How to Know If Your Stucco Is a Good Job?

Look for wide cracks in the stucco. Cracks in stucco can be caused by poor application, heat or settling. Hairline cracks are no wider than 1/32 inch and are usually caused by settling or differing stucco thickness. They are not usually an indication of poor stucco job. Wider cracks can be a sign of a bad stucco job, and are sometimes caused by the stucco drying too fast in hot weather or poor application. To prevent cracks for rapid drying, wet the stucco every two hours while applying in hot weather to prevent rapid drying.

Search for holes in the stucco. There should be no holes in the stucco; holes often appear when the stucco was not applied properly to the surface.

Look over the entire surface for any obvious bulges or patches of stucco that look out of place. Stucco is not typically applied to look even, but the unevenness should look uniform. A poor stucco job will allow specific patches of stucco to stand out dramatically against the rest.

Spot stucco pieces on the ground. Stucco should not break away and fall to the ground unless the house has been in an earthquake. Pieces of stucco that have broken away are a sign of poor workmanship and a sign that the stucco wasn't properly mixed or adhered to the surface.

Determine if the paint finish was applied properly. Before painting stucco, the moisture in the material must be allowed to evaporate; this will take 4 to 5 weeks. If paint was applied to the stucco right away, the material will absorb the paint and it could prevent it from curing properly.