What to Do About Cracks in Your Stucco

Many stucco homes in the Bay Area have lots of little cracks in them (and big ones, too) that are caused by natural settling and earthquakes. Dan Ford, owner and general manager of CertaPro Painters of Silicon Valley, a Diamond Certified company, warns that if you don’t repair these cracks properly when painting your house, you’ll have water damage that can lead to dry rot.

A good solution is to cover the cracked stucco with durable elastomeric paint. You must apply the paint generously to damaged surfaces and take special care to cover the entire crack, because if you don’t, you’ll have what Mr. Ford calls “bubbling,” which can lead to more damage later. Mr. Ford also says not all stucco homes need to be painted with an elastomeric product; sometimes painting contractors oversell it. It’s also possible to use elastomeric paint only on the sides with cracks and regular paint on the other parts of the house.