal flashing.

In order to seal the opened or exposed surface of the weather-resistive membrane holes and tears, an asphalt emulsion which is one of the best things to use in such a case can be used to cover the exposure. Compatibility of the products and material should always be checked before moving to the installation stage. Some common materials can have an adverse reaction to asphalt saturated products or polyolefin spun bounded products.

Getting stucco will not only beautify your house but also add more value to the building. Getting a good stucco requires more research and activities from a professional that is ready to provide outstanding services that will put a smile on your face at the end of the whole process.