Stucco – horizontal or diagonal surface cracking
Causes
No movement control joints or poorly located movement control joints installed
No additional reinforcing at corners of openings
Poor application of texture coating
Insufficient or a too large separation between reinforcing and backing
Building movement or settlement
Building subjected to vibration movement such as earthquake, high wind
Listed under: Exterior, plaster and fibrous plaster, stucco, earthquakes, cladding, framing, walls, moisture, leaks, wall cladding, stucco wall cladding
Cause
No movement control joints or poorly located movement control joints installed
Repair
- monitor cracking for one month
- cracks less than 1 mm wide that are not getting wider may be able to be covered with a high-build acrylic coating – check paint specification to determine crack bridging ability
- for cracks over 1 mm, or cracks that are getting wider, obtain specialist or replacement advice
- where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building.
Cause
No additional reinforcing at corners of openings
Repair
- monitor cracking for one month
- cracks less than 1 mm wide that are not getting wider may be able to be covered with a high-build acrylic coating – check paint specification to determine crack bridging ability
- for cracks over 1 mm, or cracks that are getting wider, obtain specialist or replacement advice
- where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building.
Cause
Poor application of texture coating
Repair
- monitor cracking for one month:
- cracks less than 1 mm wide that are not getting wider may be able to be covered with a high-build acrylic coating – check paint specification to determine crack bridging ability
- for cracks over 1 mm, or cracks that are getting wider, obtain specialist or replacement advice
- where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building.
Cause
Insufficient or a too large separation between reinforcing and backing
Repair
- monitor cracking for one month:
- cracks less than 1 mm wide that are not getting wider may be able to be covered with a high-build acrylic coating – check paint specification to determine crack bridging ability
- for cracks over 1 mm, or cracks that are getting wider, obtain specialist or replacement advice
- where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building.
Cause
Building movement or settlement
Repair
- monitor cracking for one month:
- cracks less than 1 mm wide that are not getting wider may be able to be covered with a high-build acrylic coating – check paint specification to determine crack bridging ability
- for cracks over 1 mm, or cracks that are getting wider, obtain specialist or replacement advice
- check building after an earthquake for any new cracks, treat cracks as above
- where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building.
Cause
Framing shrinkage
Repair
- monitor cracking for one month:
- cracks less than 1 mm wide that are not getting wider may be able to be covered with a high-build acrylic coating – check paint specification to determine crack bridging ability
- for cracks over 1 mm, or cracks that are getting wider, obtain specialist or replacement advice
- where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building.
Cause
Building subjected to vibration movement such as earthquake, high wind
Repair
- monitor cracking for one month:
- cracks less than 1 mm wide that are not getting wider may be able to be covered with a high-build acrylic coating – check paint specification to determine crack bridging ability
- for cracks over 1 mm, or cracks that are getting wider, obtain specialist or replacement advice
- check building after an earthquake for any new cracks, treat cracks as above
- where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building.